2nd/5th Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, 16 February 1915
The Farmworth Chronicle dated 20 February 1915
Killed at Blackpool
TERRITORIAL’S FATAL FALL WHEN ON GUARD
A Bolton Territorial, named Corporal Harold Butterworth, of 387, Bury Road, Tonge, has met with an untimely end at Blackpool. He was attached to the 2nd / 5th Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, which is stationed at the seaside resort, and on Tuesday morning he was killed. This is the first fatality that has occurred in connection with the Reserve Battalion of the 5th L.N.L. Regiment, and the public sympathy goes out to the parents and relatives of Corporal Butterworth, who is exceptionally well-known in the town.
He is a young man being 29 years of age, and the eldest son of Mr. Edwin Butterworth, and enlisted soon after the formation of the Reserve Battalion. Prior to then he was a self-actor minder employed at Messrs. Thomasson’s Mill Hill Mill, and he joined about the same time as his brother (Arthur), and they both earned rapid promotion, both being made corporals, the deceased being promoted first. He was over in Bolton, on a flying visit, last week-end. The deceased was particularly well-known in swimming circles, and at the time of his death was the assistant secretary to the Bolton Bridgenean Club. He has worked hard for that organisation, and has earned special praise for his labours in the matter of life-saving, being hon. instructor to the club in that department. He was very successful in teaching life-saving, and was awarded a special honour by the Royal Life Saving Society.
Our Blackpool correspondent wired:- Corporal Butterworth was killed at the Blackpool Central Public Library on Tuesday. He was on duty at the staff headquarters of the troops billeted in the town. He was missed about 5.21, and on the guard going in search of him he found him lying at the top of the concrete steps with a wound in the forehead. He had evidently tripped while running up the steps.
COMMENTS ON THE HOURS OF GUARD DUTY
The fact that a soldier in training at Blackpool had been on duty for 15 hours prior to meeting his death by accident was referred to at the inquest on Wednesday night.
Butterworth was put in charge of the guard at the divisional staff headquarters, at the Central Library, Queen Street, Blackpool, on Monday night, and about 4.55 a.m. on Tuesday he was seen to go up two flights of steps.As he did not return in half an hour a sentry sent a bugler boy to see where he was.
The bugler, a lad called Humphreys, found Butterworth lying on the top landing unconscious and bleeding from the nose and mouth. Doctor Barnes arrived and pronounced life extinct. Butterworth had apparently stumbled on the top step and fell with his head on the concrete floor, fracturing his skull.
The Coroner and the jury commented upon the fact that Butterworth had been on parade on Monday and went on duty in charge of the guard at 5.30, Monday afternoon, and was not to go off duty until 9 a.m. on Tuesday. He had no actual work to do, apart from seeing the change made in the guard every two hours, but he had not to fall asleep.
It might seem to civilians, said the Coroner, that the time Butterworth had to remain on guard was unnecessarily long, something like 15 and a half hours, but it seemed to be a military rule, and when the men were on service they would probably have harder things to do. A lieutenant said Butterworth had had a comparatively light day before, and when he had finished his night duty he would have had a full day free.
The Jury returned a verdict of “Accidental Death.”
Further Information
Prior to his enlistment at Bolton, Lancashire into the military on 6 November 1914, Harold was shown in the 1911 Census as being employed as a Cotton Spinner.
During his attestation into the service, he was described as the following :-
- Apparent Age: 29 years and 5 months.
- Height: 5′ 6″.
- Chest Measurement: 38″ fully expanded.
- Vision: Good.
- Physical Development: Good.
He was promoted to Corporal from the rank of Private on the 23 January 1915. He was to served 103 days before his death.
He was buried at St. James Church, Breightmet, Bolton, Lancashire.
His father Edwin was the sole legate of his belongings.
Family
Harold Butterworth was born c.1886 at Abram, Wigan, Greater Manchester. The following family information is taken from the 1891, 1901 and 1911 Census and the Commonwealth War Graves Records.
His family is shown as follows :-
- Father: Edwin Butterworth, born c.1862 at Rochdale, Lancashire. (1891 Police Constable, 1901/11 Colliery Banksman).
- Mother: Louisa Butterworth born c.1861 at Wrockwardine, Shropshire.
- Sister: Arthur, born c.1887 at Abram, Wigan, Greater Manchester.(Cotton Spinning)
- Sister: Naomi, born c.1889 at Abram, Wigan, Greater Manchester. (Maker Up, Bleachworks)
- Brother: Wilfred, born c.1896 at Charley, Lancashire. (Cotton Spinning)
- Sister: Gertrude, born c.1899 at Bolton, Lancashire.
- Sister: Ada, born c.1902 at Bolton, Lancashire.
Addresses
The following addresses have been ascertained for Harold Butterworth :-
- 1891: 239 Warrington Road, Abram, Wigan, Greater Manchester.
- 1901: 330 Bury Road, Tonge, Bolton, Lancashire.
- 1914: 387, Bury Road, Tonge, Bolton, Lancashire.
- 1915: 387, Bury Road, Tonge, Bolton, Lancashire.
Medals
Harold Butterworth was not awarded any service medals as he did not serve in a foreign theatre of war.
Memorials
Harold Butterworth is honoured and remembered on the following memorials:-
- Trinity Methodist Church, Tonge Fold, Bolton, Greater Manchester.
- St. Chads Church, Tonge Fold, Bolton, Greater Manchester.
Links to Additional Information
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission – Harold Butterworth
- Find a Grave website – Harold Butterworth
- A Street Near You website – Harold Butterworth
- Lives of the First World War – Harold Butterworth
References
- Soldiers Died in the Great War.
- Pension Card.
- Register of Soldiers Effects.
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
- 1891 Census.
- 1901 Census.
- 1911 Census.
- Army Service Record.
- The Farmworth Chronicle dated 20 February 1915.
Groups
Contributors:-
- Vincent Stuart.
- Peter Lucas (Grave Photo)
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