The by-election, had been caused by the death of the sitting Liberal MP Harold Cawley, killed at Gallipoli. Illingworth later went on to serve as Postmaster General in Lloyd George’s coalition cabinet from 1916 to 1921 when he was raised to the peerage. In the ensuing by-election the seat was won by Walter Halls, a labourer employed by Illingtorth on his estate, for the Labour Party.