Son of Emma Chesworth, of 71, Warrington Rd., Prescot, Lancs., brother of Harry Chesworth.
Census Details
1901 Census -
Harry was aged 9 and lived at 19 Cyprus Street, Prescot, with his father George, a 40 year old barrel maker, mother Emma (38) and siblings Albert (16), Lucy (11), Fred (6), Arthur (4), Eva (2) and Lily (2 months)
1911 Census - The family now lived at 71, Warrington Road, Prescot. Parents George, a 50 year old Blacksmith, and Emma, 48, had been married for 28 years. Their children are listed as Harry (19, a Teams Man on Farms), Fred (16, a Brass Finisher), Eva (12), Lily (10), Hilda (7) and Frank (5).
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
Birth Registered Q4/1894, Prescot, 8b, 687
SDGW – Where Born
Prescot
Enlisted
Prescot
Resided
How Died
Died of Wounds
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Notes
The Medal Index Card at the National Archives show that Fred Chesworth had previously served as a Private and Corporal, Number 1789, with the 1st /5th South Lancashire Regiment
Research Ref. No.
P049
Service Details
Fred Chesworth’s original service number of 1789 suggests that he enlisted at the outbreak of war in August 1914. The 5th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment, had just started its annual training in camp when war broke out in August 1914. It was sent to Edinburgh until October, then moved to Tunbridge Wells until February 1915. It was then ordered to France, sailing on the 13th aboard s.s. King Edward, arriving at Le Havre the same day. Fred Chesworth was with this original landing, as denoted by his Medal Index Card.
By the start of the New Year in 1917, the battalion was in the Ypres Salient, carrying out normal trench relief duties. By the beginning of May, however, activity was on the increase as the British forces prepared for the forthcoming Third Battle of Ypres, better known as Passchendaele. On 29th May, the battalion was sent to Garrison Railway Wood and then in the first week of June they moved to a new sector near to Zillebeke. Towards the end of June they were withdrawn to rest and train at St Omer in preparation for the offensive, due to commence on 31st July. On 20th July they returned once more to Ypres and continued training until they moved into assault positions on the 30th.
At 3.50 a.m. on 31st July the British bombardment began and the leading waves of infantry closely followed, taking the first objective (the “Blue Line”) in their stride. At 5.05 a.m. as arranged, the battalion and the Liverpool Scottish went forwards towards the second objective, known as the “Black Line”. Once the Blue Line was passed, however, the enemy counter barrage became heavier and more effective. But the battalion continued their advance, shell-hole by shell-hole, to within 200 yards of their objective. Here the advance came to a brief stop under German machine gun fire, but two tanks arrived and took out the German positions.
The battalion continued their advance and they swiftly took the enemy trenches, clearing the dug-outs with bombs and bayonets. Consolidation took place and by evening the new line was secure. The battalion had lost 1 officer and 27 other ranks killed, 5 officers and 133 other ranks wounded, 1 officer and 11 other ranks reported missing.
Fred Chesworth died of his wounds that day. He was taken from the battlefield to one of the Casualty Clearing Stations where he died and was buried at Lijssenthoek.
From the Prescot Reporter of 14th September 1917
On the 24th July 1918, the Parish Magazine had published a list of known casualties to date. Then on the 26th August, the magazine reported “Omitted from the Memorial Service List was the name of Fred Chesworth of 71, Warrington Road. He and his brother Harry (on the list) were both corporals in the 5thSouth Lancs”.
Fred Chesworth’s Medal Index Card showing his arrival in France on 13th February 1915
Corporal Chesworth’s CWGC headstone at LijssenthoekMilitaryCemetery
Lance Corporal 31406 Harry CHESWORTH
Prescot Reporter 02/02/1917
Unit/Regiment
2nd Bn, York and Lancaster Regiment
Date of Death
12/10/1916
Age at Death
24
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Thiepval Memorial
Pier and Face 14A & 14B
CWGC Family Details
(if shown)
Son of George and Emma Chesworth, of 71, Warrington Rd., Prescot, Lancs., brother of Fred Chesworth
Census Details
1901 Census -
Harry was aged 9 and lived at 19 Cyprus Street, Prescot, with his father George, a 40 year old barrel maker, mother Emma (38) and siblings Albert (16), Lucy (11), Fred (6), Arthur (4), Eva (2) and Lily (2 months)
1911 Census - The family now lived at 71, Warrington Road, Prescot. Parents George, a 50 year old Blacksmith, and Emma, 48, had been married for 28 years. Their children are listed as Harry (19, a Teams Man on Farms), Fred (16, a Brass Finisher), Eva (12), Lily (10), Hilda (7) and Frank (5).
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
Birth Registered Q1/1892, Prescot, 8b, 680
SDGW – Where Born
Prescot, Lancs
Enlisted
Prescot
Resided
How Died
Killed In Action
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Notes
Formerly 4698, South Lancashire Regiment
Research Ref. No.
P050
Service Details
The Parish Magazine of 27th November reported the death as follows. “Lance Corporal Harry Chesworth of 5thSouth Lancs. Was killed in October 1916 in one of the battles of the Somme. Aged 24, he is of 71, Warrington Road”.
From the Prescot Reporter of 14th September 1917
Harry Chesworth’s Medal Index Card. His entitlement was to the British War Medal and Victory Medal
Private 18423 William Alfred CHESWORTH
Unit/Regiment
2nd Bn., King's Own Scottish Borderers
Date of Death
31/07/1916
Age at Death
22
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Thiepval Memorial
Pier and Face 4A and 4D
CWGC Family Details
(if shown)
Son of Alfred and Jane Chesworth, of Ellaby Rd., Rainhill, Lancs.
Census Details
1901 Census -
The Chesworth family lived at 11 Carlton Street, Prescot, and consisted of father Alfred, a 33 year old Assurance Agent, mother Jane, 28 and children William (7), |Ethel (4) and Gladys (2).
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
Birth Registered Q4/1893, Prescot, 8b, 679
SDGW – Where Born
Prescot, Lancs
Enlisted
St Helens, Lancs
Resided
Rainhill, Lancs
How Died
Killed In Action
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Research Ref. No.
P051
Research ongoing
William Chesworth’s Medal Index Card has the notation “MPD” – Missing Presumed Dead, His entitlement was to the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal
The reverse of the card shows the Officer Commanding requesting authority to dispose of the medals in 1920.
Private 17468 James CHORLEY
Prescot Reporter 11/08/1916
Unit/Regiment
2nd Bn, King's Own Scottish Borderers
Date of Death
23/07/1916
Age at Death
28
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Thiepval Memorial
Pier and Face 4A & 4B
CWGC Family Details
(if shown)
Husband of Emily Chorley, of 19, Ashworth House, Market Place, Prescot.
Census Details
1901 Census -
The Chorley family lived at 52 Beaconsfield Street. Henry, a 41 year old Bricklayer and his wife Mary, also 41, had children Annie (15), a watch frame maker, James, a 12 year old Errand Boy, Mary (9) and William (3).
1911 Census -
James was 24, single, and worked as a Telephone Cable Opener at the Wire Works. He lived at 50, Cyprus Street, the home of his parents Henry and Mary
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
The birth of James Strettle Chorley was registered in Prescot in Q2/1888, Vol 8b, Page 689
Marriage to Emily Woodward registered in Prescot inQ3/1914, Vol 8b, Page 1376. Their son Harry was born in 1915.
SDGW – Where Born
Prescot, Lancs
Enlisted
St Helens, Lancs
Resided
Prescot, Lancs
How Died
Killed In Action
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Research Ref. No.
P052
Service Details
Prescot Reporter, 04/08/1916 -
“Unofficial news has been received that Signaller James Chorley has been killed by shrapnel in France. The intelligence was conveyed in a letter written home by a Prescot soldier who also sent money and photos of the dead soldier’s wife and brother picked up from the field of battle.
Chorley, who leaves a widow and one child, was 28 years of age and resided at 5, New Cross Street, Prescot. He was attached to the King’s Own Scottish Borderers and had been in France only four months. His younger brother William is with the Royal Engineers of the West Lancashire Division in Salonika. Great sympathy is expressed for his widow and child, and also for his father and mother who live in Cyprus Street”
Prescot Reporter, 11/08/1916 –
“The news sent in a letter from a soldier at the front that Signaller James Chorley had been killed in action in France has now been officially conformed. The deceased, who was 28 years of age,was the husband of Mrs. Chorley, of New Cross Street, Prescot, and had only been in France four months with his regiment, the King’s Own Scottish Borderers. He leaves a widow and one child to mourn their loss.”
Prescot Reporter, 14th September 1917
James Chorley’s Medal Index Card. He was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal
Although James Chorley has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, when his father Henry died in 1924, the family included an inscription to James on the headstone in Prescot Cemetery, as shown below. Years later, an additional inscription was added for James Chorley Washington, killed in Normandy in 1944 whilst serving with the Royal Engineers. This was the nephew of "our" James Chorley, being the son of his sister, Mary, and her husband, Edward Washington. I wonder if James Wahsington was named in honour of his late uncle, James Chorley?
The headstone is pictured below
Lieutenant (Quarter Master) Herbert Leonard CLEAVER
Unit/Regiment
2nd/5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death
11/11/1914
Age at Death
46
Burial/Memorial & Reference
St HelensCemetery
10 CE 79
CWGC Family Details
(if shown)
Husband of Frances Cleaver, of "Ormeau," Old Lane, EcclestonPark, Prescot
Census Details
1871 Census -
Son of John and Sarah Cleaver, living in Leamington Hastings, Warwickshire
1881 Census -
The Cleaver family now lived in Warrington. John Cleaver, a 33 year old Railway Policeman, lived at 28, Elizabeth Street with his wife Sarah (33) and their 8 children; William (14), Herbert (11), Alfred (9), Sarah (8), Lucy (6), Mary Ann (4), Ada (2) and newborn Gertrude
1891 Census -
The Cleaver family still lived in Warrington, but Herbert was not with them, having joined the army by this time. At the same address as 1881, the family now has additional children Jesse (8), Ethel (5), Sidney (3) and Ethel (1).
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
Birth registered Q4/1869, Rugby, Vol 6d, Page 458
Death registered Q4/1914, Fylde, Vol 8e, Page 814
Research Ref. No.
P316
Service Details
Herbert Cleaver originally attested into the South Lancashire Regiment at Warrington on 13th July 1887 aged 18 years and 1 month. He recorded that he worked as a labourer.
The 2/5th Battalion was officially constituted as a Second Line battalion of the regiment on 23rd September 1914 in Liverpool.
The “St Helens Reporter” of November 6th, 1914 carried the following story:-
“It has been announced that the reserve battalion of the 5th South Lancashires is to be commanded by Major Bates, transferred from the 5th. Several of the officers of this new battalion are well known locally. Herbert Cleaver, a respected Boer War veteran who had fought at Spion Kop, has been promoted from Sgt Maj in the 5th Battalion to 2nd Lieutenant and Quartermaster in the new battalion.
It is suggested that the battalion will winter at the popular holiday resort of Blackpool.”
Then on Friday 13th November, it was further reported,
“South Lancs deaths:
Lieut (QM) Herbert Leonard Cleaver dies whilst with the 2/5 Battalion at Blackpool aged 46. He was the husband of Frances Cleaver, of "Ormeau," Old Lane, Eccleston Park St Helens.
Lieutenant Cleaver had been recently commissioned and appointed to the post of Quartermaster with the Reserve Battalion of the 5th South Lancs. He had been with the 5th Battalion for about ten years, from during its years as the 2nd Volunteer Battalion (South Lancs Regiment) before the formation of the Territorial Force in 1908.”
It was also reported that It is also reported that recruitment for the Reserve Battalion has increased significantly since it was announced to be training in Blackpool. The unit is now at full strength.
On Tuesday 17th November, the local press report “The funeral of Lt(QM) Herbert Cleaver, the Boer War veteran who died recently. There is a huge list of attendees, including many members of his family, also in khaki: Sgt Edward Cleaver (WL Div Engineers), L/Cpls Herbert and Alfred Cleaver and Bugler Arthur Cleaver (5th SLR), and others. Floral tributes included wreaths from the Sergeants of 1/5 and 2/5 SLR.”
It is interesting to note that on Herbert Cleaver’s Medal Index Card, shown below, he has no medal entitlement due to the fact that he did not see overseas service.
Herbert Cleaver’s Medal Index Card shows his promotion from Sergeant to Second Lieutenant.
Herbert Cleaver was buried in the family grave at St HelensCemetery on 15th November 1914. The pictures below show his grave.
Private 23691 James Mercer CLEMENTS
Unit/Regiment
8th Bn, Royal Fusiliers
Date of Death
30/04/1917
Age at Death
20
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Faubourg D'Amiens Cemetery
IV D 25
Census Details
1901 Census -
James was living at 58 High Street, Prescot, the home of his grandmother Jane Mercer, a 70 year old widow. Also at the address are Jane's daughter (James' mother) Jane Clements, a 38 year old widow, and James'younger sister Edna, aged 2.
1911 Census -
Living at 58, High Street, Prescot, were Jane Clements, a 48 year old widow, and her children James (14) and Edna (12) who were both Scholars.
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
Birth Registered Q1/1897, Prescot, 8b, 726
SDGW – Where Born
Prescot, Lancs
Enlisted
Prescot
Resided
Prescot, Lancs
How Died
Died of Wounds
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Research Ref. No.
P053
Service Details
James Mercer Clements was a pupil of PrescotGrammar School from 1910 to 1913.
The Parish Magazine of 28th June 1917 reported “The following are deaths in action, all in France or Belgium” and included “Pte. J. Mercer Clements, 20, of High Street, Royal Fusiliers. Killed 30th April1917, France”.
James Clements’ Medal Index Card
James Clements grave at Faubourg D'Amiens Cemetery
Private 241960 JamesErnestCOFIELD
Unit/Regiment
2nd/5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death
01/01/1918
Age at Death
21
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Harlebeke New BritishCemetery
XII B 13
CWGC Family Details
(if shown)
Son of the late William and EllenCofield.
Census Details
1901 Census -
The Cofield family lived at 28 Warrington Road, Prescot and comprised father William a 45 year old Railway Signal man, mother Ellen (44), and children Joseph (22), John (19), George (14), Elizabeth (8), William (7) and James (5)
1911 Census -
The Cofield family lived at 76, Eccleston Street, Prescot. William (57) and Ellen (58) were joined by daughters Lizzie, Grace and Ellen, and sons William and James (15), who worked as a painter at the Wire Works.
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
Birth Registered Q3/1896, Prescot, 8b, 700
SDGW – Where Born
Prescot, Lancs
Enlisted
Prescot
Resided
How Died
Died of Wounds
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Research Ref. No.
P054
Service Details
The 2nd/5th battalion of the South Lancashire regiment was officially constituted at Liverpool on September 23rd, 1914, principally as a “second line” unit for the 1st/5th battalion. It proceeded to Blackpool on 11th November to commence its training, although it was severely handicapped in the early days by a lack of uniforms and equipment.
Early in 1915, the battalion was moved to Tunbridge Well sin Kent, forming part of the Central Force for Home Defence, although training was still hampered by the lack of equipment. The battalion consisted of 37 officers and 1,203 other ranks, although a significant proportion of these were for Home Service only. In addition, a high turnover of personnel came about due to the large number of discharges on medical grounds.
In May of 1915, the first draft to replace casualties at the front was called for and 10 officers left immediately for France. A steady drain of men continued until November, when the 3rd/5th battalion was formed to act as a Dept for men who had been evacuated due to wounds or sickness, also supplying drafts to the first line battalion. The second line battalion was now able to form itself into a shape fir for the purpose of fighting.
As 1916 progressed, the battalion remained on Home Service, mainly constructing field fortifications for the protection of London, south of the Thames. In June, however, the battalion was moved to Ashdown in Kent to complete training in preparation for moving overseas. Orders were not received until Christmas 1916, however. Eventually, the battalion entrained at Farnborough on 16th February 1917 for Folkstone. Their departure for France was delayed by fog until the 20th, when they sailed on the s.s. “Princess Henriette” with a full complement of officers and men.
Their early days in France were mobile, moving from Boulogne to Bailleul, then Oultersteene and finally to Armentieres. Here on 4th March, they moved into the front line trenches for the first time, relieving the men of the 2nd/4th battalion. At this time, Armentieres was a “quiet” sector and so the battalion passed the month of March suffering few casualties.
The battalion moved constantly around the front line areas throughout the remaining months of the year, ultimately moving into front line trenches in the HouthulstForest sector on Christmas Day under constant German harassing fire. On 27thn of December,“B” and “C” companies were relived in preparation for a raid on Turenne Crossing, north of Poelcapelle. They went back to Baboon Camp for training for the assault, planned for the night of 30th/31st December. The operation had been carefully rehearsed and was scheduled to start at 8 p.m., supported by artillery, machine guns and mortars. Snow was lying thickly and the raiders were instructed to wear white shirts over their uniform.
The companies advanced at zero hour under a creeping barrage. The artillery was effective and little resistance was encountered, with all the objectives being taken and the line being advanced by 200 yards. However casualties were suffered with 2 officers and 17 other ranks killed and 13 wounded.
PrivateJamesCofield was one of the wounded. He succumbed to his wounds on New Years Day 1918 and now rests in HarlebekeNewBritishCemetery.
JamesCofield’s Medal Index Card
The Parish Magazine of 29th May 1918 added 10 names to the existing 106 who had already fallen, including “Pte. JamesErnestCofield, 21, 5thSouth Lancs. Now reported by the War Office to have fallen on 1st January 1918. He was brother in law to Private William Henry Prescott and lived with his parents at 76, Eccleston Street”.
JamesCofield’s CWGC headstone at HarlebekeNewBritishCemetery
