Two more former Huddersfield Town players killed in active service added to club's Roll of Honour

Two more former Huddersfield Town heroes who died serving their country have been added to the club’s roll of honour.

Ernest George Kenworthy was killed in action in November 1917 while Ralph Shields died in a prisoner of war camp in 1944.

Kenworthy, an outside right, made 20 appearances and scored six goals for Town in the Midland League and FA Cup during the 1909-10 season and centre forward Shields played 65 times in the Second Division, the FA Cup and in wartime competitions between 1914 and 1920.

Research into the men’s backgrounds has just been completed by Town’s historical statistician Alan Hodgson.

The club’s roll of honour of former players who died in active service now totals 10.

Mr Hodgson said it was important to remember those who gave their lives and added: “That’s 10 we’ve found now and there may be more.

“It’s not something I’m constantly working on but if I see a name that sounds familiar I look into it.”

The Huddersfield Town squad from 1909-10. Ernest George Kenworthy, killed in action in November 1917, is the tallest player in the middle of the back row. He has been added to the Town Roll of Honour of players who died in active service.

Kenworthy started out at his local club Matlock Town and went to Bradford City, playing for several Yorkshire clubs including Heckmondwike.

In September 1909 he joined Town and earned a small place in the club’s history when he scored twice in Town’s 11-0 thrashing of former club Heckmondwike in the FA Cup.

Listen to a Huddersfield Town pre 1930 FA Cup Final recording below

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That scoreline set a club record which still stands.

Kenworthy’s career seems to have been ended by injury and he returned to teaching.

He later enlisted with the Royal Garrison Artillery as a gunner. On November 10, 1917, aged 29, he was killed in a shell explosion and buried in Belgium.

As a teenager Shields was a star striker who came to prominence after scoring a reputed 100 goals in a season in his local league in County Durham.

He quickly attracted the attention of top clubs and signed for Newcastle United.

He scored goals in the reserves but couldn’t get in the first team and in 1914 Second Division side Town beat bigger clubs to sign him for a “substantial” fee.

The Huddersfield Town squad in season 1914-15. Centre forward Ralph Shields, front row with the football at his feet, died in a prisoner of war camp in 1944. He has just been added to Town's Roll of Honour of ex-players who died in active service.

His football career was then interrupted by war and he later moved to Exeter City and drifted from club to club never realising the potential of his youth.

In 1927 he emigrated to Australia and worked as a miner before joining up in 1940.

Two years later he was taken captive by the Japanese in Singapore and died at the infamous Sandakan PoW camp in Northern Borneo on November, 21 1944. He was 52.

Alan said: “All these players had a story to tell. The tragedy for Shields is that if he had stayed in Britain and not emigrated he may have survived the war.”