Rifleman John Goldsworthy 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles

Carrickfergus is Remembering today: Rifleman John Goldsworthy - 17727 - A Coy 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles - Born Irish Gate 1897, Killed in Action in France 15th September 1917 aged 20.

John was the son of John and Margaret Goldsworthy of Irish Quarter South, Carrickfergus – he was brother to Thomas, Henry, Edith, Margaret, Ethel and Doris.  Prior to the war John worked with his father as a labourer to a bricklayer in the town.  The entire family where members of St Nicholas Church of Ireland.

John enlisted with “A Coy” 12th Battalion RIR in 1915, he was killed in action in France on 14th September 1917 aged 20 and buried at Hermies British Cemetery.

We are privileged to have 2 letters written to his parents in the weeks after his death from his commanding officer Captain Adamson and his Sergeant Herbert Hamilton, both letter speak volumes for the character of this young man. 

“Dear Mr and Mrs Goldsworthy – It is with feelings of deepest sympathy that I have to write to inform you of the death of your son in action yesterday, (14/9/17).  I have known him since the very early days when the Division was formed, he then being in my platoon, and I always looked on him as one of my smartest and best soldiers.  He was always most cheerful, bright and willing so I can readily understand how heavy this blow is to you both.  You can, however, look back with melancholy pleasure to the fact that he volunteered to defend the best ideals of our homeland against a cruel and tyrannous enemy.  I had just made him one of my ordlies.  I am asked by all the officers, N.C.O’s and men of the company to tender you their most sincere sympathy.”  - Signed Captain T.S. Adamson

Sergeant Herbert ‘Bertie’ Hamilton writing home furnishes some particulars of the way in which Rifleman Goldsworthy met his death.  He writes “I am very sorry to say John Goldsworthy has been killed.  He was asleep in a small dug-out with another chap when a trench mortar fell between his dug-out and one two of our officers were in.  The officers escaped but are shell shocked and were buried in muck.  The other chap with John was not buried so deep and he was got out in time but is badly bruised.  John was dead when he was got out.  I think it was suffocation and shock that killed him, it must have been instantaneous.  Everything was done to get him dug out at once, but alas he was dead with got out.  Poor chap, very sorry I was to look at him, not a mark on him.  It has upset us all for we all thought him the best of company.”  Sergeant Hamilton was also a Carrickfergus man, within 3 months he too would be killed at the front.