Tyne Cot Memorial Panel 125 to 128
1/4th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment, 148th Infantry Brigade, 49th Division
Age 36
KIA 29.4.18
Son of John Wadsworth, coal-miner & President of the Yorkshire Coal Miners Association from 1904. Liberal-Labour MP for Hallam, Sheffield 1906 to 1918. He married Annie and they lived at 2 Huddersfield Road, Barnsley with their four children, two sons and two daughters.
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Early Life
He was born on 22 June 1881 and was educated locally during the time his father was employed as a coal-miner at the Wharncliffe Silkstone Colliery, Tankersley near Barnsley. He was Clerk to the Yorkshire Miners’ Association. He married Norah Annie (nee Bles) on 17 April 1916 and they lived at ‘Honeyville’ Rockingham Street, Barnsley with their son John. He enlisted in the Yorks & Lancaster Regiment on 8 December 1915 and was not required being sent to the Army Reserve to await being called up. He was called up on 14 March 1917 and went to France on 12 September 1917. He joined the 2/5th Battalion Yorks & Lancaster Regiment in the field on 29 September and was appointed to the rank of Lance-Corporal unpaid on 23 October 1917. He relinquished this rank when he was posted to the 1/4th battalion on 4 February 1918.
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His Death
The Battalion was in reserve camps in the Neuve Eglise sector.
The Germans had launched their offensive to break through to the channel ports and after a heavy bombardment had attacked the 21st, 25th and 49th Divisions. The commanding officer of the 5th York & Lancaster Regiment had called for assistance and the 1/4th Battalion was put on readiness to move forward in support. The enemy had been ejected from the British lines and the Battalion was not required. Enemy aircraft were also extremely active throughout the day staffing and bombing the British lines. The Battalion War Diary recorded casualties for the day as 3 Other Ranks killed and 14 wounded. Bert was one of those killed. He was buried however, his grave was subsequently lost and he is listed on the Tyne Cot Memorial.