Haworth, Robert - Able Seaman

Able Seaman Robert Haworth

H.M.S. Beaufort,

Royal Navy

Died 12 July 1943

Age 20

H.M.S. Beaufort was a 1,050 ton destroyer of the 'Hunt' class, built at Birkenhead in 1941. In a letter to his parents, Able Seaman Robert Haworth said, "Great news is about to break". The 'great news' was the long-awaited invasion of Sicily, the first Allied landings in Europe. During the invasion 182 ships of the Royal Navy provided protection from German and Italian air attacks and also supported the advancing Allied troops by shelling enemy positions. Several ships were sunk by bombs and many others were damaged. Robert lost his life when H.M.S. Beaufort was damaged.

Robert was the son of Bennett and Susannah Haworth. He was aged 20. He attended St.John's, Stonefold, Day School, then Baxenden Wesleyan Senior School. He played football for the school. He was a weaver at Irwell Vale Mill until he went to work at the munitions factory at Wavell Works, Helmshore. He joined the Royal Navy in February 1942.

Robert is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire. The memorial is on Southsea Common and bears the names of almost 10,000 sailors of the 1914-1918 War and almost 15,000 from the 1939-1945 War who have no grave but the sea. Robert is named on Panel 74, Column 3.