Henry Holmes RISHWORTH

17 September 1915

LOCAL OFFICER KILLED IN MOTOR SMASH

Second-Lieut. Harry Rishworth, of the 6th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, son of Mr. C. F. Rishworth, Moorfield, Utley, Keighley, died on Wednesday night from injuries received in a motor accident in the Sheffield neighbourhood.

Lieut. Rishworth was only 22 years of age, and joined the 6th West Ridings about twelve months ago as a ranker. He obtained a commission in the present year and was for some time attached to the 3rd 6th West Ridings at Skipton. For the last two or three months he has been with the 2nd 6th.

It is thought he was thrown from his motorcycle while on his way to Sheffield.

24 September 1915

RISHWORTH – September 15th, at the Northern General Hospital, Sheffield (the result of a motor cycle accident), aged 22, Henry Holmes Rishworth, Second-Lieutenant, 6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, only son of Mr. and Mrs. C.F.W. (Fred) Rishworth, Moorfield, Utley, Keighley.

24 September 1915

THE LATE LIEUT. RISHWORTH – DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT

An inquest concerning the death of Lieut. H. H. Rishworth (22), of the 2nd 6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, which was briefly reported in last week’s issue, was held on Friday by Mr. J. J. Baldwin Young (deputy coroner).

Captain Rhodes said he had known Second Lieut. Rishworth twelve months. He was accustomed to riding a motor-bicycle, and had one of his own. The motor-bicycle he was riding at the time of the accident belonged to Second-Lieut. Maxwell. Witness saw him just before he started off from the camp at Totley, where a detachment of the 2nd 6th West Riding Regiment were stationed, about 11-30 on Wednesday morning. He appeared in good health then. About 1 o’clock he was brought back to camp in a taxi-cab. He was severely injured, but was quite conscious. On the orders of the Medical Officer he was taken to the Military Base Hospital at Sheffield, where he died.

William Bell, of Devonshire Terrace, Dore, a taxi-cab driver, said he was on Abbeydale Road just inside the Sheffield city boundary, at 12-30, when he saw Second-Lieut. Rishworth approaching on a motor-bicycle from the direction of Totley. There was no other traffic about. Suddenly the rider’s front wheel dipped into a hole in the road. The handlebars were jerked out of his grasp, and he was thrown off the machine. In falling he caught his foot in the rear part of the machine. The engine continued to act, and he was dragged fifty yards. Witness went to his assistance and took him to a house close by. After a doctor had seen Lieut. Rishworth, witness took him to the camp at Totley, and later removed him to the Military Base Hospital at Sheffield.

Questioned about the hole in the road, the witness said it was on the right-hand side of the road, and was a metal trap-door sunk into the highway over the water main. In his opinion, it was not a serious defect in the road. Second Lieut. Rishworth was travelling at a very fast speed, which witness estimated at thirty miles an hour. In answer to a juror, Bell said that personally he would not drive over the hole unless the traffic compelled him to do so.

Major Yates, R.A.M.C., attached to the Military base Hospital, Ecclesall Road, Sheffield, said he received Second-Lieut. Rishworth when he was brought to the hospital. He was unconscious, and died about three-quarters of an hour after admission from a fracture of the base of the skull. His condition was consistent with the history of the accident.

The Deputy-Coroner said that was all the evidence that could be offered in regard to the unfortunate accident. The jury would have no difficulty in finding a verdict in accordance with the evidence.
The foreman of the jury: “I do not know whether we might call the attention of the highway authorities to the condition of the road”.

The Deputy-Coroner: “I will do so”.

The jury returned a verdict that Second Lieut. Rishworth died from a fracture of the base of the skull, received through accidentally falling off a motor-bicycle.

THE INTERMENT

The interment took place on Saturday morning at Keighley Cemetery. The officiating minister was the Rev. F. Horrox, pastor of the Utley Congregational Church.

The chief mourners were Mr. C. F. Rishworth (father), Major Albert Rishworth (Hull), Mr. Henry Rishworth (Hull), Mr. Sam Clapham, Mr. Arthur Sellers, Mr. J. S. Hagar (Bolton Abbey), Mr. R. Hagar (Bolton Abbey), and Mr. Holmes. Among the military present were Captain S. Rhodes (2nd 6th West Riding Regiment), Lieut. C. E. Gray (3rd 6th West Riding Regiment), Lieut. S. Taylor (1st 6th West Riding Regiment), Lieut. Johnson, (3rd 6th West Riding Regiment), Second-Lieut. Newton, Second-Lieut. Sharp, and about sixty men, mainly attached to the 3rd 6th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment stationed at Skipton. Among others present were the Mayor of Keighley (Mr. W. A. Brigg), Mr. Norman Haggas, Mr. H. E. Haggas, (representing the Ninety-two Club), Mr. T. P. Watson (Principal, Keighley Trade and Grammar School), Mr. W. E. Foster (representing the Keighley Recruiting Committee), Commandant W. Roper (Keighley Volunteer Training Corps), and many others.

Among the floral tributes was one from the officers of the 2nd 6th West Riding Regiment.