Students Search for Fallen Yorkshire Soldier

Rotherham College’s Business and Public Services students are on the search for the grave of a fallen Yorkshire Regiment soldier who fought in World War I.

Arthur Harrison, who was from Gerard Road in Rotherham, fought in the Yorkshire Regiment and was only 19 years old when he was killed in 1918 during conflict in the French town of St Quentin, which is officially twinned with Rotherham.

Records show that Arthur was laid to rest in a cemetery at St Martin’s Church in St Souplet, a 40 minute drive from St Quentin.

Rotherham College students are set to venture over to St Quentin during Armistice Week 2015, which makes for a fitting trip due to the French town being the base for soldiers from the Yorkshire Regiment of the British Army during WW1.

The College has linked up with Saint Jean et La Croix College in St Quentin to form a partnership and embark on an exchange programme, which would see students from both countries benefit from a cross-continental relationship.

On the run up to the excursion, Rotherham College Public Services students have been preparing research and have created a world atlas showing the countries of origin of nearly 23 million soldiers that fought together, focusing on the diversity of the allies.

During their visit, The Business students will recall extracts from journals of soldiers that were stationed there during a gas attack and will deliver a presentation about the impact WW1 had on the town to a number of dignitaries, including the St Quentin Mayor.

Each year the residents of St Quentin hold a parade that goes through the town. The names of every fallen soldier from the town are read out and wreaths and poppies are laid at the cenotaph in memory.

The visiting students will be paying their own tribute by taking wreaths and wooden crosses to lie on the graves of fallen soldiers.