Joseph HOLDSWORTH

942207, Aircraftsman 2nd Class. b. 1916, Bradford d. 17th August 1940 (aged 24).

Joseph was the son of John and Friendly Holdsworth who married in 1916, John being 30 years older than Friendly. Following the death of John, Friendly remarried Jack Smith in 1930 and was living in Druid St Clayton. The 1939 register shows the family living at 26 Gaythorne Terrace with his mother, stepfather and step sister Annie.

Joseph was working as a printers labourer before joining up early in the war and was sent to 50 Squadron, who were based at Waddington in Lincolnshire and later Lindholme.

50 Squadron were part of bomber command and had taken part in the first bombing operations over Germany earlier in the war, but by the time of Joseph’s death much of the R.A.F.’s efforts were concentrated on surviving the Battle of Britain. At this point in the war 50 Squadron were relatively tucked away in comparison to other aerial groups and throughout the entire Battle of Britain were only targeted once in late October. With the exception of Joseph they suffered no casualties including air crew.

Joseph died as the result of a motorcycling accident whilst on leave in August 1940. The Yorkshire Post reported the incident two days later:

R.A.F. Men In Fatal Motor-Cycle Smash A member of the R.A.F.- Joseph Holdsworth (24), of Gaythorne Terrace, Clayton- lost his life on Saturday night as a result of a head-on collision between two motor-cycles in Rooley Avenue, Bradford. He was driving his machine with Charles Grainger (21), of Albion Street, Middelstone Moor, Spennymoor, Durham, as pillion passenger, when he crashed into another motor-cycle driven by Harry Womersley Watkinson, of Reevy Road, Wibsey, near the entrance to Odsal Institution. He received multiple injuries, and was dead on arrival at the Royal Infirmary. Grainger and Watkinson were also taken to the Infirmary suffering from concussion and other injuries and are reported to be “very ill.”

Harry W Watkinson died in October 1940. It appears that Charles Grainger survived.

Joseph is buried in Scholemoor Cemetery.

Holdsworth J – International Bomber Command Centre (internationalbcc.co.uk)