SKELTON - IN - CLEVELAND
IN HISTORY
"WE WILL REMEMBER THEM"

Private WILLIAM ELSWORTH.

201878 4th Bn, Yorkshire Regiment.

who died, aged 38, on the 1st November 1917.

Son of George Elsworth, of 32 Green Rd., Skelton-in-Cleveland, N Yorks.


Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Westvleteren, Belgium.

At the census of 1901 William, aged 19, was living at 32 Green Rd and working in the Ironstone mines as a horse driver.
His father, who came from Spofforth, Yorks also worked in the Ironstone mines. His mother came from Mildren, Lancs and the family seem to have moved around as William was born in Ryhill. Two children Martha 13 and George 11 were born in Lancashire and three younger ones Joe 9, Arthur 5, Bertie 3 all born in Skelton.

The 4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment were formed in August 1914 in Northallerton.
They became part of the 150th Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division.
After landing at Boulogne on the 14th May 1915, the Division took part in most of the actions on the Western Front.
It would seem that William died of wounds as the Dozinghem Cemetery was used by the nearby casualty clearing station which was some way from the Front.
During the period prior to William's death the 50th Division fought in the Flanders offensive, commonly called Third Ypres or Passchendaele.

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