The Crown Studios stamp box was in use from 1913-29.
As your man took it overseas in Jan. 1915 narrows it to 1913-14.
As it looks like summer I'll take a punt at July-Aug. 1914.
So taken at the start of Operation Michael AKA the German Spring
Offensive.
The W.Yorks were in the trenches at Morchies.
The German offensive covered a front of about 50 mls. from
Arras to St. Quentin, Morchies is about half way between.
He was 1 of 531 men taken prisoner.
This puts it into context:
Thanks jim1, his attestation is dated 20th August 1914, so July/Aug seems about right and his service record shows he was with the 1st Battalion WYR.
Please could you confirm that the typed snippet refers to 21 and 23 March
1918? Not that I disbelieve you just so I can quote a source properly (and you also get billing in the sources list lol).
It's super info, though infinitely sad as even taking into account the ones who reported for duty and the number of prisoners, that's a huge death toll - and that was just one side. No doubt the other side had as many - all of them someone's sons/ fathers/ husbands/ brothers :-(
I really appreciate the help. Will pass this along to the family, I'm unsure if they knew where he was taken prisoner.
Boo