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| Pte John G. Ainsworth |
East Lancashire Regiment,
Died of wounds 29th September 1917,
Age 35
Buried Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension, Bailleui
Private John George Ainsworth of the 7th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment died of wounds in France on 29 September 1917. He was the only son of Mr.and Mrs. John Ainsworth of 22 Warburton Buildings. He was thirty five and a single man. Before he enlisted in 1915 he was a weaver at J.H.Birtwistle and Co. Ltd., Grane Road Mill and a member of Grane Church Institute. On 20 September, 1917 the Battalion attacked German positions near the Comines Canal, south of Ypres. The land was so waterlogged there was no trench system so both sides held their positions in isolated strong-points and flooded shell-holes. The Battalion captured their objectives and until they were relieved several days later, existed in almost unimaginable conditions. They were up to thigh-deep in water, in continuous rain amid heavy enemy shelling. The regimental history states that up to the end of the month casualties were “comparatively few” - twenty one killed and sixty five wounded. During this time Pte. Ainsworth was wounded in both arms and legs and taken to a casualty clearing station (temporary hospital) behind the lines, where he later died. He is buried in Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension. Outtersteene is a hamlet four miles [6.4Kms.] from the town of Bailleul in northern France. The extension to the cemetery was started about the time Pte. Ainsworth died. It stands on high ground commanding views of Bailleul and the surrounding countryside. There are 1,375 graves in the extension. Pte. Ainsworth lies in Plot I, Row C, Grave 20.
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| Census certificate for Private John George Ainsworth |
