‘Clitheroe Advertiser’ (19 October 1917)
(Kindly supplied by Shirley Penman of Clitheroe and Dorothy Falshaw of Gisburn)
SAWLEY SOLDIER YIELDS HIS LIFE
LANCE-CORPORAL A. TOWNSON
A splendid type of the men who form England’s new Army, Lance-Corporal Arthur Townson, whose parents reside at Bridge End, Sawley, has been killed in action. Capt. H.C. Mahen was the medium through whom the sad news was communicated, his letter, which reached Sawley, on Tuesday morning, being to the following effect:–
“It is with the deepest regret that I have to inform you of the death of your dear son. He was killed by shell fire during the advance on the morning of October 9th, at about nine o’clock. Your son had been in my company since he came to the battalion, last December, and had been one of my most useful men. His loss to me has been a great one, and I can realise what it means to you. There is such little consolation that one can offer in these terrible times, but our tenderest thoughts are for his dear ones at home. His death was instantaneous. Please accept my sincerest sympathy, and also that of the officers and men of C. Co.”
Further testimony to the fine qualities of deceased as a soldier was contained in a letter from Sec.-Lieut. Hackett, which was received on Wednesday morning, and ran as follows:
“It is with much regret that I find I must write you to express my sympathy in your great loss. Such that I can offer is, I know, of little use but it may mean something to know that your son died in the fulfilment of his duty, and that he met a painless death. The company were on their way to the trenches when a shell burst close to my platoon, causing several other casualties as well. During the few months I had known your son, he proved to be one of the smartest men in the company and, without doubt, one of the best and most cheerful of workers. I know he will be greatly missed by all.”
Cut-off when on the very threshold of manhood – he was only 20 years of age – Lance-Corporal Townson’s death will cause great regret, not only in Sawley, but also at Grindleton where he worked for Mr. Read, joiner. Jolly and high-spirited, he made himself liked by everybody. The Army claimed him on the 25th January, 1916, and he was attached to the 14th Worcesters. – He had been in France since last December. As to his life in the Army, the above letters speak for themselves.
Deceased was associated with Sawley Wesleyan Church and School, and the Reading Room.
‘Clitheroe Advertiser’ (26 October 1917)
(Kindly supplied by Shirley Penman of Clitheroe and Dorothy Falshaw of Gisburn)
LANCE-CORPORAL A. TOWNSON
son of Mr. and Mrs. Townson, Bridge End, Sawley, killed by shell fire during the advance on the morning of October 9th. Aged 20, he was associated with Sawley Wesleyan Chapel and school, and the Reading Room, and, prior to joining up, worked for Mr. Read, joiner, Grindleton.
Grindleton War Memorial - Biographical Notes by Shirley Penman
ARTHUR TOWNSON, son of William and Mary Elizabeth nee Tattersall married 1895 Ribble Valley.
On October 8th, 1917, Arthur was with his battalion in Seaton Camp nr. Poperinghe when the pioneer battalion was detached from the division and sent to work in the forward area. A camp was established a half mile east of the village of Elverdinghe where they remained for the rest of October. Working parties of 200 men were sent forward to work on the stretch of road between Wijdendrift and Langemarke. Accomplishing much good work under heavy shellfire, the battalion lost 4 men killed and 19 wounded on 9-10-1917 - one of them being Arthur. He was attached to Sawley Wesleyan Church, School and Reading Room and was in the employ of Mr. Read, joiner, of Grindleton.
Commemorated on:
Grindleton Memorial
Rimington Memorial
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