Thomas Whitaker SHUTTLEWORTH

19 May 1916

SHUTTLEWORTH – Killed in action in France, April 1916, Pte. Thomas Whitaker Shuttleworth, West Yorkshire Regiment (Bradford Pals), and of Junction, Crosshills, aged 22 years.

19 May 1916

CROSSHILLS MAN KILLED BY A SHELL

News was received on Saturday last of the death of Private Thomas Whitaker Shuttleworth, of Junction, Crosshills, as having been killed by a shell after leaving the trenches.

Private Shuttleworth, who was only 22 years of age, lived with his sisters and brother, and prior to the war was an employee of Messrs. John Dixon & Son, bobbin makers, Steeton. He enlisted in the second battalion of the Bradford Pals West Yorkshire Regiment in April last year, but was transferred to the first battalion on his being made up for foreign service, and he left with his regiment in the early days of December last. Three days before he went away he should have had leave to come home, but this was cancelled because of the orders for abroad. He has been in France about six or eight weeks.

Private Joshua Clough, of Cononley, who is in the same regiment and is this week home on leave, helped to bury, Private Shuttleworth. They were returning home to their billet after the day’s work, presumably trench digging, on Tuesday evening last week, and as they were passing through a village a stray shell burst amongst them, killing three of their number, and wounding six others. Private Shuttleworth’s sister has received a letter from one of the officers of the regiment, which reads as follows:– “Dear Miss Shuttleworth – It is with the deepest regret that I have to inform you of the death of your brother, Thomas, yesterday. He was killed by a shell whilst walking through a small village on the way from the trenches where he had been working all day. I hope it will be some comfort to you to know that his death was instantaneous, and so painless, and that he will be quietly and reverently buried. During the time he has been with us he has endeared himself to all, and his loss will be keenly felt by all of us. Please accept my deepest sympathy, and I trust you will be given strength to bear the loss.

“Yours truly, A. D. STEPHENSON, Second Lieutenant.”

19 May 1916

CROSSHILLS – THE LATE PRIVATE THOMAS W. SHUTTLEWORTH: A Letter of Appreciation

Miss M. A. Shuttleworth, sister of Thomas W. Shuttleworth, of Junction, Crosshills, who was killed in France about a fortnight ago, has received a very sympathetic letter from one of her brother’s comrades, which reads as follows:– “May 2nd. Dear Miss Shuttleworth – I am writing this letter on behalf of a few of your brother Tom’s personal friends to express our heartfelt sympathy with you in your great loss. We have been together since leaving England, and I have always found him a true and staunch friend. He was very popular with all the lads in the platoon who liked him for his constant cheerfulness and straightforward manner. His death is keenly felt by the whole platoon, and, coming with such striking suddenness, it is hard to realise he is gone from among us. He was buried today just behind the lines, and his grave is marked with a cross, inscribed with his name, number and regiment. I was working by his side all day, and was present when the shell burst which caused his death. It may comfort you to know that his death was instantaneous, and must have been painless. Should any of us be spared to see England again, we will make it our first duty to call upon you.

“With deepest sympathy, I remain, Yours very sincerely, Allen Parker.”