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Matthew Horseman TOWERS

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Surname: TOWERS

Forename(s): Matthew Horseman

Place of Birth: Otley, Yorkshire

Service No: 241471

Rank: Private

Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

Battalion / Unit: 1/5th Battalion

Division: 49th (West Riding) Division

Age: ---

Date of Death: 1916-09-03

Awards: ---

CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 6 A and 6 B.

CWGC Cemetery: ---

CWGC Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

Non-CWGC Burial: ---

Local War Memorial: CROSSHILLS, YORKSHIRE

Local War Memorial: KILDWICK, YORKSHIRE

Additional Information:

Matthew Horseman Towers (born 18 February 1890) was the son of John Thomas and Mary Ann Towers, formerly Mawson, née Walker, the daughter of Charles and Eliza Walker, née Hardcastle. John was born at West End near Thruscross and Mary at York, Yorkshire.

1891 Otley, Yorkshire Census: 45, Bradford Road - Matthew H. Towers, aged 1 year, born Otley, son of John T. and Mary Ann Towers.

1901 Sutton-in-Craven, Yorkshire Census: 6, Ellers Road - Matthew H. Towers, aged 11 years, born Otley, Yorkshire, son of John Thomas and Mary Ann Towers.

1911 Crosshills, Yorkshire Census: 15, Campbell Street - Matthew Towers, aged 21 years, born Otley, Yorkshire, son of John and Mary Towers.

Matthew was married to Florence M. Bradbury in 1916.

Eliza Towers, Matthew's sister, was married to Harry Happs, the brother of Private Arthur James Happs (27900) (q.v.) and Private Matthew Percy Happs (300194) (q.v.).

British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Matthew H. Towers, 241471, West Riding Regiment.

Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry

View Entry in CPGW Book

Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:

TOWERS, Mathew, West Riding Regiment, Campbell Street, [Crosshills], killed in action Sept. 3, 1916.

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Private Matthew Horseman TOWERS

Private Matthew Horseman TOWERS

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 49th (West Riding) Division

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 49th (West Riding) Division

Data from Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 - 1919 Records

Soldiers Died Data for Soldier Records

Surname: TOWERS

Forename(s): Matthew Horseman

Born: Otley, Yorks

Residence: Barrhead, Lanark

Enlisted: Keighley, Yorks

Number: 241471

Rank: Private

Regiment: Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)

Battalion: 1/5th Battalion

Decorations:

Died Date: 03/09/16

Died How: Killed in action

Theatre of War: France & Flanders

Notes:

Data from Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records

CWGC Data for Soldier Records

Surname: TOWERS

Forename(s): Matthew Horseman

Country of Service: United Kingdom

Service Number: 241471

Rank: Private

Regiment: Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)

Unit: 1st/5th Bn.

Age:

Awards:

Died Date: 03/09/1916

Additional Information:

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View Additional Text For Soldier Records

BRITISH BATTALIONS ON THE SOMME, by Ray Westlake (Pen & Sword Books Limited 1994)

1/5th Bn. Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

Moved forward via Martinsart Wood to front line Thiepval (2/9). On left of 147th Brigade’s attack on Schwaben Redoubt (3/9) – Official History of The Great War records that some loss of direction occurred during advance – heavy losses at German wire – failed to capture Pope’s Nose. War Diary records assault as a failure ‘the men fought splendidly and in many cases without N. C. O’s or officers . . . As a proof of the hard fighting there were 350 casualties out of 450 who assaulted the German lines.’ Relieved and to Aveluy Wood.

[Matthew Horseman Towers was killed in action on the 3 September 1916.]

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966

1949

TOWERS John Thomas of 15 Hartley-street Glusburn near Keighley Yorkshire died 11 March 1949 at Raikeswood Hospital Skipton Yorkshire Probate London 14 June to Agnes Towers (wife of Herbert Towers). Effects £508 6s. 5d.

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Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records

St Thomas's Churchyard, Sutton-in-Craven

St Thomas's Churchyard, Sutton-in-Craven

Family gravestone

St Thomas's Churchyard, Sutton-in-Craven

St Thomas's Churchyard, Sutton-in-Craven

Family gravestone - detail of memorial inscription

View Craven Herald Articles

View Craven Herald Articles

Craven Herald and Wensleydale Standard Logo

06 October 1916

CROSSHILLS – PRIVATE M. TOWERS MISSING

Mrs. Matthew Towers has received a communication from the Records Office, York, informing her that her husband, Private Matthew Towers, has been missing since the 3rd September. Private Towers’ mother received her last letter from him about the 3rd of September. The letter is dated 28th August. A local soldier writing home stated that Pte. Towers had been killed, but no official news of this has been received, although his parents have written to the War Office. Pte. Towers is one of three brothers who joined the fighting forces. His brother-in-law, Pte. Harry Happs, is also in training at Clipstone Camp.

06 July 1917

TOWERS – Previously reported missing, now certified as killed in action on September 3rd 1916, or since, Private Matthew Towers, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Towers, Campbell Street, Crosshills.

06 July 1917

CROSSHILLS – PTE. M. TOWERS KILLED IN ACTION

Mr. and Mrs. John Towers, of Campbell Street, Crosshills, have received an official intimation that their son, Pte. Matthew Towers, of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, died on the 3rd of September 1916, or since. Pte. Towers was officially reported missing in September last, and this is the first information that has been received about him since that time. He took part in the Great Push in France last September, going over the top with his battalion on the morning of September 3rd, at 5-15. Near him were two more local lads, Pte. C.H. Midgley, of Sutton, and Pte. Reginald Ellison, also of Sutton. Pte. Midgley afterwards stated that Pte. Towers ran into him in ‘No Man’s Land’ on the morning of the 3rd, near Thiepval. Pte. Midgley was wounded and the last he saw of Pte. Towers was that he was advancing at a ‘double’ towards the German lines.

Pte. Towers joined up in February 1916, and was married before going to France in June last year, and his wife resides at Ingrow. He was a good lad at home, and thought much of his mother, a woman of delicate health. Much sympathy is felt for his mother in her sad loss, and also for the widow. His elder brother, Lance Corporal Herbert Towers, is also in the West Riding Regt., and is stationed at Clipstone. Another brother, Harold Towers, also joined the Forces, but was subsequently discharged from the Army on medical grounds. A brother-in-law, Pte. Harry Happs, is in the West Ridings, and has been in hospital twice, on one occasion suffering from trench feet, and on the second occasion with a bullet wound behind his ear. He was in the War Hospital at Glasgow for some time, and was recently home on the usual ten days’ leave on being discharged from hospital.

View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles

View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles

West Yorkshire Pioneer Logo

13 July 1917

TOWERS – Killed in action Sept. 3rd, 1916, Pte. Matthew Towers, of the West Riding Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Towers, of Campbell Street, Crosshills.

13 July 1917

CROSSHIILLS SOLDIER KILLED IN ACTION

Mr. and Mrs. John Towers, of Campbell Street, Crosshills, have received an official intimation that their son, Pte. Matthew Towers, of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, died on the 3rd of September, 1916, or since. Pte. Towers was officially reported missing in September last, and this is the first information that has been received about him since that time. He took part in the great push in France last September, going over the top with his battalion on the morning of Sept. 3rd, at 5-15. Near him were two more local lads, Pte. C.H. Midgley, of Sutton, and Pte. Reginald Ellison, also of Sutton. Pte. Midgley afterwards stated that Pte. Towers ran into him on ‘No Man’s Land’ on the morning of the 3rd , near Thiepval. Pte. Midgley was wounded, and the last he saw of Pte. Towers was that he was advancing at a ‘double’ towards the German lines.

Pte. Towers joined up in February, 1916, and was married before going to France in June last year, and his wife resides at Ingrow. He was a good lad for home, and thought much of his mother, a woman of delicate health. Much sympathy is felt for his mother in her sad loss, and also for the widow. His elder brother, Lance-Corporal Herbert Towers, is also in the West Riding Regiment, and is stationed at Clipstone. Another brother, Herbert Towers, also joined the Forces, but was subsequently discharged from the Army on medical grounds. A brother-in-law, Pte. Harry Happs, is in the West Ridings, and has been in hospital twice, on one occasion suffering from trench feet, and on the second occasion with a bullet wound behind his ear. He was in the War Hospital at Glasgow for some time, and was recently home on the usual ten days’ leave on being discharged from hospital.

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