Coatsworth W.

WALTON COATSWORTH (1878-1917)

36057 Private W. Coatsworth, 6/King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry was killed in action 16 October 1917 and is buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery, north of Ypres, Belgium.  He was about 39 years old and is commemorated on the St. Andrew’s Church War Memorial, Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

Family

Walton was born 1878 (registered Q4) at Hamsterley, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Hannah (nee Stockdale) Coatsworth.  There were at least 6 children:

  • Sarah
  • Elizabeth
  • Emily
  • Walton
  • Peggy
  • Mary

In 1881, Walton’s father Joseph worked as a mason.  He was born at Middleton and the family lived at South Bedburn.  By 1891 they lived at Morley and Joseph worked as a stockman.  By 1901, Joseph was dead and Hannah lived at Toft Hill with 27 year old daughter Elizabeth, 22 year old Walton and 14 year old Mary.  Walton worked as a coal miner (deputy).

In 1903 Walton married Lilian Mabel Booth.

He is not on the 1911 census but if he served in the regular army and was stationed overseas then that would explain it.

Service Details

36057 Private Walton Coatsworth, 6th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) was killed in action 16 October 1917.  He formerly served as 5/48496 with 82nd T.R. Battalion. (?)   He enlisted at Bishop Auckland.

His service details and Medal Roll (card index) have not been traced.

The 6/KOYLI was a service battalion, formed at Pontefract as part of K1, Kitchener’s New Army in August 1914.  It came under the orders of the 43rd Brigade, 14th (Light) Division and entered France 21 May 1915.  It was disbanded 19 February 1918.  The 43rd Brigade was comprised of:

  • 6/KOYLI
  • 6/Somerset
  • 6/Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry
  • 10/DLI

The Division served on the western front and saw action, up until his death 16/10/1917 at:

  • 1915: Hooge and the 2nd attack at Bellewaarde
  • 1916: Battle of the Somme, at Delville Wood, Flers-Courcelette
  • 1917: Pursuit to the Hindenburg Line, Battle of Arras at 1st and 3rd Battles of the Scarpe and the 3rd Battle of Ypres – Langemark and the 1st Battle of Passchendaelle, 12th October 1917.

Private W. Coatsworth was killed in action 16 October along with 5 other ranks of his battalion on this date thus whilst a major attack was not taking place at this time, the usual violence of warfare was in operation – artillery fire, sniping etc.  Between 10 and 20 October 1917, 21 other ranks serving with 6/KOYLI died.

Burial

He is buried at grave reference LXI.G.18 Tyne Cot Cemetery, north of Ypres.

Commemoration

Private W. Coatsworth is commemorated on the St. Andrew’s Church War Memorial at South Church, Bishop Auckland.

Photograph:

Coatsworth W.

Coatsworth W.