10th Service Battalion East Yorks Regiment Enlist in Hull in 1914

Anlaby Road c1960
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My Great Uncle John Percy Norfolk enlisted at Wenlock Barracks, Anlaby Road, Hull on 1st September 1914 and became a private in the "Hull Pals". The barracks at 380 Anlaby Road were built around 1911 on the site of a former private residence known as Somerset House. Writing now in 2012 this area is scheduled for demolition and redevelopment. Great-Uncle John's battalion was known as a Service Battalion as the men who enlisted all committed to serve for the duration of the hostilities. Their Battalion became known as the "Commercials" as all the men were tradesmen from around Hull. They formed one of four Battalions in Hull. Great-Uncle John Norfolk (known to me as "Uncle Percy") was promoted to Lance-Corporal early in 1915 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant later that year, and to Lieutenant in 1916. He trained at Hornsea and Ripon before active service in Egypt and France (where he was severely wounded at Helmterre and required repatriation to England for surgery). There is a certain irony here as the Wenlock Barracks in Anlaby Road are presently the home of "C Squadron" of the Army's 3rd Medical Regiment and members of the Regiment are on active service in Afghanistan.