Scarborough Soldier Buried in Belgium more than a century after his death

Photo: Eric Compernolle BEM

Lance Corporal Claude Stanley Dell of the 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, killed just a week after his arrival in France, was laid to rest on 13 October 2026 at the CWGC Poelcapelle British Cemetery in Belgium.

In 2021, workmen digging a rainwater cistern in Hazeweidestraat, St Juliaan, Belgium spotted human remains in their trench. A few days later an archaeological excavation was undertaken by the Flanders Heritage Agency. Artefacts recovered alongside the remains showed them to be those of a soldier who had served in the 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment.

The Ministry of Defence’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), launched an investigation to name him. Research identified twenty men from the regiment missing in the area, all of whom died in the Spring of 1915. Following genealogical investigation, living descendants of the missing men were traced one by one until eventually DNA testing proved that the remains were those of Lance Corporal Claude Stanley Dell.

Lance Corporal Dell joined up alongside his brothers Charles and Guy at the outbreak of war. All three joined the 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, whilst their older brother Leighton was in the Royal Field Artillery, and another brother - Frederick - served with the Yorkshire Hussars.

5th Battalion left the UK on 17 April 1915 and arrived in Boulogne the following day. On 23 April they arrived on the Ypres Salient, and just two days later on 25 April 1915 Lance Corporal Dell was killed in action. Claude’s brothers wrote home to tell their parents, ‘poor Claude met his end…whilst doing his duty’. Claude was listed as missing and his name was commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

Photo: Eric Compernolle BEM

Lance Corporal Dell was buried with full military honours in the presence of both his military family, and his great-niece Judith. The service, organised by JCCC, was supported by serving soldiers of the Royal Yorkshire Regiment, as well as staff from the CWGC.

Alexia Clark, MOD (JCCC), said: “It has been a privilege to research this case, to have been able to identify LCpl Dell, and to have been able to lay him to rest today. I am extremely grateful to 2nd Battalion the Royal Yorkshire Regiment who have provided the bearer party for the funeral, and to the members of Claude’s family who have been involved in his commemoration.”

Claude’s grave is now marked with a newly-inscribed headstone and will be cared for in perpetuity by the CWGC, ensuring his sacrifice is never forgotten.

Dr Daniel Seaton, CWGC Commemorations Case Officer said: “Lance Corporal Dell lay in an unmarked grave on the former battlefields for well over 100 years. It is a great privilege to have worked alongside the JCCC and our Belgian partners in the effort to restore his identity. He is now laid to rest in a Commission cemetery not far from where he fell, ensuring that his grave can be visited in perpetuity and his sacrifice remembered”

Photo: Eric Compernolle BEM

Lance Corporal Claude Stanley Dell, 23 November 1889 – 25 April 1915

Claude Stanley Dell was born in London in November 1889 to Frederick Dell – a tea merchant, and his wife Emma Pallmerine. He was the fourth of five brothers – Frederick, Leighton and Charles all older than him, and Guy who was a few years his junior.

By 1911 the family, having suffered some problems with their tea business, had moved north to Scarborough, where the younger boys were locally acclaimed as excellent swimmers and active members of the Scarborough Swimming Club. Charles, Claude and Guy all swam around the castle foot according to local news reports and competed both in swimming and life-saving competitions – frequently winning praise and medals for their achievements. The boys were all working by this time – mostly in the grocery trade like their father.

By the outbreak of war Leighton was already serving in the Royal Field Artillery, but his brothers were quick to follow suit with Frederick joining the Yorkshire Hussars, and Charles, Claude and Guy all joining the 5th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment which – prior to the outbreak of war – had been a territorial battalion raised in Scarborough in 1908 from local volunteer units.

On the outbreak of war 5th Battalion became part of the York & Durham Brigade, Northumbrian Division. They undertook a period of training before leaving for the front from Newcastle on 17 April 1915, arriving in Boulogne on 18 April and making their way from there towards Ypres, arriving on 23 April.

They received their first orders shortly after midnight on 24 April and began to move towards the banks of the Yser Canal where they dug quick shelter holes. In the afternoon they crossed the canal with a view to supporting Canadian troops, and in the afternoon they were ordered to St Jean to support the 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade. Having failed to make contact with the wider York & Durham Brigade, the battalion found themselves taken over by a Canadian general and instructed to take up a position entrenched at the rear of the Canadian line – ready to counter attack when necessary.

It rained steadily overnight from the 24 – 25 April and at 3am orders came for the battalion to move again – this time to Fortuin, where they arrived at 5am and the 5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry and others of the York & Durham Brigade. At dawn the shelling began – B & C Companies took cover in trenches, but A & D Companies had no shelter except for a roadside hedge.

At 6am A & D Companies advanced to support the Royal Irish and were met with heavy fire before being ordered to retire – it was then they suffered heavy casualties. At noon a request for help came from the Durham Light Infantry who had been ordered to search a farmhouse – a party of 25 men led by Captain Geoffrey Carew Barber and Lieutenant Harold Brown, with Lance Corporal Dell as the NCO – was sent out. It met fire from machine guns in the house and elsewhere. Captain Barber and his team did well despite the conditions – gaining some ground and knocking out one machine gun but were soon exposed. Captain Barber, Lance Corporal Dell and nine other men were killed in the ensuing fire. Lieutenant Brown and the remainder of the party were unable to take the objective and had to retreat.

The Battalion’s defensive line was ordered to be held at all costs, and the bombardment and fire against them lasted all day. Finally, under cover of darkness they were able to cautiously come out to gather the wounded and dead – Lieutenant Brown himself recovered and oversaw the burial of Lance Corporal Dell.

Charles and Guy – both also serving in the 5th Battalion must have learned about their brother’s death quickly, and Charles wrote home to inform his parents. The letter – partly reproduced in the Scarborough Pictorial says he ‘has to convey the sad news of poor Claude who met his end which was painless and whilst doing his duty.’ The letter went on to reassure them ‘Guy and I are both scatheless although I was hit in the pack by shrapnel, but the bullet did not get right through.’

Claude’s brothers survived the war. Frederick, Leighton and Guy all saw service in the Royal Flying Corps as well as the army; Charles was the only one to stay with the Yorkshire Regiment throughout.