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Arthur William DUCKWORTH

Main CPGW Record

Surname: DUCKWORTH

Forename(s): Arthur William

Place of Birth: Blackburn, Lancashire

Service No: 20002

Rank: Private

Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

Battalion / Unit: 'D' Coy 9th (Service) Battalion

Division: 17th (Northern) Division

Age: 25

Date of Death: 1917-04-25

Awards: ---

CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Bay 6.

CWGC Cemetery: ---

CWGC Memorial: ARRAS MEMORIAL

Non-CWGC Burial: ---

Local War Memorial: EARBY, YORKSHIRE

Additional Information:

Arthur William Duckworth (born 9 December 1891) was the son of William and Alice Duckworth, née Darbyshire. William was born at Billington and Alice at Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire.

1901 Blackburn, Lancashire Census: 25, Lower Hollin Bank Street - Arthur Duckworth, aged 9 years, born Blackburn, nephew of Thomas and Jane Duckworth.

1911 Barnoldswick, Yorkshire Census: 7, Foresters Buildings - Aurther [sic] Duckworth, aged 19 years, born Blackburn, Lancashire. [Arthur was lodging with Annie Wilding the sister of Private James Pitchford (267805) (q.v.).]

Arthur was married to Maggie Taylor in 1913. Maggie’s sister, Annie, was married to Private Edgar Kay (38807) (q.v.).

The British Army Service Record for Arthur William Duckworth exists but may be incomplete.

British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Arthur W. Duckworth, 20002, W. Rid. R. Pres. Dead 25.4.17.

British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte Arthur William Duckworth, 20002, 9th W. Rid. R. Pres. Dead 25.4.17.

Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte Arthur William Duckworth, 20002, 9 W. Riding. Date and Place of Death: 25.4.17. Death pres. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Widow - Maggie. £7 3s. 2d. Self and child.

Photograph courtesy of Daniel Jones.

See also:
‘Earby in the First World War’ by Stephanie Carter, published by Earby & District Local History Society (2014).
‘Our Finest Crop’ by Steven Marshall, published by Earby & District Local History Society (2020).

Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry

View Entry in CPGW Book

Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:

DUCKWORTH, Arthur William, aged 25, West Riding Regiment, formerly of Earby, reported missing April 1917, now presumed dead.

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Private Arthur William DUCKWORTH

Private Arthur William DUCKWORTH

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 17th (Northern) Division

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 17th (Northern) Division

Data from Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 - 1919 Records

Soldiers Died Data for Soldier Records

Surname: DUCKWORTH

Forename(s): Arthur William

Born: Blackburn, Lancs

Residence: Earby, Yorks

Enlisted: Skipton, Yorks

Number: 20002

Rank: Private

Regiment: Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)

Battalion: 9th Battalion

Decorations:

Died Date: 25/04/17

Died How: Killed in action

Theatre of War: France & Flanders

Notes:

Data from Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records

CWGC Data for Soldier Records

Surname: DUCKWORTH

Forename(s): Arthur William

Country of Service: United Kingdom

Service Number: 20002

Rank: Private

Regiment: Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)

Unit: 9th Bn.

Age: 25

Awards:

Died Date: 25/04/1917

Additional Information: Husband of Maggie Duckworth, of 18, Brook St., Earby, Colne, Lancs.

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View Additional Image(s)

Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records

Private Arthur William Duckworth

Private Arthur William Duckworth

Courtesy of Daniel Jones

Postcard from Private Arthur William Duckworth to his daughter Irene

Postcard from Private Arthur William Duckworth to his daughter Irene

Courtesy of Daniel Jones

Reverse of above postcard

Reverse of above postcard

View Craven Herald Articles

View Craven Herald Articles

Craven Herald and Wensleydale Standard Logo

01 June 1917

EARBY – MISSING

Private Arthur Duckworth, Duke of Wellington’s, has been officially reported missing since April 25th, after being eleven months in France. He was a weaver employed by the Oaks Manufacturing Company, Brook Shed, and his wife resides at 2, Riverside Terrace, Earby.

19 October 1917

EARBY – THE BRAVE LADS WHO NEVER RETURNED

Mrs. Arthur Duckworth, 1, Riverside Terrace, Earby, has received the following letter from the British Red Cross in reply to enquiries about her husband, Private A. Duckworth, West Riding Regiment, reported missing on April 25th:– “We have been endeavouring for some time to obtain information with regard to your husband, and today have received our first report, but I am sorry to say it does not give a very hopeful account of what occurred on April 25th. Our informant, Sergt. Frederick Fletcher of the same regiment and company (now in Harborne Hall V.A.D. Hospital Birmingham), states:– “Pte. Duckworth was known to me as being in my ‘D’ Company, 14 Platoon, and I identify him by his number. We all went over with the first wave of attack at Bullecourt in the early morning of April 25th about 4 a.m. All the men in my Battalion, company and platoon were badly cut up that day by machine gun fire. No men were captured, but our losses were terrible. I cannot say definitely what happened to this man after I saw him last, nor do I think under the circumstances anyone can say more than that he went out and was subjected to sweeping gun fire and never returned. I did not leave my unit until the 31st August 1917.”

“We are continuing our enquiries on your behalf and will forward you any information directly we receive it. Please accept our very sincere sympathy in your anxiety.

“Yours faithfully, J. HOWARD (for the Earl of Lucan).”

Two other Earby soldiers: Private White and Private Laycock – belonging the same Company, were reported missing at the same time.

01 March 1918

DUCKWORTH – Missing since April, 1917, and death now officially presumed, Private Arthur Wm. Duckworth, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, formerly of Earby, aged 25 years.

01 March 1918

EARBY SOLDIER’S DEATH PRESUMED

After being reported missing since April 25th, 1917, the Army Council have now presumed the death of Private Arthur William Duckworth, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, as having been killed in action on the above date in France. Deceased, who was 25 years of age, leaves a wife and one child living at 1 Riverside Terrace, Earby. He had been at the Front eleven months, and prior to enlisting was a weaver employed by the Oaks Manufacturing Company, New Road Shed, Earby.

View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles

View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles

West Yorkshire Pioneer Logo

12 October 1917

EARBY MEN MISSING

Mrs. Arthur Duckworth, 1, Riverside Terrace, Earby, has received the following letter from the British Red Cross in reply to enquiries about her husband, Private A. Duckworth, of the West Riding Regiment, reported missing on April 25th:– “We have been endeavouring for some time to obtain information with regard to your husband and today have received our first report, but I am sorry to say it does not give a very hopeful account of what occurred on April 25th. Our informant, Sergeant Frederick Fletcher, of the same regiment and company (now is Harborne Hall V.A.D. Hospital, Birmingham), states:– “Private Duckworth was known to me as being in my ‘D’ company, 14th platoon, and I identify him by his number. We all went over in the first wave of attack at Bullecourt in the early morning of April 25th about 4 a.m. All the men in my battalion, company and platoon were badly cut up that day by machine gun fire. No men were captured, but our losses were terrible. I cannot say definitely what happened to this man after I saw him last, nor do I think under the circumstances anyone can say more than that he went out and was subjected to sweeping gunfire and never returned. I did not leave my unit until the 31st August, 1917.” We are continuing our enquiries on your behalf and will forward you any information directly we receive it. Please accept our very sincere sympathy in your anxiety. – Yours faithfully, J. Howard (for the Earl of Lucas).”

Two other Earby soldiers – Private White and Private Laycock – belonging to the same company, were reported missing at the same time.

01 March 1918

DUCKWORTH – Reported missing since April 25th, 1917, now presumed killed, Pte. Arthur Wm. Duckworth, of the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, husband of Mrs. Duckworth, of Riverside Terrace, Earby, aged 25.

01 March 1918

EARBY SOLDIER’S DEATH PRESUMED

After being reported missing since April 25th, 1917, the Army Council have now presumed the death of Pte. Arthur Wm. Duckworth, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, as having been killed in action on the above date in France. Deceased, who was 25 years of age, leaves a wife and one child living at 1, Riverside Terrace, Earby. He had been at the front eleven months, and prior to enlisting was a weaver employed by the Oaks Manufacturing Company, New Road Shed, Earby.

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    2 Responses to Arthur William DUCKWORTH

    1. Mark Duckworth November 9, 2018 at 11:19 pm #

      I am very proud that he was my Great Great Great Uncle who made the ultimate sacrifice. In order for his relations and all inhabitants of this country can live in peace and harmony.

    2. D Jones November 10, 2019 at 10:15 am #

      My mother and I attend the Earby memorial on the 11th November each year to remember the sacrifice of our uncle and of all those other soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice, including Edgar Kay who was related to Arthur.

      We still have Arthur’s postcards home to Maggie and Irene and his other personal effects such as his walking cane and a birthday card to Irene for her first birthday (as well as the original CPGW Book!). Having known Irene (a wonderful person) it was incredibly fortunate we were able to continue his memory and we use these items in my children’s work on remembrance at school. My son is also named after him to continue his memory.

      I made a trip to the field in France where Arthur was killed exactly 100 years to the second and laid a wreath for him and the other men of D Company. Truly emotional and poignant.

      We must ensure we protect the memory of these brave men as we continue to move through the generations.

      Thank you to CPGW.org.uk – your research and work is absolutely fantastic and has been a critical part of my research into Arthur’s pre war life and his service.

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