Shields Gazette Wednesday 01/09/1915

Burnley Express Wednesday 06/10/1915

Shields Gazette Wednesday 09/06/1915

CWGC Headstone

Medal Index Card

Matthew Nessworthy was born at South Shields on the 3rd October 1891, the son of Robert Nessworthy [born 30th August 1867 at South Shields, died 1920, at South Shields] and Jane nee Harrison, residing at 27 Wellington Street, Westoe, [born 1867, at South Shields, died 1940]. They were married at St Stephens Church, South Shields on the 30th October 1887.

Matthew Nessworthy was one of seven children, William Robert Nessworthy the eldest, Thomas, [born 10th April 1889], Elizabeth, [July 1890], James, [born 1893], Jane Elizabeth [born 1897], and Ambrose [born 1899].

Matthew was a younger brother of W.R. Nessworthy

In 1901, he was residing at 42 Wellington Street, South Shields.

He originally joined the Durham Light Infantry at South Shields, with service number of 7952, around 1910. In 1911, he was at the Inkerman Barracks at Knaphill, Woking.

Inkerman Barracks was so-named after a battle in a place of the same name in the Crimea, Russia in 1854. Now it housed the 2nd Battalion Royal West Surrey Regiment, also known as 'The Queen’s Regiment'.

The former prison’s conversion to a barracks was completed in 1903, when the 1st Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment moved in. They were replaced by the 1st Battalion Royal Scottish Regiment from 1904 to 1905, followed by the 2nd Battalion Royal West Sussex Regiment (1912 to 1914). The barracks was then used as a military hospital during World War I and then remained vacant until the 1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment moved in from 1925 to 1927".

He was transferred to the 1st Battalion East Lancashire Regiment, with service number 10134. Matthew was at Colchester when the War broke out. He was sent to France on the 22nd August 1914.

The order to mobilise came between 6 and 7pm on the 4th August 1914. One company had already been sent to Felixstowe on the 29th July. The mobilisation was completed by midnight 8/9th August, the battalion spent time constructing local defences around Colchester where they were based. On the 18th August, the Battalion entrained for Harrow, where the 4th Division was concentrated. On the 21st, the Division was suddenly ordered to entrain for Southampton, this resulted in about 150 men being missed off due to being in the town, they later joined at Le Havre.

[1st Battalion in August 1914, were in Colchester and part of 11th Brigade in 4th Division. Moved to Harrow on the 18th August. Landed at Le Havre on the 22nd August 1914, [aboard the Braemar Castle at about 4pm. They were disembarked by 11pm].1st February 1918, were transferred to 103rd Brigade, 34th Division 26th May 1918, were transferred again to 183rd Brigade, 61st (2nd South Midland) Division.

He died of his wounds on the 17th May 1915.

According to the Shields Gazette Wednesday 09/10/1915, he was wounded on the 14th May and was taken prisoner by the Germans.

The The Burnley Express Wednesday 06/10/1915 also carried the same information under the heading of East Lancs Casualties, "Previously Unofficially, now Officially, Reported Wounded and Prisoner - Nessworthy (10154), M."

He left his army personal effects of £20 8s 9d to his mother which she received around the 30th July 1919.

Matthew Nessworthy is remembered at South Shields on S86.025 and S86.53

Detailed History of the Nessworthy Family
The CWGC entry for Private Nessworthy