Death of a Volunteer.
This magnificent gravestone is Frank Ashworth’s. He was one of the founder members of the Todmorden Company, 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers which was formed in 1877.
The newspaper clipping details his grand send off – imagine a funeral like that in the town today. It just wouldn’t happen. From the three gun volleys fired by 18 (!) riflemen to the hundreds lining the streets and even hillsides to observe and pay their respects…you don’t see anything like it now.
The writeup of Frank’s funeral, September 1900:
