 |
| (No soldier photo available) |
Border Regiment,
Killed in Action,
8th August 1917,
Age 25
Commemorated Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Newspaper Report:
Official information has been received by Mrs. Haworth, of 17 Park Street, Haslingden, that her son Private James Oakley Haworth, Border Regiment, was killed by a shell on August 8th 1917.
Mrs. Haworth received a letter from a second lieutenant, stating that on the 8th Private Haworth was carrying material to the front line when a shell burst among the party, wounding several and killing him.
"He was in my platoon," the letter adds, "and was a very good man indeed. He is greatly missed by his comrades."
Lance-Corporal Beetham, who wrote to Mrs. Haworth on behalf of the deceased's pals says the deceased suffered no pain.
"We saw that he was put to rest as well as circumstances would allow. We have known him for some time, as we came out together. He was a good lad, and very cheerful, and we miss him very much."
Private Haworth, who was 25 years old, is the elder of the late Mr. John Haworth's two sons. Mr. Haworth, who was a clothloooker at Hargreaves Street Mill, died 17 years ago.
The deceased soldier joined up in October 1916, and went to the front on June 17th 1917. Before he joined up he was a beamer at Commercial Mill, Haslingden, but previous to then he worked as a weaver at Britannia Mill, Haslingden. He was connected with Haslingden Parish Church and Sunday school from childhood, and was a member of Mr. Heathcote's Young Men's Class. For some time a member of the Church Lads Brigade, he often spoke of rejoining it after the war. He was also connected with the Church of England Men's Society, which he helped to form. His youngest brother, John, taught at Helmshore Council School for a time, but was a teacher at Haslingden Parish Church day school when he joined the Army. He went to the front in December, 1916. Mr. Sam Thornley, his uncle, and son of the late Police Sergeant Thornley, is in the R.F.A.
Newspaper Memorial:
In ever loving memory of Private James Oakley Haworth, Border Regiment killed in action at Westhock, August 8th 1917.
"Love outlasts Death."
From the family, 17 Park Street, Haslingden, and Mary Ellen.
