Rifleman Thomas Ainsworth remembered

Rifleman Thomas Ainsworth

Wardle Rifleman Thomas Ainsworth was remembered on the anniversary of his death on Friday 8 May.

Rifleman Ainsworth was killed on 8 May 1915 in France at the age of 25. He served in 4Bn Kings Royal Rifle Corps.

Born in Blackburn in 1890, the 1901 Census lists the family as living at 52 Burton Street, Rishton. In the household were 36-year-old George Ainsworth (a club steward) and his 35-year-old wife Sarah Ann, together with Thomas (11), Henry (9) and George (3).

In 1911, Thomas was a lodger at 65 Ramsden Road, Wardle with the Dearden family.

At the age of 21, Thomas married 28-year-old Annie Dearden on 27 May 1911 at the United Methodist Church, Rochdale. They went on to have two children - Beatrix (born 1911) and Sarah (born 1913).

Prior to enlisting in late August/September 1914, Thomas lived at 57 Ramsden Road, Wardle and worked at Clegg’s Mill in Shore. He enlisted at the age of 22.

He has no known grave and is remembered on Panels 51 and 53 on the Menin Gate and on Clegg’s Mill War Memorial in Shore and on the Wardle War Memorial.

Besides Thomas, his brother George fell on 10 July 1918 and brother Henry Lawrence on 27 July 1918. All three lived in the Wardle area and two worked at Clegg’s Mill, Shore.