Mexborough and Swinton Times October 21 1938

Crack Shot

Bisley Man’s Wombwell Appointment

Schools Enquiry Officer

Mr. J. W. Yorke, of Allerton Bywater near Castleford, formerly a police officer, stationed at Darfield has been appointed Enquiry Officer under the West Riding County Council for the Wombwell area. He commenced duties on October 1st, succeeding Mr. W. A. Barratt who has retired in consequence of ill-health after 27 years’ service.

Mr. Yorke had fifteen years’ service in the West Riding Police Force, being promoted sergeant from Darfield afterwards serving at Garforth and Glass Houghton. He went to France during the war 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.       He saw three years’ and ten months’ service in France, but except for a slight head wound and a “small dose of gas,” came through unscathed.

From an early age Mr Yorke as interested in rifle shooting, and as distinguished himself as a marksman on many occasions. When he was 13, his father, Captain D.B. Yorke, late of the 4th Queen’s Captain D. V. Yorke, late of the fourth Queen’s Own Hussars, initiated him into the sport, and he quickly became an expert.

In the police force he carried off many championships. He won the All Ranks Championships and the Rimington Wilson Challenge Cup with a score of 294 out of a possible 300. In six years of competition for that trophy he won it four times and was runner-up twice. He also helped the Barnsley Division Police team to win many championships.

In 1929 Mr. Yorke raised and captained a team of riflemen which won the championship in the Harrogate Division. He also won the Parkin Challenge Cup at Worsborough. During 1930 he won the Divisional Revolver Championship. In 1923 he won a cup outright in open competition at the Cudworth ranges, and has competed four times at Bisley, being among the prizewinners on each occasion. Incidentally his father was a Bisley champion.

In 1931 Mr. Yorke joined the Sheffield Rifle Club and help them to beat Manchester, a feat which had not been accomplished for some years. In the same year one the Donegal Badge.

He is 41 years of age,.

Mr Yorke intends to live in Wombwell, and hope that the opportunity will present itself for further practice at rifle shooting