Farnworth Weekly Journal 12 November 1915

FARNWORTH SOLDIER KILLED

Mrs. Sharples, 67, Glynne-st., on Monday received official intimation that her husband, Pte. Wm. Sharples (18347) of the 6th L.N.L. Regiment, was killed in action at the Dardanelles on October 11th. She had received three letters from him the same morning., the last written on October 9th and posted the day he died, stating that he was in the trenches for the first time, but it was quiet except for the echoing of a few shots now and then. "I pray to God to bring me back safe home to you." he said. When he wrote previously, on September 24th he was stationed on a hill, though within reach of the guns. The deceased, who was 28 years of age, enlisted on November 21st of last year, and went to the Dardanelles from Felixstowe on August 28th. He was engaged in the winding department of Messrs. T. Barnes and Co.'s No. 2 Mill, Gladstone-rd, but for a time worked at Messrs. Wallwork and Sussum's mill. He is on the roll of honour at St. George's School, Plodder-lane, and the King-st Workingmen's Mission, attending the latter place since his marriage, and Mrs. Sharples has received a sympathetic letter from the officials of the Mission. His brother, who enlisted with me in the 3rd L.N.L., has gone to Serbia, while Mrs. Sharpies's sister's husband, Private Arthur Tyson, has been a prisoner of war in Germany for 14 months.

William was the son of Henry Sharples b.1861, a pit brow labourer, and Mary Alice Sharples née Allen b.1861.

William first appeared on the 1891 Census living at 23 Water Lane Street, Radcliffe with his parents and siblings John b.1886 and Nancy b,1890.

William's mother died in 1900 and in 1901 he was living at 19 Victoria Street, Farnworth with his father and siblings John, Nancy and Margaret b.1892.

Aged 13 William was already working as a little piecer in a cotton mill.

William married Marian Jones b.1887 at St James's Church, New Bury, Farnworth on 6 December 1909.

In 1911 the couple were living at 10 Cross Street, Farnworth with two boarders.

William was by then employed as a spinner in a cotton mill.

His name is on Farnworth War Memorial.