John Charlesworth

Drowned in the Shannon at Killaloe Co Clare Ireland. Enquiry into his death was held on 17/6/1916 at Killaloe by Capt J F D Dimock and Lieu H A Hewill. Pte Charlesworth, Pte Trolley & Pte Simpkin got into a tied up boat at Killaloe. The boat became untied and was swept up to the bridge and weir and hit it broadside. The boat broke up and the men went into the water. Trolley and Simpkins were rescued but Charlesworth was swept away. Pte Charlesworth's body wasn't recovered for several days. He had attested on 28/10/1914 aged 18 years and 6 months.

Charlesworth's is the only war grave in the Killaloe cemetery. Photograph in the Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser of 6/4/1916. A report published on 26th May 1916 in the Mansfield Times and Sutton Reporter reads :- HOW PRIVATE J. W. CHARLESWORTH MET HIS DEATH. “Brief details were published in last Friday's “Reporter” of the tragic death which overcame Pte. J. W. Charlesworth, of Letter “C” Company, 2-8th Sherwood Foresters, and whose mother resides at 5, Broomhill-lane, Mansfield. The poor lad, it appears, was in a boat on the River Shannon, at Killaloe, when suddenly it was caught by the current, which is very strong, and before assistance could be forthcoming, the boat had crashed into a long wall of their weir, and, according to eye-witnesses, was broken up and sank. Simpkins and Tolley clung to the weir wall, and the latter was pulled up to safety by a signaller. The former was eventually compelled by the force of the current to loosen his hold, and was carried down stream and rescued, but Charlesworth, it is thought, after having held to the weir wall, let go, and eventually disappeared, and nothing has since been seen or heard of him. “The bright spot of the whole affair was the heroic conduct of Lance-Sergt. Martin, of “D” Company, a youth from Arnold, who, seeing what had occurred, and the plight of Simpkins, dived into the river, and contending against the strong current, did his utmost to reach the lad, but eventually Simpkins was picked up by some boatmen, and thanks to the efforts of Capt. H. Dale (R.A.M.C.), Capt. M. C. Martyn, and Privates Elwick and Crane (R.A.M.C.), was brought round, and neither he or Tolley are any the worse for their trying experience. The escape was a narrow one.” A further report in the same paper was published on 9th June 1916 :- “The body of Pte. J. W. Charlesworth, of Mansfield, who was drowned in the Shannon at Killaloe, full particulars appearing in last week's “Reporter,” has been recovered about a mile and a half down stream from the scene of the occurrence. An inquest was held, and the same evening (May 31st) the remains of the poor lad were laid to rest in Killaloe churchyard. In the unavoidable absence of the military, members of the Royal Irish Constabulary attended, and there was a large attendance of the public.” Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 This man is commemorated in a book of remembrance held by Mansfield District Council.