Huthwaite WW One Memorial
1914 - 1918 Remembrance
William Farnsworth
Private 22422 - Coldstream Guards
1st Battalion
Enlisted: Sutton-in-Ashfield 27th June 1917
Killed in Action Flanders 27th Sep 1918 : Aged 34
Sanders Keep Military Cemetary ref.ii.D.8
Huthwaite Online WW1 Remembrance
Private 22422 William Farnsworth was born Q3 1884 in Hucknall Huthwaite. Parents Q3 1888 Northampton registered marriage between Mr John Farnsworth from Hucknall Huthwaite and Miss Annie Eliza Garratt from Northampton, raised their family at Pit Road addressing. Huthwaite 1891 census lists entire household headed by Milk Retailer Mr John Farnsworth 35, Mrs Annie E Farnsworth 38 mothering Elizabeth 8, William 6 and Christine 5. They also offer lodgings to Miss Fanny B Utting 25. A teacher sharing their christian commitments reflected one daughters future teaching career, plus roles of their only son William.
Mr William Farnsworth follows parents relocation into New Street housing. Employed as a New Hucknall Colliery Clerk through 1911 census aged 26, notes fathers absence from premature death. Williams' respectable lifetime devotion to the Huthwaite Wesleyan Church is reportedly evident prior and beyond Q3 1914 marriage to Assistant Elementary Teacher Miss Catherine Lynam Evans from Hucknall Huthwaite. Their own home address was 37 Charnwood Street, Sutton-in-Ashfield.
Pte 22422 W Farnsworth enlisted for duty 27th June 1917. Taller strong stature favoured placement in the Coldstream Guards, to join the 1st Battalion. He was killed in action on 27th September 1918, aged 34, among the battlefields of France at Cambrai.
W. Farnsworth was also assured place on the towns memorial by a widowed Mrs Catherine Farnsworth. Huthwaite Cemetery Cenotaph Roll of Honour remembered family and personal association furthermore on the Methodist Church Plaque listing.
We regret to record the death in action of a familiar figure - Private William Farnsworth 22422, 1st. Battalion Coldstream Guards. The official intimation was received on Monday last. Previously, two letters had been received with the sad tidings. Lieut. R.M. Buxton wrote to the effect that Pte. Farnsworth was instantaneously killed on September 27th. He was carrying bombs, with others, to assist the company when he was killed by a shell. Several men and officers were killed about the same time. This statement was corroborated by the Battalion chaplain, who intimated that Pte. Farnsworth had been buried on the 29th.
Pte. Farnsworth, who was 34 years of age, was a native of Huthwaite, being the only son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Farnsworth, New Street. Up to five or six years ago he was employed on the surface at New Hucknall Colliery, filling the offices of assistant storekeeper and truck weighman. Always steady and industrious, and of a studious turn of mind, he carried out faithfully and conscientiously any duties entrusted to him, and was greatly respected.
He subsequently became assistant to Mr. J. Beeley, of Sutton, then assistant overseer and rate collector. For this vocation Mr. Farnsworth had great aptitude, and a successful career appeared to be beyond all doubt when he joined up on June 27th. last year.
All his life Pte. Farnsworth, with his family, had been closely associated with Huthwaite Wesleyan Church. He acted at different periods as President of the Bible Class, Sunday School teacher, poor steward, and secretary of the Sunday School, and the duties attached to these positions were carried out with courtesy, tolerance and thoroughness which characterised all that he said and did. He was also musically inclined, and sang in the Wesleyan Church choir, and was also a member of the Huthwaite and Sutton Harmonic Society. After his marriage about five years ago he resided in Charnwood Street, Sutton, but he never severed his connection with the Huthwaite Wesleyan Church.
Being almost six feet high, and of good physique, he was put in the Coldstream Guards, and was in training up to last Christmas. He had been in France about six months, and had been in the fighting all the time. He leaves a widow, but no children.
23 Jul 06 by Gary Elliott Updated 07 Feb 09