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The Worth family has quite a history and some rare photos of one of their members brings part of his recuperation after being wounded a Vimy Ridge into a sharper focus.

Wedding Portrait from which one gets a strong sense of the strong middle-class sense of propriety the Worth family displayed. Industrious, well off and British. Source: http://www.bishir.org/gen/showmedia.php?mediaID=3&medialinkID=5

Dyson Worth, Circa early 1900s. Source: http://www.bishir.org/gen/showmedia.php?mediaID=3&medialinkID=5

Walter Garlick Worth was part of a family that was industrious. His father, Dyson, was involved in the yarn industry, beginning at the ripe old age of 7-years old as a “bobbin boy”. He parlayed this experience to rise in the ranks of the mill manufactory until, at the age of 21, he became a superintendent of the works he was employed at. Some drive to produce led the young Dyson to move to Gothenberg, Sweden in 1893-97. In 1913, Dyson and his family emigrated to Peterborough, Ontario and partnered with Issac Bonner to create Bonner-Worth Mill from the former Penman Mills.[i]

Dyson and Walter Garlick Worth, Sweden, Circa 1910-13.

Walter was born on June 16, 1888 at Huddersfield, England to Dyson and Emma. He emigrated with his parents to Canada and was involved in the family business as his attestation papers indicate his “trade or calling” quite specifically as a “Manufacturer Worsted yarns”. At 27-years old, and with 3 years of militia experience with the 57th Regiment, coupled with his status as a manufacturer with probable management experience, he was enlisted with the rank of lieutenant on December 9, 1916 at Peterborough, Ontario with the 93rd Battalion.

Walter Garlick Worth (right) in private’s uniform. Probably pre-war, 57th Regiment. Source: Don Worth via email.

Colourize photograph of Lieutenant W.G. Worth, 93rd Battalion. Source: Don Worth via email.

The 93rd Battalion sailed to England aboard the Empress of England on July 15, 1916 and the men of the 93rd were soon to be disappointed as they would not be serving as a unit in the line, their battalion being broken up in order to reinforce other battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

It was in this circumstance that Lieutenant Worth found himself arriving at the 18th Battalion after a short detour to the 19th Battalion. He was originally assigned to this unit but early in his service he developed renal calculi (kidney stones) and after this medical condition was resolved after attending No. 2 Red Cross Hospital Rouen, France, he was assigned to the 18th. He arrived “in the field” on October 22, 1916. Several officers of the 93rd, such as Lieutenant V.M. Eastwood[ii] would also join the Battalion.

The Battalion had left the Somme sector at this time and was engaged at the Calonne (Lens) sector until it moved to the Vimy sector in mid-February.

Source: Don Worth via email.

On April 9, 1917 Lieutenant Worth was wounded by a German bullet. He was hit in the jaw and the resulting wound that fractured his jaw, carrying away may of his teeth from both jaws. It is recorded that the shot was fired from a German sniper and the sniper was captured and was compelled to help carry Lieutenant Worth back to an aid station.[iii] He recovered after being evacuated via Field Ambulance and Casualty Clearing Station arriving at the Duchess of Westminster Hospital on April 10, 1917. He was treated at the High Street Military Hospital (2nd Western General Hospital) at Manchester starting on the 15th. He then moved onto Peak Hospital (Canadian Red Cross Special Hospital), Buxton on June 16, 1917. Staying there for one-month he was finally moved to Perkins Bull.[iv]

During his convalescence, a series of photographs were taken of Lieutenant Worth. They show Leiutenant Worth with two companions. At least one of the shots appears to be taken on a seperate day (Worth is wearing a dressing around his face) and the balance of the shots appear to show him and his compatriots out on s ride to a farm with horses, a bucolic activity compared to the experiences Worth and the other officers had in the trenches.

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Source: Don Worth via email.

After his medical discharge he was attached to The Office of the High Commissioner of Canada and struck off strength due to General Demobilization on March 21, 1919. Worth was able to get a leave to Canada for one-month from April 9 to May 9, 1918 and this leave was extended May 17, the date he returned from Canada and, again, took up his duties at the High Commission.

Source: Don Worth via email.

After his demobilization he moved to Los Angeles, California with the rest of his family and worked at their firm, Worth Brothers Inc. The Bonner-Worth Mill was sold to Dominion Woolens and the family moved to California in the 1920s and established Worth Brothers Inc, one of only two mills in operation on the West coast. The firm eventually employed 150 people.

Source: Don Worth via email.

He died on July 2, 1963 and is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) in California.

The photographs of the Worth family, and those particularly of Walter Garlick Worth give us a sense of place, time, and the man. The Worths were industrious and active members of the textile industry and moved to where opportunity for growth beckoned. The sons of Dyson were all involved in the textile trade, influenced by the boom in textiles from their native town of Huddersfield. Textiles were in their blood and part of their heritage. They helped establish firms that bolsteredthe economy of Peterborough and Los Angeles.

The photographs also offer a contrast from the early 20th Century to now. Industries and fashions have changed. The original Bonner-Worth firm in Peterborough, along with Dominion Woolens, no longer exists. Worth Brothers appears to have disappear, though, ironically, the address appears to be home to a business in a field related to textiles.

Contrast in time. An image of the Worth Bros. locations (left) with the current business (right) occupying the same address. Both businesses are related to textiles. Photo Credits: Worth Bros. via Don Worth by email / Google Earth screen shot.

Walter Garlick Worth contributed to two countries with his work with the textile firms the family was involved in, and he volunteered for duty when the Empire called. His service was short and his wounds terrible, but he persevered and continued his positive contribution to his family, his firm, and his adopted countries.

[1] Dyson Worth b. 27 Sep 1859 Lindley, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England d. 21 May 1920 Peterborough, Ontario, Canada (Weller St.): Don & Carley Worth’s Ancestry”, 2020.

[1] For more information about this soldier please see the blog Letters From Vincent, an excellent resource for this soldier’s wartime experiences.

[1] Walter Garlick Worth b. 16 Jun 1888 Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England d. 3 Jul 1963 Pasadena, California: Don & Carley Worth’s Ancestry.

[1] This place is yet to be determined.

[1] Joseph William “Joe Willie” Worth b. 19 May 1884 Lockwood, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England d. 5 Mar 1936 San Marino, California: Don & Carley Worth’s Ancestry. (2020). Retrieved 1 September 2020, from http://www.bishir.org/gen/getperson.php?personID=I224&tree=donworth

Lieutenant Walter Garkick Worth’s Photographs The Worth family has quite a history and some rare photos of one of their members brings part of his recuperation after being wounded a Vimy Ridge into a sharper focus.

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