Main CPGW Record
Surname: ILLINGWORTH
Forename(s): John
Place of Birth: Skipton, Yorkshire
Service No: ---
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment / Corps / Service: Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 8th Battalion. (Leeds Rifles)
Division: 62nd (2/West Riding) Division
Age: 26
Date of Death: 1918-06-03
Awards: M.C.
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: I. B. 3.
CWGC Cemetery: HAGLE DUMP CEMETERY
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: SKIPTON, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
John Illingworth was the son of James William and Elizabeth Illingworth, née Birch and brother of Corporal William Utley Illingworth (402547) (q.v.). Their father was born at Ingrow and mother at either Kildwick or Steeton, Yorkshire.
1901 Skipton, Yorkshire Census: 28, Sackville Street - John Illingworth, aged 8 years, born Skipton, son of James W. and Elizabeth Illingworth.
1911 Skipton, Yorkshire Census: 28, Sackville Street - Jack Illingworth, aged 18 years, born Skipton, son of James William and Elizabeth Illingworth.
John was married to Muriel Wright in 1915.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Lieut John Illingworth, 8th West Yorkshire Regiment (T.F.). Theatre of War first served in: France. Date of entry therein: 24 September 1916. Correspondence: Mrs R.J. Hamill, 2, Marine Terrace, Porthcawl, S. Wales.
On the 30 January 1918 the 1/8th Bn West Yorkshire Regiment moved to the 62nd (2/West Riding) Division absorbing the 2/8th Bn West Yorkshire Regiment, to form the 8th Bn West Yorkshire Regiment.
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
ILLINGWORTH, Lieut. John, aged 26, West Yorkshire Regiment, West House, Mill Bridge, Skipton, killed June 3, 1918.
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Lieutenant John ILLINGWORTH
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 62nd (2/West Riding) Division
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View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
27 August 1915
LANCE CORPORAL ILLINGWORTH
A post card received by Mr. J. Illingworth, acting Conservative Agent for the Skipton Division, last week conveys the information that his brother, Lance Corporal Illingworth, son of Mr. Wm. Illingworth, of Sackville Street, Skipton, had been wounded while serving with the Canadian contingent in France.
The communication was one of the formal post cards containing printed matter, which intimated that Lance Corporal Illingworth had been admitted to hospital wounded, was going on well, and hoped to be discharged soon. He emigrated to Canada two years ago and joined the Colonial forces early this year, completing his training at Shornclife Camp and proceeding to the front about a month ago. He had only been in the firing line about five days when he met with his mishap. No details are known as to the nature of his injury.
14 June 1918
Lieutenant John Illingworth, Skipton
We much regret to record the death of Lieut. John Illingworth, West Yorkshire Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Illingworth, 28 Upper Sackville Street, Skipton. The sad news was officially telegraphed to the widow (who lives with her mother, Mrs. Wright, West House) during last weekend.
A letter of sympathy has also been received from Captain Felix P. Smith, who states that Lieutenant Illingworth was killed instantaneously by the bursting of a shell on Monday June 3rd, about 2 p.m., and adds:– “Everybody loved your husband. He had not a single enemy, and during the eleven months he was attached to me as traffic officer, I cannot speak too highly of his work. We shall all miss him so much, as no matter how black everything looked he had always a smile and a cheery word to keep our spirits up. All my staff feel your husband’s death very much as they loved working for him. We all attended his funeral on Tuesday June 4th, the service being conducted by the senior Church of England clergyman of the Division. My traffic sergeant was killed by the same shell as your husband and they were buried side by side.”
Twenty-six years of age, Lieutenant Illingworth had been in the Army two and a half years and at the Front two years. He was formerly assistant to Captain Whittaker, registration agent to the Skipton Division Conservative and Unionist Association, and was one of the joint secretaries with Mr. A. Broadbent, of the Skipton Recruiting Committee.
28 June 1918
ROLL OF HONOUR – The Late Lieut. Illingworth
Mrs. Illingworth has received notification that her husband, Lieutenant J. Illingworth, who was killed in France, June 3rd, has been awarded the Military Cross for his good work under heavy shell fire in April. Lieutenant Illingworth’s wife and son reside at West House, Skipton.
04 July 1919
PEACE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 'CRAVEN HERALD' – CRAVEN'S FALLEN OFFICERS
LIEUTENANT J. ILLINGWORTH
West Yorks. Regiment, of Skipton, formerly assistant to Mr. E. G. Whittaker, the Conservative Agent. Killed in action June 3rd, 1918, aged 26 years.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
14 June 1918
ILLINGWORTH – Killed June 3rd, Lieut John Illingworth, of the West Yorkshire Regiment, husband of Mrs. Illingworth, of West House, Mill Bridge, Skipton, and son of Mr. and Mrs. James William Illingworth, of 28, Upper Sackville Street, Skipton, aged 26.
14 June 1918
CRAVEN AND THE WAR
Lieut. J. Illingworth Killed
We regret to announce that Lieut. John Illingworth, of the West Yorkshire Regiment, husband of Mrs. Illingworth, of West House, Mill Bridge Skipton, and son of Mr. and Mrs. James William Illingworth, of 28, Upper Sackville Street, Skipton, was killed by a stray shell on June 3rd. Captain Felix P. Smith, in a letter to Mrs. Illingworth, states: – “Everybody loved your husband. He had not a single enemy. During the 11 months he was attached to me as traffic officer, I cannot speak too highly of the work he performed. We shall miss him so much, as no matter how black everything looked he had always a smile and a cheer to keep our sprits up. The shell burst on the road quite near to him, and the shock was sufficient to cause his death. All the staff feel his death very much as they loved working with him. We all attended his funeral on Tuesday, June 4th, the service being conducted by the senior Church of England clergyman of the division. My traffic sergeant was killed by the same shell.” Lieut. Illingworth, who was 26 years of age, enlisted about two and a half years ago, and had been in France about two years. He was formerly assistant Conservative agent at Skipton, and was joint secretary of the Skipton Recruiting Committee.
28 June 1918
CRAVEN AND THE WAR
Posthumous Honour for a Skipton Hero
Mrs. Illingworth has received notification that her husband, Lieut. J. Illingworth, who was killed in France on June 3rd, has been awarded the Military Cross, for his good work under heavy shell fire in April. Lieut. Illingworth’s wife and son reside at West House, Skipton.
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John’s son Kenneth Illingworth was a scholar at University of London – Queens College. He joined the Air Force and after training became a pilot in RAF Coastal Command. Posted to No. 235 Squadron flying the twin-engine Bristol Blenheim fighters which had a belly pack of four 303 machine guns.
He fought the Germans over the beaches of Dunkirk flying from Bircham Newton, in Norfolk; and during the Battle of Britain when 235 swung between being in Fighter Command and Coastal Command to shore up Sir Hugh Dowdings defences.
In December 1941, he flew with his squadron were part of the ‘air cover’ for the famous combined operations Commando raid on Vågsøy, and Måløy. He was then posted to the Far East and died in Singapore on 21 February 1943.