Eli WATERWORTH

09 March 1917

BARNOLDSWICK SOLDIER HONOURED

Pte. Eli Waterworth, Northumberland Fusiliers (Machine Gun Corps), has been awarded the Military Medal for bringing in wounded under fire during the fighting on the Somme. In a letter to his wife at 33, Cobden Street, announcing the fact he mentions that he “went over the top” along with Pte D. Walling, another Barnoldswick soldier in the same regiment, whose death was recorded a fortnight ago. “I suppose you will have heard by now” (the letter continues), “I did not know until yesterday, when the Company-Commander called me out and told me I had been awarded the Military Medal.” Pte. Waterworth went to France last July. Before joining the Army he was a weaver at Moss Shed.

17 August 1917

BARNOLDSWICK

PRESENTATION TO A MILITARY MEDALIST

We are requested to announce that a public presentation of the Military Medal rely awarded to Pte. Eli Waterworth, Northumberland Fusiliers, is to be made at the Queen’s Hall on Monday evening. Pte. Waterworth arrived home on furlough from France on Tuesday evening. The presentation has been arranged with the consent of the military authorities, by Cr. Harper, chairman of the Barnoldswick District Council.

24 August 1917

CRAVEN AND THE WAR

PRESENTATION TO A MILITARY MEDALLIST

Stirring scenes were witnessed at Barnoldswick on Monday evening, when a public demonstration took place in honour of Pte. Eli Waterworth (Tyneside Scottish) to whom a presentation was made at the Queen’s Hall. The ceremony was preceded by a procession through the town comprising the local Cadet Corps, the Boy Scouts, the Fire Brigade, and the Special Constables. The procession was headed by the Cadet’s drum and bugle band, and attracted large crowds of people on the route. The ceremony at the Queen’s Hall, which was crowded, had been arranged by the chairman of the Urban Council (Cr. Harper) who was supported on the platform by Capt. Lord (Keighley), the Rev. F.W. Patten (vicar), and most of his fellow councillors. Cr. F.H. Slater presided. Unfortunately, owing to a blunder on the part of the responsible military authorities the Military Medal which was to have been presented to Pte. Waterworth failed to arrive in time for the ceremony. Regrettable as the circumstance undoubtedly was, it in no way detracted from the heartiness of the personal tribute or the patriotic fervour of the demonstration. Pte. Waterworth, who has been spending a few days leave at his home in West Avenue, was awarded the distinction in February last for conspicuous bravery in rescuing wounded under heavy fire. His appearance on the platform was greeted with ringing cheers.

The Chairman said they were met together for a very pleasant duty. He felt proud to stand on the same platform with Pte. Waterworth, and was sure that when he returned to his place in the fighting line he would maintain the reputation he had already won. If God spared him, as they all hoped He would, to come back safe and sound, Pte. Waterworth would have good reason to feel proud of the part he had taken in this great and disastrous war. Mr. Slater took the opportunity to remind the audience of tomorrow’s effort in aid of the Stranded Soldiers’ Fund, and the visit of a party of wounded soldiers from Skipton , in connection with which the Boy Scouts and the Ambulance Brigade had kindly undertaken to make a house-to-house collection. He thought a good many of them realised the amount of good that fund had done, and he trusted that they would help all they could.

BARNOLDSWICK’S PART IN THE WAR

Captain Lord said that it had been remarked that men of action were somewhat inarticulate, therefore if those present expected a speech from him they would probably be disappointed. But knowing the extent of Barnoldswick’s contribution to the army, and that this was the first time they had had the opportunity – although not the first time there ought to have been something of the kind – of welcoming one of the brave lads who had shown that when the opportunity came to him he took it, and the incident chanced to be noticed by someone in authority, he (Capt. Lord) felt he really ought to come and assist in some small degree in that gathering. Pte. Waterworth had before him an audience largely composed of the elder people and youth of the land for whom he had fought, who had met together to share in his honour. “I know something of Barnoldswick (Capt. Lord proceeded), and how during the earlier stages of recruiting we had sometimes the greatest difficulty in keeping your lads back. Many of them so far forgot their Sunday School maxims as to represent their age as eighteen and three or four months, long before they had attained that age. We had to make some of them walk back home instead of having their railway fares paid. That showed the spirit of Barnoldswick. The older citizens in the tribunals and other spheres of activity had also taken their share of responsibility. Though he could offer no prophecy as to how long the war would last, he felt sure the town of Barnoldswick would have just cause to feel proud “when the boys came marching home again,” those that were fortunate enough to do so. And those who have made the great sacrifice – we shall not forget them. They are in our thoughts to-day and all the time. I know that, just as it happens to me, there are fathers and mothers around me tonight who have given their best for the honour and glory of this country – for its honour more than the glory. We have placed our name to a scrap of paper, and have not withdrawn it, although other people have dared to do so.” (Applause).

A WORD OF APOLOGY

Cr. Harper said he would first of all like to offer a few words of apology in regard to the fact that no public recognition had been made to previous winners of war distinctions. Whoever was to blame he felt sure the omission was not due to any lack of appreciation, but rather to the fact that they were all new to this kind of work, never having lived in the time of a great war, and were unacquainted with procedure in connection with these decorations. Referring to the peace proposals emanating from the Pope, Mr. Harper said to his mind they were unacceptable. It would not be fair to the lads who had laid down their lives or maimed for life to make peace on such terms. The peace they were all anxious for was one which would prevent the recurrence of such a war in the future and one that would make it impossible for any nation to go behind its own agreements. A patched-up peace would, he felt confident, mean that the whole thing would have to be gone through again, and perhaps in a more terrible manner. Capt. Lord had referred to the readiness with which Barnoldswick men had rushed to the colours. If they were lacking in wealth and social position the men of Barnoldswick, and Earby as well, had responded nobly with their manhood, which was as much as they could do.

Coming to the particular object of the gathering, Cr. Harper said that he had rather an unpleasant announcement to make – “The medal has not arrived.” In order to clear himself and the Council of any blame in the matter he read correspondence received from the military authorities. The first letter, dated August 8th, read as follows:–

“I am directed to acknowledge receipt of your letter regarding the Military Medal awarded to Pte. Waterworth (Northumberland Fusiliers), and to inform you that your communication has been forwarded to the General Officer Commanding at York in order that the necessary arrangements may be made for presentation of the decoration.”

The next letter was dated August 9th:–

“I am directed to inform you that the officer in charge of the Infantry Records at York has been requested to release the medal for presentation to Pte. Waterworth when the date has been fixed for the same, and to ask if you will arrange the same. The ceremony should be carried out in as public a manner as possible. As Pte. Waterworth is a serving soldier the medal should be returned to the Record Office at York within a few days by registered post in conformity with the King’s Regulations.”

“Last Wednesday night,” Cr. Harper went on, “our clerk (Mr. Thornton) wrote asking for the medal to be sent on, and that the arrangements for the presentation tonight were complete. I expect they would have that letter by Friday morning, and that the medal might arrive on that date. But when it had turned up by Saturday evening I decided to send a wire to the officer in charge at York acquainting him that the Military Medal was not to hand. I didn’t hear anything on Sunday, but this afternnon I received the following telegram:–

'Regret no authority yet received to forward medal.'

“That to me is ridiculous after the letter sent on the 9th saying they had the authority. However, I think you will be satisfied there is no blame attached to us at this end. Having thus cleared the ground Cr. Harper said the medal was awarded to Pte. Waterworth for bringing in two wounded soldiers and bandaging two others under heavy fire during the night of February 11-12. That was a record of which not only he but everybody in Barnoldswick would be proud. (Applause). In the absence of the medal the next best thing I can do is to pin upon his breast this bar, and assure him that I do so with as much appreciation of his services as if it had been the medal.”

Pte. Waterworth’s rising to receive the honour was the signal for a roll of drums and a rousing fanfare from the buglers of the Cadet Corps, followed by prolonged cheering. Modestly returning thanks for the kind and hearty welcome he had received, he said: “One thing I wish to impress upon you is that when these deeds are done medals and honours are the last thing we think about. I hope you will not forget the brave lads who have fallen in battle. All those deserved more than either medals or anything else can testify. It may be surprising, but when you are fighting and facing death together, and you see a comrade in danger, you never think of your own life, but go to his assistance and if possible bring him in. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.” (Applause).

Cr. Maude moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman, Cr. Harper, and all who had participated in bringing about that successful gathering. He had been thinking about two other Barnoldswick lads who had won distinctions, one of whom Company-Sergeant-Major F. Green, D.C.M., – had paid the great price. What a blessing if they could have had all of them present that night.

Re. F.W. Patten seconded, and associated himself with all that had been said in praise of Pte. Waterworth and other Barnoldswick soldiers.

The resolution having been heartily carried, the chairman moved a vote of thanks to the committee of the Conservative Club for the use of the Queen’s Hall on that and many similar occasions during the course of the war.

This was seconded by Cr. Jas. Edmondson who remarked that having four of his own sons serving, knew something of the parental anxiety involved. He hoped Pte. Waterworth would go back better prepared than ever to take his part in the struggle, fortified with the knowledge that the whole town of Barnoldswick was backing him up and that he would come back safe and sound. (Applause).

The singing of the National Anthem brought the proceedings to a close.

31 August 1917

BARNOLDSWICK – THE RECENT MILITARY MEDAL PRESENTATION

Cr. Harper (chairman of the Urban District Council), has this week received from the Infantry Record Office at York, a letter of apology with reference to the non-release of the military medal which was to have been presented to Pte. Eli Waterworth last Monday week. The mistake, it appears, was due to temporary disorganisation of the office staff owing to a number of clerks being called up for re-examination, and their places having been taken by men unaccustomed to the routine. The letter was laid before the Council on Wednesday evening, the explanation and apology being accepted as satisfactory.

14 September 1917

BARNOLDSWICK

The Late Private R. Waterworth

Above is a portrait of Pte. Robinson Waterworth, East Yorkshire Regiment, who as briefly announced last week was killed in action in France on the 25th ult., aged 34 years. He was a married man with two children, and was a cousin of Pte. Eli Waterworth, M.M., to whom a public presentation was recently made at the Queen’s Hall. Prior to joining the army Pte. Waterworth worked at Crow Nest Shed (J. Windle and Sons, Ltd). He went out to France in January last. In a letter of condolence to the bereaved wife, who lives at 26, Melbourne Mount, the Rev. R.E. Farquarson (chaplain), writes:– "Your husband, as you have heard, was killed in action on Saturday 25th August. We are all very proud of what he did. He fell while doing his duty, fighting bravely, and died for his country. A more heroic deed he could not have done.”

05 April 1918

WATERWORTH – Died of wounds, March 23rd, Pte. Eli Waterworth, of the Northumberland Fusiliers (Tyneside Scottish), son of Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Waterworth, of 8, West Avenue, Barnoldswick, aged 24.

05 April 1918

CRAVEN AND THE WAR

Barnoldswick Medallist Killed

The death took place on March 23rd, from gunshot wounds, at a Casualty Clearing Station in France, of Pte. Eli Waterworth, Northumberland Fusiliers (Tyneside Scottish). He was 24 years of age, married, and the son of Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Waterworth, 8, West Avenue. Pte. Waterworth joined the army over two years ago and went out to France in July, 1916. He was awarded he Military Medal last spring, and when home on furlough later in the summer a public presentation of the ribbon was made to him at the Queen’s Hall.