Lieutenant Maclean Proctor Dilworth

Army Number : n/a

Battalion : 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys) Regiment.

Born 26th April 1888. Son of William Proctor Dilworth and Mabel Dilworth, of 13, St. Albans Mansion, Kensington Court, London. He was educated at Harrow School. Was commissioned Second Lieutenant Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys) Regiment, 4th May 1907 and promoted Lieutenant 1st April 1909. He went to France 4th November 1914.

Extract from 1st Battalion War Diary 20th November 1914 – near Richebourg, France.

” All Companies report a quiet night; Snow had fallen on the 19th, it remained on the ground and was freezing all day in the shade. 2 p.m. Lieutenant DILWORTH and Sergeant MILLAR went out to try and find some spot from which the Machine Guns could enfilade the German lines, and on going round a house not far from the enemy’s trenches Lieutenant DILWORTH was killed by a German from about 2 yards distance, this man was killed by the Machine Gun Sergeant who tried to get Lieutenant. DILWORTH’S body away, but after two attempts it had to be abandoned. Sergeant MILLAR in the second attempt was assisted by the following men:- Privates SIDDONS, PAINTER, COOPER, SCOTT, BRADBURY and CHANDLER of Lr. “C” Coy this party was under fire from a Farm 75 yards away, the same men volunteered to go out again that night. After dark Captain CAMPBELL 4th South Staffordshire Regiment, attached to the Battalion went out after dark to try to recover Lieutenant DILWORTH’S body but without success”.

Extract from 1st Battalion War Diary 25th December 1914 – near Richebourg, France.

“4.15 p.m. Companies start leaving billets to relieve 2nd East Lancashire Regiment in “A” lines.
8.20 p.m. Relief completed. The quickest relief we have yet had, due to entire lack of fire and severe front of night 24/25th. An informal armistice was arranged between some of Germans opposite “A” lines and 2nd East Lancashire Regiment and during this time both sides collected the dead in front of the trenches. Lieutenant DILWORTH’s and Lance Corporal WALTERS bodies were recovered and buried, the former, at these Headquarters at night”.

Buried Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, France. Plot 26. Row A. Grave 17.

Lieutenant Maclean Proctor Dilworth is also commemorated on the following local memorials :-
Harrow School War Memorial, London.