The Somme Remembered – 21st July 1916
William Alfred Chesworth, born in 1893 in Prescot, Lancashire, was the son of Alfred Chesworth and his wife Jane nee Poole.
In the 1901 census he was living at 11 Carlton Street, Prescot, with his parents and two siblings. Alfred at the time was noted as being an Assurance Agent. Ten years later in 1911, William, aged 17, was one of five children. William worked in a wire mill, while his father is now listed as being a File Cutter. Home was Ellaby Road, Rainhill, Lancashire.
War was declared on 4th of August 1914 following other countries declarations starting on 28th of July when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. William enlisted in St Helen’s, Lancashire, when he joined the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, becoming Private 18423. He entered France in July 1915. Some 12 months later he was killed in action.
Thiepval Memorial
The Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, pier/face 4A 4D, bears the name of William Alfred Chesworth.
The Medal Card for William tells when he entered France, along with his medal entitlement, along with a note – ‘….requests auth to dispose of medals of Decd man 4.11.20’.
The Soldier’s Effects record for William was a little harder to find, only a little, as he had been transcribed as Chestworth – I am not one to be outdone by a transcriber! This record differs to others, as William’s death is marked as ‘on or since 31.7.16 presumed’. Like other soldiers his payment from the War Office was sent to his father, Alfred, in installments.
Not only is William remembered in The Somme region of France, he is also remembered in Rainhill where he called home.