Also Served: John Chesworth - John CHESWORTH
12, Wycherley Street, Prescot Private 18621, 6th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
Picture and supporting information courtesy of Neil Harper, John Chesworth's grandson
John Chesworth was born on 12th June 1897, the son of Arthur & Elizabeth Chesworth. The family lived at 212 Reginald Road, St Helens at the time of the 1901 census and had moved to 85, Clock Face Road, St Helens, by 1911.
He joined the army, probably in early April 1915, as Private 18621, 6th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment. His address was noted as 52, Bell Lane, Sutton Manor.
The 6th Battalion sailed for Gallipoli in June 1915, arriving at Mudros on 2nd July and moving to the Gallipoli Peninsula a few days later. At this time, John Chesworth remained in the UK on training and it was not until December 1915 that he arrived in Theatre. This was at the same time as the Battalion, and the Army as a whole, was preparing to withdraw from the Gallipoli Peninsular, this being completed by the end of December.
They remained in Egypt for a while before moving on to fight the Turks again in Mesopotamia in March 1916.
Pte Chesworth's records show that he also served with the 9th Battalion of the South Lancs. This would almost certainly have been a transfer to boost the 9th Bn in their work in Salonika, but the date of transfer is not known.
John Chesworth was discharged to the Class Z Reserve on 6th March 1919 and returned home to St Helens, working at Sutton Manor Colliery. He was entitled to the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
On 16th May 1921 at St Mary's Church, Prescot, he married Annie Strettle. They lived at Moss Cottage, Hope Street. This was the home of Annie's parents, William and Annie. Also living there was Annie's brother, James Strettle, who had served win the Royal Engineers throughout the war.
At some time around 1930, John, by now working at the Wire Works, moved with his family to 6, Salisbury Street, Prescot where he lived until 1963. He then moved to Wycherley Street, Prescot.
John retired from BICC in 1962 and passed away in 1979, aged 81, in Runcorn.
John Chesworth's Medals and Badges, courtesy of his family
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