Private Thomas Howarth.
202804 1/4th Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
Killed in Action 20th September 1917. Aged 22.
Thomas was born about 1895 in Burnley. In the 1901 census the family lived at 54 Leyland Rd Burnley, Clara 36, James 14, Olive 11, Evelyn 8, Thomas 5, Elizabeth 3, Bertha 1 all born in Burnley.
In the 1911 census the family had moved to 28 Layfield Rd, Burnley. Clara 45, Olive 21, Evelyn 18, Thomas 15, Elizabeth 13, Bertha 11, Richard 8, Lena 2.
From the Burnley Express dated 6th Oct 1917: BEHAVED SPLENDIDLY.
The Commanding Officer of the Battalion of the loyal North Lancashire Regiment to which quite a number of Burnley territorials were transferred, has written to Mrs Howarth of 15 Layfield Street Burnley, as follows-" I am very sorry to tell you that your husband was killed in action on September 20th during an attack. The attack went well, but your husband was one of those who killed. Please accept my sincere sympathy in your sad trouble." 2nd Lieutenant A H Griggs also wrote that it might be some consolation to Mrs Howarth to know that her husband behaved in a most splendid manner in the engagement. " I pray that you may be comforted in your very sad bereavement and it's the officer, and I offer you my deepest sympathy." Private 202804, Thomas Howarth, enlisted 2 years ago last Christmas in the Territorials and was a drummer. He went across the water 14 months ago and was a Lewis gun. Aged 22 years he formerly worked at Townley Brickworks and attended St Mary's RC Church. Mrs Howarth who is left with a young child the soldier had not seen, was expecting her husband home on leave the day he ....
Lived at 15 Layfield Street.
Thomas left his effects to his widow Margaret Whitehead.
Thomas is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium: Panels 102 to 104.