Main CPGW Record
Surname: FIRTH
Forename(s): Richard Jacob
Place of Birth: Bacup, Lancashire
Service No: 235200
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 2nd Battalion
Division: 4th Division
Age: 35
Date of Death: 1917-05-03
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: A. 2.
CWGC Cemetery: AGNY MILTARY CEMETERY
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: BARNOLDSWICK, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Richard Jacob Firth was the son of Joseph and Amelia Firth, née Greenwood. Amelia was the daughter of Jacob and Mary Crabtree, née Greenwood. Both of Richard's parents were born at Stansfield near Todmorden, Yorkshire.
1891 Bacup, Lancashire Census: Rochdale Road - Rd Jacob Firth, aged 9 years, born Bacup. [Richard and four of his brothers were living with their sister, Ellen Firth, who was the head of the house.]
1901 Bacup, Lancashire Census: 139, Market Street - Richd Jack Firth, aged 19 years, born Bacup. [Richard was living his sister, Ellen and brother-in-law Ashworth Nuttall.]
Richard was married to Phoebe Taylor in 1906.
1911 Bacup, Lancashire Census: 9, Harper Street - Jacob Firth, aged 29 years, born Bacup, husband of Phoebe Firth.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Richard J. Firth, 235200, West Riding Regiment.
A short biography of Richard is included in: ‘Barnoldswick – A small Town’s part in conflicts 1800 to 2014’ by Peter Ian Thompson (2014).
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:
FIRTH, Richard Jacob, aged 35 years, West Riding Regiment, 31, Harrison Street, [Barnoldswick], reported missing May 3, 1917, now presumed dead.
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Private Richard Jacob FIRTH
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 4th Division
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View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
22 June 1917
BARNOLDSWICK – WOUNDED AND MISSING
Private R. J. Firth, Duke of Wellington’s, whose home is in Harrison Street, Barnoldswick has been reported missing since May 3rd. He is a native of Bacup where he enjoyed a considerable reputation as a swimmer before coming to Barnoldswick about four years ago.
13 July 1917
BARNOLDSWICK – MORE NEWS OF MISSING SOLDIERS
Letters from two more Barnoldswick soldiers, who were amongst the large batch of “missing” on May 3rd, were received last weekend. These were Ptes. J.W. Heaton and Peter Higgitt, both of the Duke of Wellington’s, who write saying they are prisoners in the hands of the Germans at an address not stated, and are both quite well. The letters are dated May 20th and 24th. In one received by Mrs. Heaton, 36, Rainhall Road, her husband inquires as to the fate of two other Barnoldswickers (Ptes. Alfred Tillotson and Jacob Firth) both of whom he saw during the 'scrap', but are not in the same camp. At the time of writing no news had been received of the latter, but Tillotson is a prisoner in Germany.
11 July 1919
MISSING SOLDIERS – Information Wanted
Above is a photo of Pte. Richard Jacob Firth, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, who has been missing since May 3rd, 1917. If any returned prisoner of war or demobilised soldier can give any information regarding him it would gratefully received by his wife, Mrs. Firth, 31, Harrison Street, Barnoldswick.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
22 June 1917
BARNOLDSWICK SOLDIERS MISSING
Private R.J. Firth, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, whose home is in Harrison Street, Barnoldswick, has been reported missing since May 3rd. He is a native of Bacup, where he enjoyed a considerable reputation as a swimmer before coming to Barnoldswick about four years ago.
13 July 1917
BARNOLDSWICK – MORE NEWS OF “MISSING” SOLDIERS
Letters from two more Barnoldswick soldiers, who were amongst the large batch of “missing” on May 3rd, were received last week-end. These are Ptes. J. W. Heaton, and Peter Higgitt, both of the Duke of Wellington’s, who write saying they are prisoners in the hands of the Germans at an address not stated, and are both quite well. The letters are dated May 20th and 24th. In the one received by Mrs. Heaton. 36, Rainhall Road, her husband inquires as to the face of two other ‘Barlickers,’ (Pte. Alfred Tillotson and Jacob Firth), both of whom he saw during the 'scrap,' but are not in the same camp. At the time of writing no news had been received of the latter, but Tillotson is a prisoner in Germany.
22 March 1918
FIRTH – Missing since May 3rd, 1917, now presumed dead, Pte. Richard Jacob Firth, of the West Riding Regiment, husband of Mrs. Firth, of 31, Harrison Street, Barnoldswick, aged 35.
22 March 1918
CRAVEN AND THE WAR
Missing Man’s Death Presumed
Mrs. R.J. Firth, 31, Harrison Street, Barnoldswick, has received an official intimation presuming the death of her husband, Private Richard Jacob Firth, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, who had been missing since May 3rd 1917. Formerly a weaver at Messrs. B. and E.M. Holden’s, Moss Shed, he joined up in November, 1915, but only went out to France about two months previous to the date mentioned. He was 35 years of age, and a native of Bacup, prior to coming to Barnoldswick six years ago – where he was well-known as an amateur swimmer.
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