Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own (Yorkshire Regiment) (“Green Howards”), 6th Battalion, Service no. 57910
Born: 27th April 1897. Died: 1974
Story
Thomas was born in Peckfield, but baptised in Kippax on 6th June 1897. He was the son of Thomas Naylor and Eliza Holiday, and the family moved to 37 Smawthorne Avenue, Castleford shortly after Thomas was born. Thomas was a shop assistant, and enlisted on 11th December 1915, aged 18½. He was 5 ft 6½ inches tall, and was called up for active service on 29th April 1918, joining the 6th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment, known as the Green Howards. The officers in this Battalion are pictured below:
Thomas was hospitalised on 21st February 1919 with influenza. He was part of the Syren Force, which was a little-known conflict in Northern Russia, also known as the “Murmansk Venture”. There is very little printed information on the campaign which is largely due to its unpopularity at the time and the political sensitivity of British and American troops effectively engaging in a war on the side of Russians who were opposed to the new Communist Soviet government. However a diary was kept by Private Stanley Harrison of the 6th Battalion, and on Christmas Day 1918 he records: “Mr Plumpton (7th Platoon) Officer murdered by a Ruski (unknown) near cinema. Pockets emptied, Sam Browne and revolver stolen also Jack boots. Everyone truly sorry as he was a really decent officer. All the lads, including me, anxious to go on a raiding party to avenge his death. Why won’t they let us go? Jolly bad luck on Xmas Day. He leaves wife and kiddies so I understand.”
The officer was found in a ravine, shot dead with head injuries. Private Harrison had the following entry for Sunday 29th December:
“Mr. Plumpton’s funeral. Military honours for a hero. Coffin draped with the Union Jack and drawn on a gun carriage. Very impersonal except at the graveside. His own Platoon formed firing party and three volleys were fired and the “Last Post” sounded. My first, and, I hope, last parade for military funeral. Officers of B Coy carried coffin to the grave. Buried in a wood amidst the eternal snow. My feelings and sympathy go out to the bereaved at home.”
On 9th January, Private Harrison recounts how a “Young Ruski came in to the hut for jam. Said he was 16, but looked 12. Could swear like a trooper. Spoke a little English and said his father and two brothers had been killed in the war.” This young man was apparently responsible for events on January 15th, which Private Harrison recorded as follows:
“Ruski caught shooting during the night, found to be wearing Mr Plumpton’s watch. Patrol raided their hut at 1am and party of 30 raid at 8am. Revolver ammunition found. 50 Russians placed under arrest. 16 put on the “Chesma” [a Russian battleship]. The young Russian who visited us on Jan 9th gave them away. Everywhere thoroughly searched. 50 men and 9 women living in one hut under the most filthy heathen conditions. Odour awful. Government stores of all kinds found which were stolen from the quay. The prisoners all informed that if the murderer does not confess all may be shot. The hut inside was ‘like a rag shop’ after the searching. Thank God we British do not live under such conditions. The guards all brought souvenirs to celebrate the raid. One woman for whom I felt very sorry was crying, with a bairn in her arms. Poor soul.”
The murder trial took place on 1st February 1919, and Private Harrison, who was on guard duty, wrote:
“Prisoners brought off the ‘Chesma’ at 8.30. Trial on murder charge started at 11. Blizzard. 7 prisoners guarded up to cinema by 25 men, 12 police. Russian soldiers also on guard. Open court. Cinema hall packed with people of all classes. Guard outside was terrible owing to the blizzard. Only Britishers in court were witnesses and guard. All conducted in Russian. Judge was a Russian Naval Officer from Petrograd. Russian General and Officers in Russian Army also present. Many wearing swords and revolvers. Court adjourned at 2.30 till 5 pm. Again adjourned about 11oc. Crowds flocked later in evening. It was not till gone 1am today that the verdict was delivered. Three prisoners were sentenced to death and others to 10, 8 and 5 years penal servitude respectively. Only rations were cold bully and biscuits. Quite an exciting experience guarding prisoners in court. Silence when Judge examined revolver and ammunition. Peculiar smell again much noticed. Not quite as bad as in 518 Barrack. Court was unbearable about midnight. Hot, stuffy and “smelly”. Splinter and Goo Goo had “wind up” when escorting prisoners back to ship. Only 50 guards with loaded rifles and revolvers to 7 unarmed men, and yet wind was up. “You know what to do.” Not the slightest resistance shown. One sighing, another crying on return journey. Eating bread and water. A very tiring but exciting day. Rounded in cheers (C Coy’s) at 2.30 am. Some experience.”
On Thursday 4th September 1919, The Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail reported…
‘Murderers Tracked’
The summary vengeance exacted by the British authorities upon the murderers of the British officer whose body was found shot and frozen stiff in a ditch in Murmansk last Christmas Day had an excellent effect upon lawless elements of the polyglot civilian population. After lengthy enquiries by the British and Russian Intelligence agents, the suspected men, three in number, were tracked to a certain wooden barrack near the railway terminus. A surprise search of the building was made and a thorough examination revealed skilfully hidden behind a concealed partition, which had to be torn down, a small revolver and some cartridges, the calibre of which corresponded to the bullet which was extracted from the dead officer.
Three men were immediately arrested and later confessed to their guilt. The court-martial held upon them declared them guilty, and condemned them to be shot. The actual execution, which took place on a bare hill above the cemetery shortly after dawn on a bleak January morning, was carried out by a joint British and Russian firing party by the light of electric torches. Three volleys were fired, and the bodies were subsequently buried in graves which had to be blasted out of the frozen ground by a detachment of sappers.”
Facing mounting pressure that this war was unnecessary, Prime Minister Winston Churchill withdrew troops including Thomas, in June 1919, on the SS Czar (pictured below):
This withdrawal left the White Russian Northern Army to face the Bolshevik Red Army alone, and it quickly collapsed by December 1919. On 20th February 1920, the Bolsheviks entered Arkhangelsk and on March 13 1920, they took Murmansk, ending the White Northern Region Government.
Thomas left the Army on 24th October 1919, and married Lenora Dykes in 1923. The couple had a son Thomas Frederick Naylor in 1926, and they moved to 26 Manor Terrace, Hemsworth, where Thomas worked as a Colliery Shot Firer. He passed away at the age of 77.
Kippax Roll of Honour 
