In Heworth (St. Mary’s), Churchyard is the Commonwealth War Grave of :-
3091 Private
John William Goldsworthy
Northumberland Fusiliers
30th December 1918 Age 30
Forever with the Lord
He was born at Bill Quay, the son of Charles and Agnes Goldsworthy and the husband of Sarah Matilda Goldsworthy, of 2, Hall Terrace, Bill Quay, Pelaw,
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John William Goldsworthy was born at Pelaw, near Gateshead, historically in County Durham in 1889, one of 11 children of whom only 9 survived, 6 sons and 3 daughters.
His father Charles Goldsworthy, native of Cornwall born 1865, migrated to the north east after 1881 where he met Agnes Ellen Henderson born at Durham in 1868. They were married May 18th 1886 at Wingate, Durham.
They initially lived at Back Lane, Haswell near Durham where Charles was employed as a grocer’s assistant, but before the birth of their son Joseph in 1891 they had moved to 20, Station Road, Heworth, Gateshead. His father ran his own business as a shoe repairer from their home, David (14) the eldest, was his apprentice.
In 1911 aged 22 years John William worked at the staiths, his father was still a shoe and boot repairer however David (24) now worked at the shipyards as a carpenter, Charles (19) was a polisher and Joseph (15) was employed as a rivet heater. Their sister Jane (20) assisted her mother with the domestic chores and helped look after the younger ones, Ada (13), Robert (11), Florence (8) Edward (5 months) and her niece May Goldsworthy (10 months).
John William Goldsworthy married Sarah Matilda Harkness at Gateshead in 1913. She gave birth to a daughter, Annie, in 1915 whilst John William was in training, having enlisted at Wallsend on Tyne November 19th 1915.
He was assigned as Private 3091 to the 5th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers and departed as part of the British Expeditionary Force from Folkestone April 19th 1915, disembarking at Boulogne the following day. He joined the 149th Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division in the field, participating during the Second Battle of Ypres, April 22nd-May 25th 1915.
On February 6th 1916 he was transferred to the 1/5th Battalion attached to the 149th Brigade Machine Gun Coy and was wounded in action whilst in the trenches, April 9th 1916. His wife was informed at their home address of 17, Ann Street, Bill Quay.
Suffering from shrapnel wounds to the chest and back he was evacuated to the 8th Casualty Clearing Station at Bailleul and on from there by the 20th Field Ambulance to the 3rd General Hospital at Le Tréport near the Normandy coast. After 10 days of initial treatment he was shipped back to England to Newhaven, September 19th 1916.
The decision that he be discharged under no further obligation to serve was taken August 28th 1916. As well as the consequences of his wounds it was also discovered that he had a heart murmur. On September 4th 1916 he was discharged under King’s Regulations 392 (xvi), no longer physically fit for war service. Private Goldsworthy was awarded a pension which included an allowance for his wife and daughter which was increased after the birth of his son, John, May 2nd 1917.
Private 3091 John William Goldsworthy, Northumberland Fusiliers, died as a consequence of his war service on December 30th 1918 and was buried with military honours at Heworth (St. Mary’s), Churchyard, south east section. He was 30 years old and recipient of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His widow Sarah Matilda, now living at 2, Hall Terrace, Bill Quay, County Durham commissioned an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone at the cost of 5 shillings 3 pence. It reads “For Ever With The Lord”.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John William Goldsworthy is remembered at Heworth on H92.03, in the 5th Northumberland Fusiliers Book of Remembrance and possibly as W. Goldsworthy at Windy Nook W95.02
