Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

L/Cpl 56257 Benjamin Waterworth

Age: 25
From: Huttons Ambo, Malton Yorks
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
K.I.A Thursday 10th October 1918
Commemorated at: Vis-en-artois Memorial
Panel Ref: Panel 3 & 4

Benjamin Waterworth was born in the June quarter of 1893 at Huttons Ambo, Malton, Yorkshire, the son of William Waterworth and his wife Mary (née Walton). Mary was a widow with a number of children from her husband, William Brown. She married William Waterworth in 1892 when she was about 39 years old. Benjamin appears to be their only child.

In 1901 William and Mary are living in Low Hutton, Huttons Ambo. His father, 50, is an agricultural labourer and his mother Mary is 48, with sons Walter Brown, 11, and Harold Brown, 6. (Harold is listed as ‘son in law’, it is not clear who his father is). Benjamin is 8.

His mother died in 1906 when Benjamin was 13.

In 1911 Benjamin is one of nine employees on the farm of Nathan Beal in Fimber, East Riding (12 miles from Huttons Ambo). He is 18, working as a Waggoner.

On 11th March 1913 Benjamin enlisted in Sledmere (3 miles from Fimber) in the Army Reserve for one year’s service, as No.200, Army Service Corps, with the rank of Wagoner, giving his age as 20 years, and his occupation as ‘farm service’ working for a Mr Clark at Tibthorpe.. He is described as being 5’ 6” tall, weighing 135 lbs, with hazel eyes and fair hair. He gives his father, William Waterworth at Huttons Ambo, as his next of kin, and his religion as Wesleyan. The army reserve at Sledmere was the initiative of Sir Mark Sykes who recognised the need for an established transport service corps in the event of a war.

Benjamin was discharged on 10th March 1914, but he would have been recalled at the outbreak of war. He enlisted at Beverley, Yorkshire joining the 8th East Yorkshire Regiment as Private 18017, and at some point was promoted to Lance Corporal and transferred to the 14th Bn King’s (Liverpool) Regiment. It is likely that Benjamin transferred to the 18th Bn K.L.R. when it absorbed the 14th Bn in August 1918 and became the 18th (Lancashire Hussars) King’s Liverpool Regiment. The 100 Days Offensive began on 8th August, the Allied offensive which would end the war.

On 7th October 1918 the 18th Bn arrives at the Hindenberg Line at Bony. From the battalion War Diary:

10th October 1918 - At 0230 hours the battalion moved forward to a position near RUEMONT, and attacked towards LE CATEAU at 0510. Very little opposition was met with at the start but later considerable M.G. fire was encountered. … Our right company was not in touch with the flank, and the troops on the right appeared to be held up by M.G. fire from the railway embankment … A short length of trench on the high ground immediately E. of LE CATEAU was also reported to be held by the enemy. At 0848 the Centre Coy reached K.33.b and pushed a platoon into the N. W. outskirts of LE CATEAU. The right company was temporarily held up by MG and sniper fire, but appeared to be almost in the town itself. Hostile M.G. fire was reported from the direction of Q.10. … Houses in K.28.a were reported to be strongly held by the Bosche, and a patrol was sent out to investigate and deal with them. … During the advance on LE CATEAU considerable difficulty was experienced, owing to a “whizz bang” battery being able to fire over open sights at the troops as they moved up the rise and along a slight valley.

Total Casualties from 7th to 13th October:

Killed – 2 Officers, 18 O.R.

Wounded – 6 Officers, 111 O.R.

Died of Wounds – 1 O.R.

Wounded and Missing – 1 Officer, 20 O.R.

Pte 56257 Benjamin Waterworth was one of those killed in action on 10th October. He was 25 years old.

His body was never recovered from the battlefield, or was subsequently lost. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, Pas de Calais.

The Vis en Artois Memorial bears the names of over 9,000 men who fell in the period from 8 August 1918 to the date of the Armistice in the Advance to Victory in Picardy and Artois, between the Somme and Loos, and who have no known grave.

The memorial was designed by J.R. Truelove, with sculpture by Ernest Gillick. It was unveiled by the Rt. Hon. Thomas Shaw on 4 August 1930.

Effects, including War Gratuity of £20, went to his father William. The pension card shows dependent, Mr. William Waterworth, c/o Mrs. C. Bowes, Kirk Deighton, Wetherley (likely his half sister Norah who married Charles Bowes, who were living with his widowed father in 1911).

Benjamin is also commemorated on the War Meorial at Kirk Deighton and Huttons Ambo.

We currently have no further information on Benjamin Waterworth, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Killed On This Day.

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
L/Cpl 29203 Valentine Alexander
26 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 27948 Joseph Atherton
26 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 51896 Richard Edward Banks
34 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 46630 Watson Bell
38 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Lieut Roland Henry Brewerton
27 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 51708 Charles Norman Dod
21 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
L/Cpl 94246 Frank Emison
24 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 23056 John William Jones
27 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 49572 John Henry Leadbeater (MM)
27 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Sgt 22462 James Lowe (MID)
25 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 51712 Edgar Domenico Murray
21 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 269899 Harry Pitts
21 years old

A total of 14 Pals were killed on this day. View All