Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 9th Battalion No 26869
Son of Samuel Holleyhead and Zanover Barton, of Helena Street, Kippax.
Died of his wounds 11th October 1917, aged 24
Story
Samuel was born in Kippax on 28th July 1893. Before the war, he worked at the Co-Operative Society in Kippax and then at Allerton Bywater Colliery. Samuel enlisted for Army Service and joined the 9th Battalion of the K.O.Y.L.I. in September 1914 at Pontefract.
The Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (Formed 1881)
The Regiment raised 23 Battalions, and was awarded 26 Battle Honours and 8 Victoria Crosses during the course of the war. On the 6th October 1917, Samuel’s battalion was part of the 21st Division and the 7th Division of British Army 1X Corp. They attacked on a 1,400-yard front north of Reutelbeek valley up towards Polygon Wood. The objective was to take Reutel and the ground overlooking the village. From the dates of the various actions round that time it would seem likely that this is where Samuel was wounded, he was one of 2,616 casualties suffered by the 21st Division during the battle. His father received £2 3s 11d from the army on 11/03/1918. He is buried at Nine Ems British Cemetery, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave 111. C . 13.
He also remembered on the War Memorial in Kippax and on the plaque on the Co-Operative Society Shop in Kippax High Street.
Kippax Roll of Honour 