The 1st of August is ‘Yorkshire Day’.

To mark the day, we’ve posted a story about the unveiling of the memorial in York Minster to the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI).

The memorial of the ‘Five Sisters’ stained glass windows was opened by the Duchess of York (who later became the Queen Mother) on 19 April 1933.

Also know as ‘Minden Day’, ‘Yorkshire Day’ commemorates the victory of the British forces against the French during the Seven Years’ War. The story goes that as the 51st Foot Regiment (aka the KOYLIs) advanced, they picked white roses from the garden of a German cottage, and placed them in their hats.

Since the 14th Century, the white rose has traditionally been a symbol of Yorkshire. At the Battle of Minden, the soldiers placed the white roses in their hats as a mark of respect to their fallen comrades. The Battle of Minden took place on 1 August 1759.

So we hope that people in Yorkshire, Lancashire and Suffolk are wearing a white, red or red-yellow rose today…

Hull Daily Mail – Wednesday 19 April 1933

Image © Northcliffe Media Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000324/19330419/012/0003