2nd Lieutenant Arthur Haworth

Title (Mr/ Mrs/ Capt/ Rev etc): 

First name(s): 

Arthur

Surname only: 

Haworth

 

Second-Lieut Arthur Haworth, King's Liverpool Regiment, attached to the Machine Gun Corps, was killed in action rallying his men against a German counter-attack on the Somme on July 19th, 1916. He was aged 20.

Born in Sowerby Bridge, Yorks, in 1896, he spent his childhood in Luton and attended Luton Modern School, becoming a member of the Old Lutonians Club. His father, Albert, was a machine tool manufacturer who brought his family from Yorkshire to Luton soon after Arthur, their second son, was born. They first lived in Cardiff Grove and later at 39 Brook Street until shortly before 2nd-Lieut Haworth's death.

Arthur Haworth had enlisted as a private in the King's Liverpool Regiment early in September 1914 and left for France on July 24th the following year. He saw hard service in the trenches and was quickly promoted to sergeant. On being gazetted as a second-lieut at the end of 1915 he returned to Britain and was training for some months at the Machine Gun School in North Wales.

Rejoining his regiment, he participated in the advance at the start of the Battle of the Somme and was killed after rallying his men to beat off a German counter-attack.

Along with a telegram of sympathy from the King and Queen, his parents received a letter from Lieut Oswald Coope, O.C. 92nd Machine Gun Corps. In the letter he said Arthur Haworth was in charge of two guns in the front line. By his example and courage he kept up the spirit of the men all through the bombardment prior to the assault.

Shortly after the assault was launched the enemy counter-attacked, but by his personal conduct and encouragement the enemy were beaten off. Unfortunately a bullet hit him in the neck and he died practically at once. He was buried in a tiny village called Bacquerot, south of Laventie.

 

Service or Civilian?: 

Regiment: 

Medals Awarded: 

Place of Birth: 

Sowerby Bridge
United Kingdom

Place of Death: 

Somme
France

War Memorial Location: 

Grave Location: 

Rue-du-Bacquerot No 1 Military Cemetery
Laventie
France

World War I Address: 

39 Brook Street
Luton
United Kingdom

Individual Location: 

Classifications: 

Images: 

Sec-Lieut Arthur Haworth

Connects to: 

Year of Birth: 

1 896

Year of Death: 

1 916

Month of Death: 

Jul

Day of Death: 

18

Keywords: 

Most Relevant Date: 

Wednesday, July 19, 1916

Source: 

Source Date: 

Thursday, August 3, 1916