George Hattersley & Sons Ltd roll of honour
Private. King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Service number 43667.
Attached to the 16th Battalion, London Regiment (Queen’s Westminster Rifles.)
Note:
This man is recorded in several records as either John Greenwood Asquith or later, Jack Asquith. We believe that people simply referred to him as Jack, which is a diminutive of the name John.
One record clearly states he was the only son of Albert Greenwood of 38, Bengal Street, Keighley, which rules out there being another son of a similar name.
Early life:
Jack Asquith was born John Greenwood Asquith in 1897 and his birth was registered in Keighley in the last quarter of the year.
His parents were Albert Asquith and Martha Ann Asquith née Greenwood. They had been married on 14th February 1885 at Keighley Parish Church, when they were both aged 21. Albert was a bachelor and a clerk living at Knowle Park. Martha was a spinster living at Albion Terrace.
By the time of the 1901 census John was aged three and living at 5, Pickles Street in Keighley with his parents Albert and Martha, who were aged 36 and 37. Albert was a storekeeper at a machine works and Martha was at home. They had a daughter Eliza Ann who was aged 15 and employed as a worsted spinner.
The family was hit by a tragic turn of circumstances when Martha died aged 46 in September 1910 and her death was registered in Keighley in the third quarter on the year.
In the 1911 census they were living at 9, Albion Terrace. Widower Albert was aged 46 and still employed as a storekeeper at a machine works. Eliza Ann was 25 and a worsted spinner and John was now aged 13 and a worsted doffer. It’s possible they were all employed by George Hattersley and Son Ltd.
Note: Albion Terrace no longer exists as a street, but they were back to back houses parallel to Gladstone Street and Gladstone Place, and Croft Street, which was where the Oakworth Road (Holy Croft Medical Centre) and The Oaks Adult Services building is now situated in the Holy Croft area of Oakworth Road. Gladstone street is the only one remaining today.
John’s father Albert remarried on 24th December 1914 at St. Peter’s Church, Keighley, at the age of 49. His new wife was Ruth Tighe, she was also widowed and was aged 48. Albert was living at Albion Terrace and Ruth was from 38, Bengal, Street, this street was just a couple of streets along from Albion Terrace and also where the Holy Croft Medical centre is today.
Unusually the wedding was close to being a double one as two days later on 26th December, Albert’s daughter Eliza Ann aged 29 and of 9, Albion Terrace, married John Johnson of 187, Oakworth Road. He was a 33 year old widower employed as an iron turner.
War service:
There are no Army service records for John Greenwood Asquith (or Jack,) but according to the newspaper obituary and from a Soldier’s Effects calculation, John (now going by the name of Jack) joined the Army in August 1917, starting out with the 2/4th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, with the service number 32162. He would have been aged about 20 at the time. He went to France in December 1917.
At some point in his Army career he was transferred to the King’s Royal Rifle Corps.
According to the newspaper account, he had been employed by Messrs. G. Hattersley & Sons, Keighley.
He was serving with the King’s Royal Rifle Corps and had been posted to the Queen’s Westminster Rifles, (The 16th Battalion, County of London Regiment.) when he was killed in action on 28th August 1918 during a large scale attack at Bullecourt. This was described in full in the battalion war diary:
WO-95/2963/2/03. 16th Battalion London Regiment (Queen’s Westminster Rifles) War diary entry for August 1918:
24th:
Order received in the middle of the night to move. Battalion moved at 4.42 a.m. Roads practically completely blocked.
Arrived at BLAIREVILLE 7 a.m. Drew battle equipment, water bottles, ammunition and rations.
Proceeded at 1.30 p.m. to BOISLEUX AU MONT arriving at 2.50 p.m. when dinners were served.
Proceeded at 5.45 p.m. to BOYELLES Reserve Trench arriving at 7.30 p.m.
Unable to find out dispositions of any troops in front, where our front line ran or whether we were under observation. Heavy Shelling with Gas and H.E. during the night. Casualties 1. O.R. Killed, 1 O.R. Sick, 1 O.R. Other Causes.
25th:
Found 8th MIDDLESEX and discovered that our troops held LEGER RESERVE W. of CROISSILLES as a Front Line, whereas we had believed our troops to hold that Village.
Warning order received for probable attack on CROISSILLES. Details provisionally arranged and reconnaissance made by Commanding officer, Coy Commanders, and as many officers as possible. All men instructed in use of German Stick Grenades of which many were lying about. Casual Gas and H.E. Shelling.
Casualties – 10 O.R. Wounded.
26th:
Warning order to relieve 8th MIDDLESEX in Front of CROISSILLES at dusk received noon. Order received at 6 p.m. to at once take over roughly from 8th MIDDLESEX and pass right forward to “Mop up” CROISSILLES for the London Rifle Brigade.
Officers out reconnoitring and men drawing rations and water.
Companies moved up as early as possible and were met by M.G. fire crossing the ridge behind our Front Line
Verbal Order received not to wait for L.R.B. but push on.
“D” and “C” Companies advanced with 2 Platoons each in Front Line.
All Platoons found wire impenetrable and CROISSILLES Trench thickly held by M.Gs.
They tried all night to get forward but without success.
Before dawn established a Front Line back in SUMMIT Trench with Outposts in front.
Casualties :- 23 O.R. Wounded, 6 O.R. Sick.
27th:
GUARDS Division attacked on our immediate right from LEGER Trench. Stopped by M.G. fire and driven back beyond their jumping off trench, leaving a big gap on our right. Capt. F.E. WHITBY, M.C. and Lieut. CALKIN, our Coy Commanders in the Front Line filled the gap partly with men from the GUARDS Division, and partly by moving up their own Support Platoons.
Order received 4 p.m. that Battalion would be relieved by LONDON SCOTTISH. LONDON SCOTTISH arrived and commenced taking over. Commanding Officer proceeded to Brigade H.Q. T.4.b. to take orders for next day.
In middle of relief LONDON SCOTTISH relief cancelled and 8th MIDDLESEX sent up instead. Companies proceeded to T.4.b. where rations and water were drawn.
orders received to concentrate in T.6 d.
Casualties :- 3 O.R. Killed, 2 Officers, Lt. O.M.POWER and Lieut. F.W. RUSSELL, end 17 OR. Wounded, 8 O.R. Sick, 1 O.R. Other Causes.
28th:
On arrival Coy Commanders’ Conference and Orders issued to proceed at 8.30 a.m. to assemble for attack at 12.30 p.m. with objectives :- First QUEEN LANE – JOVE LANE, second :- TANK AVENUE and TANK SUPPORT. Battalion assembled as ordered with exception of “B” Coy whose assembly trench was already occupied by 9th KINGS (LIVERPOOL) Regt. 57th Division. “B” Coy assembled in NELLIE AVENUE and BURG SUPPORT with orders to swing round at right angles to HINDENBURGH SYSTEM when jumping off. Great difficulty was experienced in moving up to assembly Area as the trenches were packed with troops. All ranks arrived dead beat after being on the move all night. The Battalion had practically been without an unbroken night’s sleep since 12th inst., and had moved nearly every 24 hours during that period generally by night.
Assembly positions :-
Right Coy (“A”) NELLIE AVENUE (South)
Left Coy (“B”) NELLIE AVENUE (North) and BURG SUPPORT
Support Coy (“C”) JANET LANE (South)
Reserve Coy (“D”) JANET LANE (North)
Battalion H.Q. Junction of JANET RESERVE and BURG SUPPORT.
When our barrage lifted at ZERO all Companies left their trenches with dash. Hostile M.Gs opened at once very heavily from GUARDIAN RESERVE and high ground U.13.d., U.19 & U.20, and casualties were very heavy.
“A” and “B” Companies found the wire between the trenches of the HINDENBURGH SYSTEM impenetrable and the hostile M.Gs from the right, and the fact that the Artillery barrage was short on the right drove them over to the left.
“C” Coy lost 80% of its men and all its officers struggling through the wire in front of their Jumping off trench.
“D” Coy followed “A” and “B”.
Battalion H.Q., owing to rising ground just in front of its assembly position, was not aware to what extent the attack had swung to the left although it was realised the tendency had been
to move over in that direction.
Battalion H.Q. moved as previously arranged down BURG SUPPORT endeavouring to get in touch with the leading Companies.
After advancing 500 yds Battalion H.Q. was held up by hostile M.Gs from the KNUCKLE and the right flank. Enemy were encountered immediately ahead in BURG SUPPORT and bombing was in progress in TUNNEL Trench on the left, and in Stafford Trench.
Messages were sent back that the System was not mopped up and help was asked for in order to push on and gain touch with the Leading Companies. This help was a long time in coming and Battalion HQ. advanced as far as junction of LUMP LANE and BURG SUPPORT.
The L.R.B. Companies were all already committed – 2 on right flank round GUARDIAN RESERVE and neighbourhood and 2 had gone forward with our Companies.
2nd LONDON REGT (very weak) was bombing up TUNNEL Trench with its Battalion H.Q.. Finally 3 Platoons of 4th LONDON arrived and were sent up BURG SUPPORT. They made little progress and later came back and reported they could not drive back the enemy.
They were again sent up with instructions to move up and along KNUCKLE Trench. Meanwhile Companies of L.R.B. and KENSINGTONS had taken GUARDIAN RESERVE and held STRAY RESERVE up to STRAFFORD AVENUE. They had also rounded up a Machine Gun nest which had caused much trouble from the Right. During this time “A” “B” and “D” Companies had gone right forward though off their objectives. Several officers realising their direction was wrong were killed and wounded in trying to alter it.
These Companies arrived at HENDECOURT which on account of a very marked similarity in roads and trenches they mistook for BULLECOURT.
The only officers left, Capt. F.E. WHITBY, M.C., Lieut. C.R. JACOMB, and 2nd Lt. J.A.N. WEBB
took forward all men of Q.W.R. to a line running U.17.a.6.2, U.17 a.6.6., U.11.d.0.0. This party was all in touch but had no touch on the flanks and were a long way in advance of 57th Division whose whereabouts were not known.
They remained here from 2.15 p.m. to about 5.30 p.m. They were shot at from all sides and from the rear by M.Gs and Snipers and in front by a Field Gun with open sights.
Capt. F.E. WHITBY, M.0. became a casualty but carried on.
The party was now very weak and was gradually being annihilated. It was decided to gradually withdraw until touch could be found with other troops. The retirement was carried out very gradually indeed to CEMETERY AVENUE. Lieut.C.R. JAGOMB (Capt. F.E. WHITBY, M.C. had by this time gone to the rear) re-organised all troops in the trench holding a front on either side of the Sunken Road in U.10.d. L.R.B. on the right, Kings (Liverpool) in the Centre and Q.W.R. on the left with some small posts of the S. LANCS.REGT. on their left and Posts out on the Railway in front.
Sergeant GILLETT E.W. with a small party established a protective right flank in trench running back to USHER TRENCH.
Capt. F.E. WHITBY, M.C. reported (incorrectly) to Brigade H.Q. on his way down that his party were in PELICAN Trench.
During the night orders were received from Brigade that L.R.B. would assemble in PELICAN Trench, Q.W.R. in BORDERER LANE, GOG and MAGOG (support to L.R.B.), 2nd LONDONS to mop for L.R.B. OBJECTIVE:- Trench Angle U.29.d.7.8. – RIPON LANE – SELBY LANE – unnamed trench to STAR FISH Trench and along this trench to 11.23.d.9.3.
ZERO at 1 p.m.
At 12 midnight Sergeant BERRY W.R. was sent back by Lieut. C.R. JACOMB with a message stating that he had now ascertained that he was in front of HENDECOURT instead of BULLECOURT, and asking for orders and rations.
Casualties:- 3 officers, Lieut. L.P. HARROW, D.C.M. 2nd. Lt. J.C. GOADBY, 2nd Lt. C.G. WARREN killed, and 37 O.R. Killed. 8 Officers Capt. F.E. WHITBY, M.C. Lieut. R.R. CALKIN, Lieut. A.J. PHILIP, 2nd Lt. W.FRIEND, 2nd Lt. T.W. PROCTER, 2nd Lt. A.H. CHAPLIN, 2nd. Lt. B. WADE, 2nd. Lt. W.E. TODD and 99 O.R. Wounded. 17 O.R. Wounded and Missing, 6 O.R. Sick.
29th:
Sergeant BERRY W.R. arrived at Battalion H.Q. at 5.30 a.m. The Commanding officer was then making a reconnaissance to find out the dispositions of the enemy as his reconnaissance the previous evening had located the enemy in front of the line of KNUCKLE AVENUE, and it was not understood how the Battalion could assemble as ordered. It was found that the enemy had gone back from where he was encountered the previous evening. The 4th LONDONS however had not pushed on and they were told to do so by him at once. One Company in TUNNEL was put in touch with another Company in BURG SUPPORT and they were advised to work in conjunction with each other.
On the Commanding officer’s return he was ordered by Brigade to fetch Lieut. C.R. JACOMB’s party to the assembly area via TRIDENT ALLEY. Sergeant BERRY W.R. was sent with these instructions.
Meanwhile Lieut. C.R. JACOMB met Capt. MEARNS, South LANCS REGT., who as Senior officer in the trench ordered the whole party to the rear as their trench was to be the jumping off trench for fresh troops assaulting that morning.
Lieut. C.R. JACOMB withdrew as ordered and on his way down met Sergeant BERRY in CRUX Trench. It was too late for him now to move down TRIDENT ALLEY, and he accordingly continued down FAG. His men were dead tired with a great hunger and thirst. He accordingly gave them a short rest and issued rations and water. Meanwhile the remainder of the Battalion (H.Q. and a few details) assembled as ordered.
Lieut. C.R. JACOMB’S party were blocked by troops of 168th Infantry Brigade and was unable to arrive by Zero hour.
The available men of the Battalion (Lieut. GATFIELD, 2nd Lt. POLLARD and 40 0.R.) went over as the SUPPORT COY to the only 2 available Companies of the L.R.B.
For 500 yards the advance proceeded rapidly, when it slowed down from the Northern outskirts of BULLECOURT Northwards.
The LONDON SCOTTISH on our right swung right into BULLECOURT leaving the L.R.B. in one line with Q.W.R. 50 yds in rear.
The L.R.B. were held up at Saddle Trench by M.Gs and Snipers from U.22.d.
From the start the Brigade had no touch with the left and Lieut. W.H. GATFIELD lead his party up to the left of the L.R.B. but was still unable to gain touch. Lewis Guns engaged the hostile M.Gs which were too strong and the Lewis Gunners suffered heavily.
The Reserve Coy LONDON SCOTTISH came up and Lieut. W.H. GATFIELD asked them to extend our left flank. This they were unable to do as their orders were to keep touch with their other Companies. Lieut. W.H. GATFIELD ordered an L.R.B. officer whom he had found, to extend Northwards from Saddler Lane towards Sap Head U.22.b.0.1. and to send a patrol along that Sap to get in touch with 57th Division.
LONDON SCOTTISH then occupied SADDLER TRENCH and Lieut. W.H. GATFIELD instructed the L.R.B. officer to establish a Post along Trench leading to BUNNY HUG, and withdrew his own Platoon to immediate Support at U.23.c.3.5.
Lieut. W.H. GATFIELD then went to 2nd LONDONS who were in rear and instructed the officer i/c to establish various Posts in front. These Posts coincided very nearly to positions ordered to be occupied by Brigade later on.
Lieut. W.H. GATFIELD then found an M.G. officer and arranged with him to cover the left flank. Battalion H.Q. was persistently shelled in the afternoon by a British 6″ Howitzer.
Casualties :- 2 O.R. Killed, 111 O.R. Wounded, 2 O.R. Died of Wounds, 3 O.R. sick.
30th:
Just before dawn the Brigade was relieved by 7th MIDDLESEX. Lieut. W.H. GATFIELD’s party returned through a very heavy barrage of Gas and H.E.
The Battalion moved back to LINCOLN RESERVE.
A roll call showed about 200 men present; our wastage from casualties and other causes since 24th inst. being about 400 men.
Casualties:- 1 O.R. Killed, 1 O.R. Wounded, 2 O.R. Died of Wounds, 5 O.R. Sick.
31st:
Battalion moved back to DINGO Trench BOISLEUX AU MONT at 1 p.m. Casualties:- 1 0.R. Died of Wounds, 1 O.R. Sick.
Officers. O.R.
Strength on 31st July 1918 41 957
Add:- 1 47
Less:- 42 1004
Less:- 15 427
Strength on 31st August 1918 27 577
Signed, P. R. Savill. Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding, 1st Queens Westminster Rifles.
There is a trench map available to view on the National Library of Scotland website here, on it you can see almost all of the above named trenches marked:
Jack Asquith was killed in action on 28th August, during the above attack. This was reported in the local newspaper:
Keighley News, 14th September 1918, page 3:
Rifleman Jack Asquith, Queen’s Westminster Rifles, of 34, Bengal Street, Keighley, was killed on August 28. He joined the Army in August, 1917, and went to France in December. In civil life he was employed as a driller by Messrs. G. Hattersley & Sons, Keighley.
John was buried in a battlefield grave to the North of Bullecourt in France. According to the map references in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission concentration record sheet, his grave was later exhumed and moved about three miles, to the H.A.C. (Honourable Artillery Company) Cemetery which is to the South West of Écoust-Saint-Mein. His grave is number 12 of row G, plot VI.
Jack’s name appears in the Electoral rolls for Keighley, living at 39, Kensington Street and he is recorded ‘NM’ as a Naval/Military, absent voter. Whilst we feel sure that this refers to him, we believe that this information has simply rolled over from the previous year and that the voting record had not been updated regarding his death in action.
Post war:
Jack’s father Albert was the sole legatee in his will and received three sums from Jack’s Army account. These were £10 11s. 6d on 14th December 1918 and a further payment of £1 18s. 0d on 13th March 1919. He later received a war gratuity payment of £3 10s. 0d. on 5th December 1919, which was calculated on Jack’s length of Army service.
We found no evidence of a Dependant’s Pension.
Albert would also have received Jack’s personal effects and later, his 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, along with a King’s Certificate and the bronze war memorial plaque inscribed with Jack’s name.
Remembrance:
Jack is of course remembered in perpetuity on his gravestone in France, but locally he is also named in the Borough of Keighley roll of honour book in Keighley Library. There is evidence that Holy Croft School had a roll of honour of old boys who fought in the war, but we do not know if it still exists.
From the newspaper record we know he was named as one of the war dead on the George Hattersley & Son’s Ltd., Workers war memorial, which is recorded as ‘Lost.’
The Keighley News, Saturday 14th September 1918 page 8:
DEATHS.
ASQUITH. In ever loving memory of Rifleman Jack Asquith, Queen’s Westminster Rifles, son of Mr. Albert Asquith, 38 Bengal Street, Keighley, killed in action, August 28th, in his 21st year. He has made the supreme sacrifice. Inserted by the Family, at Bengal street.
The Keighley News, Saturday 21st September 1918 page 8:
DEATHS.
ASQUITH – In loving memory of Jack Asquith, Queen’s Westminster Rides, killed in action August 29th, 1918, May his reward be as great as his sacrifice.
From his sister and brother, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson 261, Whinswood, Ingrow.
ASQUITH – In ever-loving memory of our dear friend, Rifleman Jack Asquith, killed in action August 25th- From Mr. and Mrs, Heaton and Family, Kensington Street. May his reward be as great as his sacrifice.
Jack’s father Albert Asquith was being employed as a slotter by George Hattersley and Sons Ltd., and is recorded working there in the 1921 census when he was still living at 38, Bengal Street with his second wife Ruth, plus Thomas Tighe aged 24, Annie Tighe aged 21 and Lena Tighe aged 19.
His wife Ruth died in January 1922 at the age of 54 and Albert died aged 66 in 1931, both deaths being recorded in Keighley.
Information sources:
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915.
1901 England Census.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915.
1911 England Census.
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Soldiers Died in the Great War.
National Archives war diary WO-95/2963/2/03
The National Library of Scotland trench mapping service.
West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962.
Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929.
British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920.
World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920.
1921 England Census.
West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007.
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-1985.
