Menu
Alma Illingworth was born at South Parade, formerly Low Common Road, Ossett on 3rd April 1881 the second surviving son born to Ossett born Philip and Harriet Illingworth (nee Childe) from Middlestown. The couple married locally in summer 1876.
The 1881 Ossett Census records the Illingworth household as comprising Philip and Harriet with one year old Vincent and an un-named one day old child; this child was subsequently named Alma. By 1891 the couple and their four sons, two of whom were born in Ossett, had moved to live at Salford where Philip worked as a prison warder.
The couple had their only daughter, Ethel, in August 1891 but sadly in summer 1893 Harriet died at Salford aged 39 years leaving Philip with four sons aged under 14 years and a daughter, not yet two years of age.
On 2nd March 1895, widower Philip Illingworth, aged 41 years and a prison warder, of Broughton Flintshire, married 31 year old widow Eliza Brieney of Stockport at Trinity Wesleyan Chapel , Stockport. Eliza had a son William, born 1887, from her first marriage and in 1901 Philip and Eliza had settled at Broughton, Lancashire with four of the five children from Philip’s first marriage and Eliza’s child, William, from her first marriage.
By 1911 Philip and Eliza were living at Mount Villa, Mount Street, Ruthin, Denbighshire with stepson William and Eliza’s widowed mother Sarah Follows, aged 75. By this time he had been promoted to Chief Prison Warder. Sadly Philip Illingworth died in 1912 aged 59.
Meanwhile in late 1907 Alma Illingworth, aged 25 years, married 27 years old Lillian Jones at Chorlton, Lancashire. By 1911 the couple had moved to live at 18, Santiago Street, Rusholme, South Manchester and had two children; Eva born 29th May 1910 and Frank born 8th February 1914. Alma was working as a provisions warehouseman for a cheese and ham factor.
On 4th August 1914 Germany invaded Belgium on its way to attack France and consequently Great Britain declared war on the German Empire. Alma Illingworth enlisted at Manchester and joined the 17th (Service) Battalion (2nd City) Manchester Regiment. His Army Service record has not survived which makes his whereabouts in WWI difficult to know with 100% certainty. Nonetheless it is known that he did not serve overseas before 1st January 1916 because he was not awarded the 1914-15 Star Medal. It is possible that he enlisted under the Derby Scheme in late 1915 and if so his age and marital status would have him mobilised in late May 1916.
The 17th (Service) Battalion Manchester Regiment was formed in Manchester on 28th August 1914 by the Lord Mayor and City. Initially established at Heaton Park it moved to Belton Park in April 1915 where it placed under the command of the 90th Brigade in the 30th Division. On 29th August 1915 it was taken over by the War Office and moved to Larkhill, Wiltshire in September 1915. The Battalion was mobilised for war and landed at Boulogne, France on 6th November 1915.
Private 48987, Alma Illingworth would have joined them later, perhaps, in late May 1916, and if this were the case then he would have seen the following action with his 17th Battalion in the 30th Division. It remains difficult to be sure when Alma Illingworth arrived with his 17th Battalion in France. In the first half of July 1916 alone there were five drafts of replacement soldiers received by the 17th Battalion Manchester Regiment totalling 825 Other Ranks; almost the equivalent of a whole Battalion. Alma could have been with any one of those drafts or in other drafts in other months.
In researching Alma’s whereabouts I came across the most remarkable online tribute to some of the Manchester Battalions before, during and after their service on the Somme. There is though much, much more in this labour of love from a family whose ancestor served and survived. You should not miss it. Click on the link. In the words of the researchers and authors;
17th Battalion Manchester Regiment on the Somme
“Inspired by interviews and notes by a member of the 2nd City Battalion of the Manchester Regiment, this site portrays the particular group of volunteer soldiers, from enlistment to their service in the Battle of the Somme. In memory of the contributor of the journal, Private Allan Arthur Bell 8055 and the Pals that served with him. Copyright Bell Family. All rights reserved. Please see acknowledgments and feel free to comment in the Guest Book or individual Posts”.
17th Battalion Manchester Regiment
In a nutshell, Alma Illingworth will have seen action at The Battle of Albert on 1st July 1916, the first day of the Battle of The Somme. This included the 30th Division’s capture of Montauban when the War Diary for the 17th Battalion noted only that “The Battalion attacked East of MONTAUBAN. Casualties 8 officers 340 Other Ranks” On 3rd July the record shows “The Battalion relieved by 11th Battalion Royal Scots, 9th Division. Marched to HAPPY VALLEY”
On 9th July 1916 the 17th Battalion returned to the Front Line with action at Trones Wood and later, in October 1916, at the Transloy Ridges.
As 1916 slipped into 1917 there was action for the 17th Battalion Manchester Regiment in the pursuit of the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, at the Arras Offensive where the 30th Division fought the first and second Battles of the Scarpe. The survivors and draft replacements then fought at the Battle at Pilkem Ridge, in a phase of the Third Battles of Ypres.
Then in March 1918 the German Spring Offensive, Operation Michael, was intended to break through the Allied lines, outflank the British forces (which held the front from the Somme River to the English Channel) and defeat the British Army. It commenced on 21st March 1918 when the men of the 17th Battalion were instructed to take up battle positions. The enemy was seen at 3pm and a sharp counter attack drove them out and captured 31 German prisoners and released several British men who had been taken by the Germans as prisoners.
On the second day of the offensive, 22nd March 1918, British troops continued to fall back, losing their last footholds on the original front line. Thick fog impeded operations and did not disperse until early afternoon. Isolated engagements took place as the Germans pressed forward and the British held their posts, often not knowing who was to either side of them. Brigade and battalion control over events was absent. It was a day of stubborn and often heroic actions by platoons, sections and even individuals isolated from their comrades by the fragmented nature of the battle and lack of visibility.
For the 17th Battalion the 22nd March 1918, a heavy bombardment enemy attack was encountered at 4p.m. After heavy fighting the enemy surrounded three companies whose ammunition had been expended and under heavy machine gun, rifle and artillery fire what remained of the Battalions was withdrawn. Sadly Alma Illingworth wasn’t one of those withdrawn; he was killed in the above action on the 22nd March 1918, the second day of the German Spring Offensive. He was 37 years of age, a husband and the father of two children aged 7 and 4 years old.
A cross was placed on the grave in which Alma’s body had been placed, close to where he fell. It was to be the only means of identifying his being when his body was exhumed and removed to his final resting place at Savy British Cemetery, France. No other items were found on his body. At the wish of his widow, Mrs. L. Illingworth, 18, Santiago Street, Rusholme, Manchester, his headstone reads simply “Rest In Peace”.
He is Remembered with Honour by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at Savy British Cemetery where he is buried. Savy was taken by the 32nd Division on the 1st April 1917, after hard fighting, and Savy Wood on the 2nd. On the 21st March 1918 Savy and Roupy were successfully defended by the 30th Division, but the line was withdrawn after nightfall. The village and the wood were retaken on the 17th September 1918 by the 34th French Division, fighting on the right of the British IX Corps. Savy British Cemetery was made in 1919, and the graves from the battlefields and from several small cemeteries in the neighbourhood were concentrated into it.
Private Alma Illingworth’s final resting place at Savy British Cemetery
Private Alma Illingworth was posthumously awarded the British and Victory service medals.
In 2022 Private Alma Illingworth, once of Ossett, will be remembered at the Ossett War Memorial in the Market Place where his name will be inscribed alongside his brothers and sisters in arms; the Ossett Fallen.
Research and biography by the Ossett Fallen Team. March 2022.
