South Yorkshire Times, June 16th 1933

A Crack Shot

With Rifle and Revolver

Low Valley Policeman’s Wonderful Record

Police-constable J. W. Yorke, of Low Valley, champion rifle and revolver shot of the West Riding Constabulary, a Bisley Prizeman. From the age of 13, when his father Capt. D. V. Yorke, late of the Yorkshire Hussars, at that time a Bisley champion. taught him the art of manipulating a service rifle, he has taken a keen interest in the sport.

He had a distinguished war record, went over with the “Contemptibles.” rose to the rank of sergeant in the 4th Queen’s Own Hussars, and was later commissioned and gazetted to the West Yorkshire Regiment. Altogether he saw three years and ten months’ service, and, save for a light wound on the head, and a “small dose of gas” came through unscathed. He joined the West Riding police force in 1921. Last September, at the annual rile and revolver championship meeting of the West Riding Constabulary at Wakefield, he gained many successes, carrying off all the principal prizes, including three championships with the ’22 rifle. He also won the “All Ranks” Championship and the Rimmington Wilson Challenge Cup, with a score of 294 out of a possible 300. Since the cup was presented to the Force for annual competition by Mr. R. H. Rimmington Wilson, J.P., of Broomhead Hall, Bolsterstone, in 1925, P.c. Yorke has carried off the trophy four times and has been ‘runner-up” twice. With the same score he won the Constables’ Championship and “Shaw” Challenge Cup. He previously won this cup in 1929, when it was first presented.  At the same meeting he won the championship of the Yorkshire Police Forces held for the first time. He also helped his team (Barnsley Division) to win the team championship and Hargraves Shield with a score of 294.  On many occasions he has helped teams to win this championship. In 1929 he raised and captained a team in the Harrogate Division which won the championship, and again in 1931 when Barnsley Division won it for the first time.  Barnsley are hoping to retain it this year for the third consecutive season. At the annual divisional meeting at Worsboro’ Bridge last year, P.c. Yorke “Parkin” Challenge Cup.  During 1930 he had little success with the rifle, but made amends by winning the revolver championship.

He has had one spell on the Cudworth ranges, when he won a cup outright in an open competition in 1923.  His successes with the 303-service rifle have not been so great as with the miniature rifle, owing to the difficulty of getting the necessary practice on long ranges.  In spite of this, however, he has competed at the National Rifle meeting at Bisley in four occasions, and each time his name has appeared among the prize-winners.

In 1931 Yorke joined the Sheffield Rifle Club, many of whose members are Bisley marksmen. He was included on the team which beat Manchester Rifle Club, hitherto unbeaten for several years. In the same year P.c. Yorke won the Donegal badge.  He is now practising with the miniature rifle, and is hoping to keep up his run of successes.  P.c. Yorke who joined the army at 18, and is now 37, intends to write a book dealing with this war experiences.