Lest we forget.

Part of the current display “On the Shoulders of Giants” at Burnley Library, has the stories of some of the men from Lowerhouse CC who went to war and didn’t come home, and happier stories of those who did.

William Whittaker was mourned as one of the finest cricketers the club had known when he died in France in 1918, and Paul Hargreaves has told  his story in the History Books and John Ingham has donated a handsome glass memorial, for which a suitable home needs to be found at the club in due course.

However, we also remember the men who came back and carried on, and this is the story of Arthur Waterworth of the well known Lowerhouse-supporting family, who won a DCM in October 1918.  This is a transcription of the newspaper item of 1919.  On his return he was soon back playing, and back in the weaving shed at Perseverance Mill, Padiham, where he worked for 40 years.  His family are extremely proud of him.
 

The Waterworths were a real Lowerhouse family, with several generations all closely involved with the club.

Arthur Waterworth was awarded the DCM for this act of bravery in October 1918. His  father Joseph , despite being in his fifties, enlisted in 1915 and spent three years as a gunner.

(Transcribed from the Burnley News of 1st March 1919)

Lowerhouse Cricketer

Burnley Man who won distinction at Cambrai arrives home

 

Lance-Corporal Arthur Waterworth, 1/5th East Lancashire Regiment (T.F.), has arrived at his home, 14, Lowerhouse Fold, Lowerhouse, to be demobilised.  For an act of extreme bravery last October, in the Cambrai Sector, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.  The recently published official report of the deed which brought him distinction states: “During an attack this man, though wounded, called out, “I’m hit, lads, but carry on, I’m coming.”  He led his men with skill and daring, and succeeded in capturing the objective, a German machine-gun and crew, thus enabling our line to advance”.

It appears that very fierce fighting was going on at the time, and our advance was for a time held up by the harassing fire of an enemy machine gun.  The section of which Lance-Corporal Waterworth was leader, was ordered to take the gun at all costs.  During the rush Waterworth was hit in the neck by shrapnel, but by a supreme effort rallied his men, and, after a very severe struggle, succeeded in killing all the enemy except eight, whom they captured.  There were many casualties on our side, only two men and a Lewis gunner and an officer surviving.  The officer has since been awarded the Military Cross.

Lance-Corporal Waterworth, who is 27 years of age, left his work as a weaver at Noble’s, Albion Mill, Padiham, to enlist in October, 1914, and had his first experience of active service at the Dardanelles in July, 1915.  He was later sent to Egypt, and afterwards to France in March, 1916, where as a Lewis gunner, he did splendid work.  He is well known in the district as a member of the Lowerhouse Cricket club, with which he has played both in the first and second teams for many years.  He has also assisted the club during his Army leaves.  Lance Corporal Waterworth’s father Joseph, who was a member of the Padiham branch of the old Veterans, joined the Howitzer Brigade at Burnley in 1915 and served three years as a gunner.

Similar Posts