Private Edwin Ashworth
5690 2nd East Lancashire Regiment
Died of Wounds 8th April 1915, aged 17
Lived at 27 Briercliffe Road
Buried in Merville Communal Cemetery, France - II. M.9.
St Peters Memorial, Burnley
Burnley Express 14th April 1915

Edwin Ashworth was born at St Andrew’s, Burnley, the son of Henry and Isabella Ashworth of 37 Briercliffe Road, Burnley. He enlisted at Accrington as Private 5690 in the 2nd Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment.

"A Brave struggle. Burnley Youth's Sad Death. Touching Letter From Hospital." ( Burnley Express 14th/4/1915 )

Though only a few months over seventeen years of age, the supreme sacrifice for his country has been made by Pte. Edwin Ashworth, of the 2nd East Lancashire Regiment; and youngest son of Mr and Mrs Ashworth of 37 Briercliffe Road, Burnley. Pte. Ashworth, who celebrated his 17th birthday in October last, worked as a weaver at Walton's Bishophouse Mill up to June when he joined the Army. He expected to come home on leave about Christmas, but was unable to do so as he was drafted to the front, During March his parents heard the sad news that he had been severely wounded, and on Saturday they had word that he had died from his wounds on April 7th at No. 7 Casualty Clearing Station.
The first letter as to the son's condition was sent by the Rev. F.E. Brown, a Wesleyan Chaplain to the forces. Writing under date March 22nd., Mr Brown said:- ' You will be grieved to learn that your son Edward is lying at the above station seriously wounded. He was shot in the chest some days ago, and I am afraid that he is not making much progress. However his case is not hopeless, and we still think he may pull through. Tears came into his eyes this morning when I talked of you all to him and asked if I might write for him to you. He sent his love to you and asked me to tell you that he is often thinking of you. I am glad to say that although he has been in a good deal of pain, he has been very brave and patient.'
The next letter came from Sister N.G. Clements, who said:- 'You will doubtless have heard from one of our chaplains that your son Edward of the East Lancashires (No. 5690) was brought into our hospital more than three weeks ago very seriously wounded. He has been very ill ever since, and I am sorry to tell you just now his condition is very critical indeed. Everything possible is being done for him, and he has seen two of the best London Specialists, so you see he has had the best advice possible. He is quite conscious, although sometimes at night he becomes a little wandering. The last few days he has often called for you, so I told him I would write to you and let you know that he really is very ill. We are very sorry for you as we are very fond of your little boy. He has been here more than three weeks, and we so seldom keep our patients that length of time. He is a good lad and all the doctors in the hospital come to see him.'
On April 17th Sister Clements wrote:- 'I am sorry to have to tell you that your son Edwin died in the early hours of this morning. He got very much worse last night and I think he realised that he would not live very long. When the end came he was quite peaceful and quiet. He settled himself as for sleep and just passed away. We are very sorry indeed to lose him for he has made a brave struggle to get better, but it was not to be.'
The Rev F. E. Brown wrote on the following day:- 'Edwin died on the morning of the 7th quite suddenly. He had had a very bad time during the previous few days, and we were really glad to see him go , as I think you would have been had you been here. He has had a really dreadful time of suffering since he was wounded, but he has been quiet and patient. We hoped at first that he might recover, but latterly it has been obvious that his case was hopeless. Now he is at rest. He was buried at the quiet cemetery here, side by side with comrades who, like him, have given their lives for their country during this dreadful war. I can only express my sympathy with you in your sorrow and pray God to comfort you.'
An uncle and a brother in law of Pte. Ashworth are now serving in the army."

Notes.
In the Burnley Express In Memoriam for April 1917 he was remembered by his sisters Harriet, Elsie and Ella. His sister and brother were Mr Mrs C A Kidd of 119 Abel Street
November 2001 Edwin Ashworth – East Lancs. - a white cross in memory placed for Remembrance Sunday outside the Thompson Centre.