James Hewartson Haworth (1892 – 1917)

John (1887 - 1967) Houghton

Haworth Harry (1895) Haworth

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War Record - James Hewartson Haworth(2)

James attested on 7th December 1915: (service Nos: 5639 & 202610). He was 23, born in 1892(3) and exceptionally tall at 5 foot 11 inches. He was married to Elsie Entwistle(16) on 8th August 1914 in St. Anne’s, Turton and they lived at 117 Bolton Road, Edgworth. His record shows that he was at home from 12th August to 12 December 1916, but on 13th December 1916 he was sent to France with the 1/4th (Territorial) Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.(2) The badge on his epaulette incorporates the letter T which shows that he had been in the territorial regiment previously. He left Folkestone on 12th December 1916 and arrived at Etaples one day latter where he was posted to the Battalion on 15th December and joined the Battalion in the field on 17th December. He was sent to the Musketry School on the 20th and rejoined the battalion on 4th January 1917.(2)

On 26th March 1917 he was awarded 5 days Field Punishment No. 1 for not complying with an order, ie: retaining clothing belonging to ?. In May 1917 he is suffering from tonsillitis and on 7th June he is wounded and admitted to hospital with gunshot wounds to his arm and face. He rejoined the battalion on 22nd July 1917.(2) He was killed nine days later on 31st July.(15) He received the British War Medal and Victory Medal. An account of the action on 30th and 3st July survives in the War Diaries of the regiment and is shown at the end of this biography.(20)

His obituary in the Bolton Journal and Guardian reads: (27)

“Mrs Haworth of 117 Bolton Road, Edgworth has received official intimation that her husband Pte. James Hewartson Haworth, was killed in action on July 31st. Private Haworth, who was 24 years of age, joined the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment in August of last year. He was well known in Edgworth where after working in Manchester for some time he took over the local news agency. He did some fine work with the Know Mill Cricket Club and was also a good footballer. He was a scholar of Turton day and evening schools and attended St. Anne’s Church Turton. He was the son of the late Mr. J.J. Haworth of the Lancashire Football Association, and brother of Jack Haworth, the Middlesbrough full-back.”

Elsie was awarded a pension of 13s 9d per week with effect from 11th February 1918 (a full six months after his death (2) and in April 1920 his outstanding pay and war gratuity of £3 3s 7d was paid to Elsie.(23)

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Elsie Haworth (nee Entwistle)

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The above photo shows James Entwistle (left) with older twin brothers Joseph (right) and John (in uniform), sister Elsie Entwistle and parents George and Eliza. James Entwistle was killed on 9th April 1918. (See separate biography).

Elsie later married Tom Cannon in 1922 and they kept the newsagents shop in the village. (18) They had three children: Alice, Jean and Jim, but Jim was killed in World War 2. He was James Cannon of the Monmouthshire Regiment and died aged 20 in February 1945. He is buried in Germany.(15)(17) Tom Cannon was already her brother-in-law as he was the brother of John Houghton Haworth’s wife, Florence.(20)

Elsie lost a husband, a brother and a son in the two wars.

The Haworth Family History(1)

In the 1901 census the family were living at 63 Wellington Road. They were all born in Turton and were employed at the Bleaching and Dyeing works. Father: John James Haworth (43) Cashier - bleaching and dyeing Mother: Isabella Haworth (42) Ada (18) Doubler, Cotton Spinning Willliam (16) Piecer, Cotton Spinning John Houghton (13) Packer, Cotton Spinning James Hewartson (8) Harry (6) In the 1911 census the family are living at 31 Wellington Road. The father died in March 1909 and the mother, Isabella died in August 1907. Both are buried in the churchyard at St. Anne’s, Turton. (24) Elizabeth Haworth (nee Morris) who had married John James is now a widow and the step-mother of William, James Hewartson and Harry. John Houghton is pursuing a career as a footballer and is living in Hove, Sussex(1) and Ada married Robert Horrocks at St. Anne’s in October 1908.(19) Elizabeth herself died in 1942.(24)

William is working as an “operative” at the bleaching and dyeing works, James Hewartson is a Pattern Clerk at a Cloth Merchants and Harry is also working at the bleaching works as a cloth paster.

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The family grave in the churchyard at St. Anne, Turton

War Record – Harry Howarth (2)

The family seem to have run out of names by the time they got to Harry, the youngest of the siblings. He is recorded simply as Harry, not even Harold. Harry attested on 1st November 1916 and went into the Royal Garrison Artillery (Service No: 61544). He was also living at 117 Bolton Road and was nearly 21. His occupation by this time was “Overlooker”. He is described as being 5’ 10.5” tall, with a fresh complexion, blue gray eyes and auburn hair. He went to France on 2nd April 1916 and was there for two years, leaving on 2nd October 1918. He had ten days UK leave in August 1917 “with ration allowance”. In July 1917 he was granted “Class 1 Proficiency Pay at 6d”. In October 1918 he managed 14 days UK leave. At the end of March 1919 he embarked for England via “Havre” (Le Havre?). By the 17th April he has arrived at Heaton Park for demobilisation. In September 1916 he got into a spot of trouble for “hesitating to obey an order” and in February 1917 more trouble for “Contravention to First Army Orders – Double Banking on Road.” He received the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

John (Jack) Houghton Haworth

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In 1911 Jack was living in Hove, Sussex with his occupation listed as Professional Footballer.(1) His father, J.J. Haworth was involved in the Lancashire Football Association. As the above press cutting shows, he was playing for Middlesbrough at the outbreak of war. He enlisted in the West Lancashire Engineers on 27th September 1915 at St. Helens, as a blacksmith. At that time he gave his address as 70 High Street, Turton. His service number was 8743. He arrived at the Royal Engineers’ Base Depot in France on 29th January 1917. He received the British War and Victory Medals. By the end of the war his service number was 430343 and he had the rank of Sapper in the Royal Engineers. He stated on leaving the army that he was not suffering from any disabilities.(36) John married Florence Cannon in Bolton in 1915(20) and died in 1967.(24) Elsie later married Florence’s brother, Tom.(1,18)

William Haworth No service record has been found for William. James is commemorated on the war memorial at St. Anne’s Church, Turton and also on the Ypres (Menin Gate) memorial – Panels 41 and 43.(15) There is no known grave. The family grave in the churchyard at St. Anne’s also commemorates him, as the beloved husband of Elsie.

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Reference: Panels 41 and 43

30th/31st July – Action in which James Hewartson Haworth was killed Extract from Regimental War Diaries of 1/4th Loyal North Lancashire Regiment 30 July – “Y” day. Strict orders had been issued with regard to restricting movement so as to preclude the possibility of the concentration being made known to the enemy. As a matter of fact, it was a very dull day and visibility was never even fair. During the late afternoon, the Brigadier and Divisional Commanded visited the Battalion and wished us good luck. At 9.25 pm in drizzling rain, the first platoon moved off towards the trenches, followed by the remaining platoons at intervals of 200 yards. The mopping up parties (3 in number) provided for our Battalion by ¼ R Lanc R moved with us in such positions as to arrive in their correct position of assembly. The route taken was the main Vlamertinge – Ypres Road to the Water Tower (I7c.85.95), thence by tramline to where it joined No.; 5 track, thence by No. 5 track, running parallel and in between the Ypres – Potivre and Ypres – St. Jean Road, joining Congreve Walk, our assembly trench at about I 4a.45.90. On arrival here, Battalion Headquarters was established in the .... dugout at the Vinery (I4a.65.800). Congreve Walk was reached without a casualty, not a shell being fired during the whole time the Battalion was on the road and tracks. Our artillery were very active, raining gas shells on the enemy continuously for 4 hours from about 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. At one time – about 11.30 pm – the enemy sent a few mustard oil gas shells in the vicinity of Congreve Walk causing .... sneezing and a temporary cessation of the work of drawing tools. After tools had been drawn, there was nothing further to do except have hot tea – 2 cookers being concealed near St. Jean with this end in view. Casualties: 2 other ranks wounded. 2 other ranks to field ambulance sick. 31st July 1917 – Trenches (E and NE of Ypres) Z day. At zero hour (3.50 am), the 55th Division assaulted, taking part in a general attack of the 5th Army, part of the 2nd Army and the 1st French Army. At Zero, the 165th and 166th Infantry Brigades attacked and captured the Blue Line as shown on attached map. The artillery barrage commenced at zero. It did not provide any reply in the neighbourhood of Congreve Walk until about 4.15 am, when a few 4.2s and 5.9s fell in the trench and caused a few casualties. From 4.30 am onward, German prisoners came past in continuous streams, in many cases being utilised to carry down our wounded. From the Blue Line, the 165 and 166 Brigades moved on to the Black Line, as shown on map, and on the capture of the Black Line, the artillery provided a protection barrage to cover consolidation. At Zero + 4 hours 40 minutes, the 164 Infantry Brigade moved off in artillery formation from Congreve Walk, ¼ Loyal N. Lancs on the right with ¼ R Lanc R in support; and 2/5 Lancs Fusiliers on the left with 1/8 (Irish) Liverpools in support.

2/Lieut. Ashcroft (Signalling Officer) was killed by a nosecap as we started off, otherwise everything went off satisfactorily. The enemy were dropping shells, both HE and shrapnel, promiscuously between Congreve Walk and our original front line, but there was no difficult in eluding the areas, to which attention was being paid. It was a dull, misty morning and so there were neither aeroplanes nor balloons in the air, to detect the advancing troops. As we passed over No Mans Lane, companies were well shaken out into their various squads, and the direction was being well kept. The enemy wire in front of his first line system was practically non-existent and provided no obstacle. The trenches appeared very badly smashed in and in places obliterated, though here and there appeared small concrete dugouts, apparently still intact. The advance continued to go well and the platoon commanders with the help of their compasses maintained their direction. The enemy artillery were apparently preoccupied finding out exactly where their own infantry were, and also in moving back some of their guns. Consequently we were very little troubled by shells, but machine gun fire caused us considerable annoyance. It was mostly coming apparently from our right flank, perhaps from some Strong Point, which had not been sufficiently well mopped up. However, although bullets were flying everywhere, the range had not been correctly estimated and so we suffered very few casualties in this way before reaching the Black Line. At Zero + 6 hours 20 mins (10.10 a.m.) the 164 Infantry Brigade formed up under the protective barrage which stood about 200 yards on the enemy’s side of Black Line and moved forward to attack and consolidate the Green Line, as shown on attached map. Just before forming up under the barrage, we were caused a little trouble by some snipers, who had apparently been swept over by the barrage and were lying out in shell holes. From now onwards the artillery barrage was rather thin, owing to the fact that it was out of range for some of the guns which had fired during the initial assault, and because it was being provided by batteries, who had moved forward since Zero to positions in the vicinity of the original No Man’s Land. When the ¼ Loyal N. Lancs moved off from the Black Line, which had been obtained with the 2/5 Lancs Fusiliers on the left and the 6th Cameron Highlands (45th Infantry Brigade, 15th Division) on the right. During the subsequent advance from the Black to the Green Line, the casualties, which were particularly heavy amongst officers, were again principally caused by Machine Gun fire. Reports were received from several officers giving their location. Those immediately in our line of advance were effectually dealt with, but we were still troubled by guns firing from the high ground beyond the Green Line and also by guns enfilading us from on right flank. Several Strong Points had to be dealt with in the course of the advance – particular mention being made of Somme Farm, Gallipoli and Keir Farm. Somme Farm provided us with 60 prisoners. It consisted of several concrete dugouts, one being an Aid Post, and had evidently been used as a Battalion Headquarters. There were also concrete dugouts at Keir Farm and Gallipoli, each of which provided us with a few prisoners.

The Green line was reported captured at 11.40 a.m. and consolidation was at once put in hand. While this was in progress, hostile Machine Guns again proved troublesome, especially from Nile Farm. During the advance to the Green Line, six battalions – 77 men – were ...... the gunners continued to fire them until our advancing ... were within about 200-250 yards and then withdrew. On arrival at the Green Line difficulty was experienced in husbanding the available resources of ammunition, until a further supply could be brought up. Demands were received from all parts of the line, but they were unable to be met for some considerable time, owing to the fact that pack animals, which were bringing up supplies, were experiencing difficulties owing to the unexpected quantity of uncut wire. Meanwhile, while the Green Line was being seriously weakened, particularly on the left, withdrew and was absorbed into the Green Line. This line in turn then had to withdraw, as there was no touch on the right and the 2/5 Lancs Fusiliers had to fall back well behind the Green Line, owing to the Green Line not having been taken by the Division on their left. The withdrawal was carried out in perfect order, the troops fighting as they moved back. By this time our supporting Battalion ¼ R Lanc R had merged itself into our line and the combined forces of the two Battalions formed a line of resistance, just in front of the black line. Posts of Machine and Lewis guns were thrown out as soon as it was dark and our protective barrage and SOS line was withdrawn, energetically consolidated, the third wave moved on to take the Black Dotted or Outpost Line. This was established on a line running about 200 yards in front of the Green Line. Our own barrage appeared to fall a trifle short at this point and consequently our line was held up slightly, and could not be established on the intended line. 50 prisoners were captured and sent back by the platoons comprising the Outpost Line. A message time 11.41 am stated “Enemy in full flight”. At 12.10 am our protective barrage ceased. Meanwhile the Outpost Line was being put into a state of defence by the construction of a series of Strong Points; although considerable difficulty was being experienced in maintaining touch on the left. On the right we appeared to be in touch, but it was obvious that the right flank company of the 6th Camerons was not up to the alignment and consequently their line was swung back. The difficulties about ammunition continued to increase. Many Lewis guns were used until every round had been expended, but there was still none available for issue at Battalion headquarters. Things went well until 2.30 pm when a report was received that the enemy was forming up for a counter-attack in the vicinity of Boetleer. At 2.35 pm a strong counter-attack developed on the right and the 6th Camerons on our right were seen to be withdrawing. This attempt on the part of the enemy was immediately followed by an attack on our left. With the enemy advancing on both flanks and closing in the centre, our Outpost Line..... to conform with our new line.

In the evening about 10 pm a warning order was received to the effect that the Brigade would be relieved by units of the 165 Brigade. Casualties during operations on 31st July were as follows: Officers killed: Captain AL Harris (Commanding A Company) 2nd Lieutenant G Ashcroft (Signals) “ “ BH Williams (Intelligence) “ “ V Mather “ “ JE Ordish “ “ F Fullerton “ “ JH Ogden (Commanding B Company Died of wounds: Captain RW Shegog (RAMC) Wounded and missing: Lieutenant DH O’Strehan (Commanding D Company) 2nd Lieutenant C Rigby Missing: 2nd Lieutenant DH McSweeny “ “ HS Holden Wounded: 2nd Lieutenant H Tyldesley “ “ HC Vincent “ “ FC Jenkinson “ “ EM Lasterby Captain R Ord Captain WLB Caley 2nd Lieutenant L Howarth Other Ranks Killed 44 Wounded 179 Missing 77

Total Casualties: Officers 19 Other ranks 300 R Hindle Lieutenant Colonel Commanding ¼ N Lancs Regiment Place: field Date: 7th August 1917 Ref (25)

Research: Linda Spencer

References: 1 www.ancestry.co.uk – census records 2 www.ancestry.co.uk – military records 15 www.cwgc.org 16 www.findmypast.co.uk 17 Testimony from village resident. 18 www.findmypast.co.uk - marriages 19 www.findmypast.co.uk – England Marriages 1538-1973 20 www.findmypast.co.uk – England and Wales Marriages 1837 – 2008. 21 www.ancestry.co.uk – war diaries of the 1/4th Battalion Loyal North Lancs 23 www.ancestry.co.uk - UK, Army Register of Soldier’s Effects’ (1901 – 1929) 24 www.findagrave.com - P Lucas 25 www.ancestry.co.uk - Pages 257 to 271 of War diary of ¼ Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment Jan 1916 to April 1919. 26 Bolton Journal and Guardian – 1.10.15 27 Bolton Journal and Guardian – 24.08.17 28 Edgworth Gazette & Herald, 2.08.85 30 Collection at The Barlow Edgworth by D Stott 36 www.findmypast.co.uk – service records