Main CPGW Record
Surname: TOWERS
Forename(s): Matthew Horseman
Place of Birth: Otley, Yorkshire
Service No: 241471
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 1/5th Battalion
Division: 49th (West Riding) Division
Age: ---
Date of Death: 1916-09-03
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 6 A and 6 B.
CWGC Cemetery: ---
CWGC Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: CROSSHILLS, YORKSHIRE
Local War Memorial: KILDWICK, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Matthew Horseman Towers (born 18 February 1890) was the son of John Thomas and Mary Ann Towers, formerly Mawson, née Walker, the daughter of Charles and Eliza Walker, née Hardcastle. John was born at West End near Thruscross and Mary at York, Yorkshire.
1891 Otley, Yorkshire Census: 45, Bradford Road - Matthew H. Towers, aged 1 year, born Otley, son of John T. and Mary Ann Towers.
1901 Sutton-in-Craven, Yorkshire Census: 6, Ellers Road - Matthew H. Towers, aged 11 years, born Otley, Yorkshire, son of John Thomas and Mary Ann Towers.
1911 Crosshills, Yorkshire Census: 15, Campbell Street - Matthew Towers, aged 21 years, born Otley, Yorkshire, son of John and Mary Towers.
Matthew was married to Florence M. Bradbury in 1916.
Eliza Towers, Matthew's sister, was married to Harry Happs, the brother of Private Arthur James Happs (27900) (q.v.) and Private Matthew Percy Happs (300194) (q.v.).
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Matthew H. Towers, 241471, West Riding 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:
TOWERS, Mathew, West Riding Regiment, Campbell Street, [Crosshills], killed in action Sept. 3, 1916.
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Private Matthew Horseman TOWERS
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 49th (West Riding) Division
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St Thomas's Churchyard, Sutton-in-Craven
Family gravestone
St Thomas's Churchyard, Sutton-in-Craven
Family gravestone - detail of memorial inscription
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
06 October 1916
CROSSHILLS – PRIVATE M. TOWERS MISSING
Mrs. Matthew Towers has received a communication from the Records Office, York, informing her that her husband, Private Matthew Towers, has been missing since the 3rd September. Private Towers’ mother received her last letter from him about the 3rd of September. The letter is dated 28th August. A local soldier writing home stated that Pte. Towers had been killed, but no official news of this has been received, although his parents have written to the War Office. Pte. Towers is one of three brothers who joined the fighting forces. His brother-in-law, Pte. Harry Happs, is also in training at Clipstone Camp.
06 July 1917
TOWERS – Previously reported missing, now certified as killed in action on September 3rd 1916, or since, Private Matthew Towers, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Towers, Campbell Street, Crosshills.
06 July 1917
CROSSHILLS – PTE. M. TOWERS KILLED IN ACTION
Mr. and Mrs. John Towers, of Campbell Street, Crosshills, have received an official intimation that their son, Pte. Matthew Towers, of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, died on the 3rd of September 1916, or since. Pte. Towers was officially reported missing in September last, and this is the first information that has been received about him since that time. He took part in the Great Push in France last September, going over the top with his battalion on the morning of September 3rd, at 5-15. Near him were two more local lads, Pte. C.H. Midgley, of Sutton, and Pte. Reginald Ellison, also of Sutton. Pte. Midgley afterwards stated that Pte. Towers ran into him in ‘No Man’s Land’ on the morning of the 3rd, near Thiepval. Pte. Midgley was wounded and the last he saw of Pte. Towers was that he was advancing at a ‘double’ towards the German lines.
Pte. Towers joined up in February 1916, and was married before going to France in June last year, and his wife resides at Ingrow. He was a good lad at home, and thought much of his mother, a woman of delicate health. Much sympathy is felt for his mother in her sad loss, and also for the widow. His elder brother, Lance Corporal Herbert Towers, is also in the West Riding Regt., and is stationed at Clipstone. Another brother, Harold Towers, also joined the Forces, but was subsequently discharged from the Army on medical grounds. A brother-in-law, Pte. Harry Happs, is in the West Ridings, and has been in hospital twice, on one occasion suffering from trench feet, and on the second occasion with a bullet wound behind his ear. He was in the War Hospital at Glasgow for some time, and was recently home on the usual ten days’ leave on being discharged from hospital.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
13 July 1917
TOWERS – Killed in action Sept. 3rd, 1916, Pte. Matthew Towers, of the West Riding Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Towers, of Campbell Street, Crosshills.
13 July 1917
CROSSHIILLS SOLDIER KILLED IN ACTION
Mr. and Mrs. John Towers, of Campbell Street, Crosshills, have received an official intimation that their son, Pte. Matthew Towers, of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, died on the 3rd of September, 1916, or since. Pte. Towers was officially reported missing in September last, and this is the first information that has been received about him since that time. He took part in the great push in France last September, going over the top with his battalion on the morning of Sept. 3rd, at 5-15. Near him were two more local lads, Pte. C.H. Midgley, of Sutton, and Pte. Reginald Ellison, also of Sutton. Pte. Midgley afterwards stated that Pte. Towers ran into him on ‘No Man’s Land’ on the morning of the 3rd , near Thiepval. Pte. Midgley was wounded, and the last he saw of Pte. Towers was that he was advancing at a ‘double’ towards the German lines.
Pte. Towers joined up in February, 1916, and was married before going to France in June last year, and his wife resides at Ingrow. He was a good lad for home, and thought much of his mother, a woman of delicate health. Much sympathy is felt for his mother in her sad loss, and also for the widow. His elder brother, Lance-Corporal Herbert Towers, is also in the West Riding Regiment, and is stationed at Clipstone. Another brother, Herbert Towers, also joined the Forces, but was subsequently discharged from the Army on medical grounds. A brother-in-law, Pte. Harry Happs, is in the West Ridings, and has been in hospital twice, on one occasion suffering from trench feet, and on the second occasion with a bullet wound behind his ear. He was in the War Hospital at Glasgow for some time, and was recently home on the usual ten days’ leave on being discharged from hospital.
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