Liverpool Pals Who Died on This Day

Pte 52026 Peter Peterson

From: Liverpool
D.O.W (109 Years this day)
Wednesday 18th April 1917.
27 years old

Peter was born in the summer of 1888 in Toxteth Park, Liverpool the son of Peter Peterson and his wife Ursula (nee Johnston) both of whom were born and married in the Shetland Isles. His older brother John was also born in Shetland, and by 1879 the family had moved to Liverpool. Peter was the youngest of five surviving children; brothers John and James and sisters Jessie and Ursula (May/Mary).

In 1891 the family is living in court housing at 8 H, 3 Ct Pembroke Street, Liverpool – Parents, Peter and Ursula with children John J, Jessie, James R, Ursula M and Peter age 2. Father is a dock board labourer.

In 1901 they are living at 9 Upper Warwick Street, Toxteth. Parents Peter and Ursula with children Peter, Jessie and Mary. Father is a dock labourer. Peter is 12.

Peter is not found on the 1911 census, but there are crew lists showing a seaman by that name and of the right age and birthplace, employed in the transatlantic run between 1907-1912.

He enlisted in Liverpool joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regimant as Private 52026. He died of wounds on 18/04/1917 aged 27 and now rests at Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension in France.

For much of the First World War, Abbeville was headquarters of the Commonwealth lines of communication and No.3 BRCS, No.5 and No.2 Stationary Hospitals were stationed there variously from October 1914 to January 1920. The communal cemetery was used for burials from November 1914 to September 1916, the earliest being made among the French military graves. Abbeville Communal Cemetery contains 774 Commonwealth burials of First World War and 30 from the Second. The Extension contains 1,754 First World War burials and 348 from the Second. The Commonwealth sections of both cemetery and extension were designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

Soldiers’ Effects show his beneficiaries as sisters Jessie Tiffin and Mary Richards, his brother John, and sister in law Catherine (wife of brother James) for the benefit of his nephew Thomas. Jessie Peterson married Joseph Charles Tiffin on 24/1/1904 at St Peters, Liverpool. She was living at Bridgewater Street at that time.

Trees on Ancestry show both the parents returning to Shetland, and their deaths are recorded there during the war years.

Peter Peterson is commemorated at Liverpool Town Hall.

We currently have no further information on Peter Peterson, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

2nd Lieut Percival Graham Statton

From: Devonport, Devon
D.O.W (109 Years this day)
Wednesday 18th April 1917.
22 years old

Percival Graham Statton was born on 16th October 1894 at Devonport the only son of William George Statton and his wife Rose (nee Knight) who were married in 1890. His father was from Woolwich, Kent and his mother from Brixham, Devon.

The Census record for 1901 shows the family are living at 5 Second Avenue, Devonport, Stoke Damerel, Devon. William, born 1869 is shown as a Civil Engineer and his wife Rose, born 1871 is a House furnishers Clerk. There are two children shown in the household, Percival Graham and his elder sister Winifred Mabel.

He was baptised alongside his sister Winifred Mabel on 28th Septemebr 1904 at St James the Great Church in Devonport. The baptismal record shows the family are living at 85 Alcaster Street, Stoke, his father is an accountant.

1911 Census - Parents are at 27 Trafalgar Place, Stoke, Devonport and Percival is a boarder age 16 with Mr and Mrs Holter at 15 Bontflower Road, Battersea, he is a civil service clerk.

Percival Graham joined the Honourable Artillery Company as Private 3707 on 02nd June 1915 giving his address as 27 Trafalgar Place, Stoke Plymouth. He served with H.A.C. until 01st October 1915 when he transferred to the Artists Rifles Cadet School. He was there until he was commissioned into the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as 2nd Lieutenant on 18th December 1916. Nothing at all is known about his service with the 18th Battalion, as does not appear in the Battalion War Diary at all.

He died on the 18th April 1917, at the base hospital at Abbeville, from wounds received in action and is buried in Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension France, in Plot 2, Row E, Grave 14, he was aged twenty two. His headstone does not bear the Eagle and Child of the Pals Battalions, but the White Horse of Hanover worn by the Regular and some Territorial Battalions before the war.

Logically he would have been moved to Abbeville from a battle front, and as the Battalion took part in the Battle of Arras only a week before his death, then this was probably where he was fatally wounded. This is supported by a report in his local Newspaper, ‘The Western Evening Herald’,which in the edition of 23rd April 1917,reported his death from wounds received on 9th April which was the first day of the Battle of Arras, in northern France.

On that day, the Battalion was on the left flank of the attack made by the 21st Infantry Brigade on the Hindenburg Line, the objective being the German front line trench system. This attack meant an advance of more than 2,000 yards of open ground, under fire from enemy weapons of all calibres. Once the Battalion had reached a position in front of the German line, it was discovered that the wire was practically uncut and despite an attempt to force a breakthrough, the Battalion had to dig in where it was, until relieved by the 16th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment, at 3am the following morning. During that period losses were suffered from intense rifle and machine gun fire.

Although the Battalion War Diary only mentions three Officer Casualties on that day, Second-Lieutenant F Ashcroft and Second-Lieutenant HG Ewing, who were killed in action and Second-Lieutenant Stewart who was reported missing it does not mention any officers being wounded. However Second-Lieutenant Statton must have been wounded in the same action, and for some reason, the wounding was not recorded.

He now rests at Abbeville Communal Cemetery where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH AND I WILL GIVE THEE A CROWN OF LIFE”

For much of the First World War, Abbeville was headquarters of the Commonwealth lines of communication and No.3 BRCS, No.5 and No.2 Stationary Hospitals were stationed there variously from October 1914 to January 1920. The communal cemetery was used for burials from November 1914 to September 1916, the earliest being made among the French military graves. Abbeville Communal Cemetery contains 774 Commonwealth burials of First World War and 30 from the Second. The Extension contains 1,754 First World War burials and 348 from the Second. The Commonwealth sections of both cemetery and extension were designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

A report on Percival’s death appeared in the Western Morning News 23rd April 1917.

Sec.Lt. P. G. S TATTON -Sec Lt Percival G Statton, Kings Liverpool reported to have died 18th inst from wounds received on 9th was the son of Mr & Mrs W G Statton of Trafalgar Place, Stoke. He obtained his commission last December.

His parents are still alive in 1939 and were living at 24 Lockyer Road Plymouth. Rose died 25/12/1947 and William George died 11/11/1952 in Torquay. Probate for William was to Winifred Mabel Grant £2058.81.

We currently have no further information on Percival Graham Statton, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Pte 15502 Thomas Andrew McMillin

From: Liverpool
(109 Years this day)
Wednesday 18th April 1917.
25 years old

Thomas Andrew (Tom) McMillin was born in the summer of 1891 the son of Andrew McMillin and his wife Amelia Martha (née Mace). He was baptised in St. Simon’s Church, Liverpool, on 19th August 1891. His parents at the time were living at 3 Upper Baker Street, West Derby Road, and his father’s occupation was joiner. His father, from County Antrim, and his mother, born in Leeds, married in Liverpool in 1889 and had five children, two of whom lived to adulthood. Tom had an older brother James Mace Sutton, born in 1890, and younger siblings William 1893, Amelia 1894 (died at 20 months), and Richard Benjamin 1895 (who died at seven months). In the mid-1890s the family lived at 17 Lavan Street.

At the time of the 1901 census his father, aged 39, is found at 27 Thurnham Street, near Newsham Park, occupation joiner/employer. His mother Amelia, 35, with James, 11, Thomas, 9, and William, 8, are in in Llangollen, boarding at 3-4 Mill Street with Evan and Mary Lloyd and family.

At the time of the 1901 census his father, aged 39, is found at 27 Thurnham Street, near Newsham Park, occupation joiner/employer. His mother Amelia, is aged 35, with James, 11, Thomas, 9, and William, 8, are in in Llangollen, boarding at 3-4 Mill Street with Evan and Mary Lloyd and family.

The family were living in Thurnham street in 1904 when his elder brother James died at the age of 14.

By 1911 they have moved to 20 Walton Park, off Rice Lane, Walton, a semi detached house with eight rooms. His father is 50, a joiner/office fitter, employer, and his mother is 44. Thomas, 19, and William, 18, are apprentices to their father.

His father’s business premises were at 1 & 3 Edmund Street, Old Hall Street, “All kinds of office fittings and furniture in stock”.

Intriguingly, Tom 21, and William McMillin, 19, are found travelling together to Australia, arriving in Queensland in 1912 (Index to Nominated immigrants and Nominators 1905 to 1928). No further passenger records have been found.

He enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool joined the 17th Bn as Private 15502.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

During the attack at Montauban on 01st July 1916 he received a Gun Shot Wound to his right arm. He was admitted to 13 Corps Collecting Post then admitted to a Casualty Clearing Station the same day 01/7/16. Further admitted to 1 Stationary Hospital 03/7/16. Eventually he returned to England on the HS Dieppe on 20/10/16. He was treated at Queen Mary’s Military Hospital in Whalley, Lancashire, south of Clitheroe, was about 50 miles from Liverpool. It is probable that his parents were able to visit him there.

Upon rehabilitation he transferred to the 13th Battalion of the Kings Liverpool Regiment.

The Battalion War Diary shows them in February 1917 in billets for training at Ourton then at Houvin. They marched to Denier on the 28th and were in billets practicing attacks, until marching to Arras on the 17th March. They remained in billets providing working parties, with occasional casualties killed and wounded.

On 8th April the battalion moved up to assembly trenches at 9-10 p.m.

On the first day of the Battle of Arras, April 9th, the 13th Bn attacked at 7 a.m. The right assaulting company took HARFLEUR TRENCH without difficulty, but the left company owing to the heavy fire were at first unable to enter the trench. The fact that they did so eventually is due to the sound leadership of the officers and the undeniable spirit of the men. Difficulty was experienced in advancing through TILLOY WOOD owing to the fact that it was strongly wired, and little of the wire had been cut. Hostile snipers caused a number of casualties owing to their good shooting and good positions, which could not be readily discovered. The barrage put up by our artillery was very effective and greatly assisted the men to gain their final objective, i.e., the village of TILLOY, by 8:30 a.m.

19 Officers and 449 men of the enemy were taken prisoners by this battalion, also 7 machine guns, 2 trench mortars, 1 bomb thrower, and vast quantities of M.G. ammunition in belts, S.A.A. bombs, and trench mortar ammunition.

Casualties killed and wounded: 8 Officers, 170 O.R.

Tom was wounded in action on the 09th April and succumbed to his wounds nine days later on 18th April 1917, aged 25 and now rests at Etaples Military Cemetery where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"HIS THOUGHTS AND DEEDS WERE ALWAYS FOR OTHERS.NEVER HIMSELF".

During the First World War, the area around Etaples was the scene of immense concentrations of Commonwealth reinforcement camps and hospitals. It was remote from attack, except from aircraft, and accessible by railway from both the northern or the southern battlefields. In 1917, 100,000 troops were camped among the sand dunes and the hospitals, which included eleven general, one stationary, four Red Cross hospitals and a convalescent depot, could deal with 22,000 wounded or sick. In September 1919, ten months after the Armistice, three hospitals and the Q.M.A.A.C. convalescent depot remained.

The cemetery contains 10,771 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, the earliest dating from May 1915. 35 of these burials are unidentified.

Hospitals were again stationed at Etaples during the Second World War and the cemetery was used for burials from January 1940 until the evacuation at the end of May 1940. After the war, a number of graves were brought into the cemetery from other French burial grounds. Of the 119 Second World War burials, 38 are unidentified.

Etaples Military Cemetery also contains 662 Non-Commonwealth burials, mainly German, including 6 unidentified. There are also now 6 Non World War service burials here.

The cemetery, the largest Commission cemetery in France, was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

His parents placed a notice in the Liverpool Echo on 11th May 1917:

“April 19 [sic], died in hospital of wounds received in action, aged 25 years, Private Thomas A. (Tom), (K.L.R.), the dearly-beloved eldest son of A. and M. McMillin of 79 Tithebarn Street and late of 60 Clarendon Road, Egremont.”

A report of his death appeared in the Daily Post and Liverpool Mercury on 12th May 1917:

Private T.McMillin,. the eldest son of Mr.A.McMillin, late of 60 Clarendon-road, Egremont and now of 79 Tithebarn-street, Liverpool has died in a hospital in France from wounds received in action. The gallant young soldier who was 25 years of age, went to France with the Liverpool "Pals," and was wounded on July 1 at the battle of the Somme. He was invalided home, and recovered at the military hospital in Whalley. Subsequently he was attached to another battalion of the King's Liverpool Regiment and was wounded in the battle of ----. He was removed to No 7 Canadian General Hospital France where he died.

His death was also reported in the Liverpool Weekly Courier on Saturday 19 May 1917;

He was invalided home and on recovering was attached to another Battalion of the King’s Liverpool Regiment and was fatally wounded in the Battle of Arras.

On the first anniversary of his death, In Memoriam notices were placed in the local paper:

“In loving memory of Private Thomas McMillin, K.L.R. (our dear Tom), the dearly beloved eldest son of Andrew and Amelia McMillin, who died at the Military Hospital, Etaples, of wounds received in action on Easter Monday. - 3, Annesley Road, Wallasey.”

And a tribute from his comrades:

“McMillin - In memory of Tom, K.L.R., who died of wounds received in action April 18, 1917. (One of the best.) Never forgotten by Alec, Joe, and George (in France).”

Tom earned his three medals. His father received his son’s Army effects and a War Gratuity of £12. No pension card has been found, suggesting that Tom had no dependents, or that his parents made no claim.

His brother William served as Lance Corporal 1755 with the Royal Army Medical Corps and received the Military Medal. He was discharged in March 1919.

A report of his award was included in the Liverpool Echo on Friday 14 September 1917;

LOCAL MEDALLISTS.

Lance-Corporal W. M'Millin, R.A.M.C., has been awarded the Military Medal. He joined at the commencement of the war, and has been in France for nearly two years. He resides with his parents 3, Annesley-road, Poulton.

Tom earned his three medals. His father received his son’s Army effects, Army Pay of £16 15s 3d and a War Gratuity of £12. No pension card has been found, suggesting that Tom had no dependents, or that his parents made no claim.

Probate in the amount of £133-19s was granted to his father, giving Tom‘s address as 3 Annesley Road, Seacombe, and his place of death as 7 Canadian General Hospital, Etaples.

On the 1921 Census at 3 Annesley Road, Wallasey, his father, Andrew, is aged 60, his mother, Amelia, is aged 55, and William is aged 22, and a joiner.

His mother died in Birkenhead in 1930 aged 65 and was buried on the 24th December at Anfield Cemetery. His father in Liverpool in 1935 aged 74. It is not known what became of his brother William. A William McMillin of the right age, 59, died in Middlesex in 1952.

Tom is commemorated on Wallasey War Memorial and the Wallasey Roll of Honour now in Wallasey Library, Earlston Road.

We currently have no further information on Thomas Andrew McMillin. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Cpl 57698 Harold Burton

From: Nottingham
K.I.A (108 Years this day)
Thursday 18th April 1918.
21 years old

Harold was born in the March quarter of 1897 at Radford, Nottingham, the son of John Edward Burton and his wife Annie (nee Fidler). His parents married on 24th December 1892 at St Peter's Church, Radford, Nottingham.

At the time of the 1901 Census Harold is aged 4 and is living at 25 Tyne St, Nottingham with his parents and three siblings. His father John E. Burton is a 27 year old cycle maker born in Radford, whilst his mother Annie is 29. His siblings are listed as; James Henry 7, John E. 6, both born in Radford, and Ellen aged 1 born in Lenton

By the time of the 1911 Census he is aged 14 and is a printers errand boy, living with his widowed mother and four siblings at 53 Mitchell St, Nottingham. His mother Annie is 39 and a shop keeper. She advised that she had been married for 19 years and had seven children of whom one had died. Harold's siblings are listed as; James Henry aged 18 and a law clerk, John Edward aged 16 is a clothiers assistant, both Ellen 11 and Elsie 7 are at school.

Harold enlisted in Nottingham and originally served as 408, Northumberland Divisional Cyclist Company and following a transfer was serving in the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Corporal No 57698 when he was killed in action on the 18th April 1918 during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary entry for the day reveals that 10 Other Ranks were killed during heavy shelling of the area.

18^th April

No aggressive action on either side. The activity being confined to artillery. The French had come up in great force and assisted our artillery with the famous “75s”. The Battn came under heavy shell fire at one period. 10 O.R. being killed and 3 wounded.

The weather, which up to this time had been quite good, turned and snow, rain and hail fell.

Harold was one of those ten men killed and he now rests at Mont-Noir Military Cemetery, St. Jans-Cappel, France.

The hill was captured by the Cavalry Corps on the 13th October 1914, and held throughout the Battles of the Lys, 1918. On the North side of the Berthen-Westoutre road, is the Battle Memorial of the 34th Division, marking the final position of Divisional Headquarters in the Battles of the Lys. The Cemetery was made in April-September 1918, and at the Armistice it contained 91 British graves and 33 French (all of the 26th Dragoons or the 88th Infantry Regiment). It was then enlarged by the concentration of British and French graves (including one of November 1914) from the battlefields immediately South of it and the following cemetery:- WOLFHOEK BRITISH CEMETERY, ST. JANS-CAPPEL, which was by the roadside, nearly 200 metres South-West of the hamlet of Wolfhoek and contained the graves of 23 United Kingdom soldiers. It was made in August-September 1918, mainly by the 36th (Ulster) Division. Also, near the centre of the cemetery, are the graves of two unidentified British soldiers of the 1939-1945 War. There are now 149 Commonwealth burials of the 1914-1918 war here, 15 being unidentified. There are 2 unidentified Commonwealth burials of the 1939-1945 war here. There are also 84 French burials of the 1914-1918 war here. The cemetery covers an area of 1,315 square metres and is enclosed by a low rubble wall.

He was officially reported as killed in the Sheffield Telegraph of 07th June 1918

Extra family information taken from the service records of his brother Pte #86282 John Edward Burton MGC. Next of Kin; Annie Burton 4 Institute Terrace, Hartley Road, Radford. Employed by Raleigh Cycle Co., Nottingham (this is most probably also his father's employer from the 1901 census)

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Annie

Harold is also comemorated on the Memorial at St John the Baptist in Carrington, Nottingham.

We currently have no further information on Harold Burton, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Pte 59347 William Eves

From: Liverpool
K.I.A (108 Years this day)
Thursday 18th April 1918.
36 years old

William was born in the December quarter of 1881 in Liverpool and he was baptised on the 08th January 1882 at St John the Baptist Church, Liverpool. He was the eldest child of William Eves and his wife Mary Jane (née Porter), who were both born in Liverpool and married on the 05th June 1881 at St Michael in the Hamlet Church, Toxteth. William snr was a 24 year old pianoforte maker of Vine Street, father Peter a shipwright, whilst Mary was aged 21 of Elaine Street, father Robert Clark a sawyer. They had nine children, two of whom died in infancy. William’s siblings were Albert Ernest, born in 1884, Edith Maud 1885, Charles 1887, Florence 1890, Herbert Porter 1891, and Annie 1900.

He was baptised in St. John the Baptist on 08th January 1882, his parents’ residence given as 89 Woodruff Street, and his father’s occupation listed as pianoforte maker (this occupation also given on his parents’ marriage certificate).

In 1891 the family, listed as Enes, is living at 50 High Park Street, Toxteth Park, (house successive to 89 Woodruff Street). His father is 33, a general labourer (there is no mention of pianoforte maker on any census), his mother is 31, they have five children, William is 9. Also in the household are his maternal grandparents Robert Clark Porter and Elizabeth Porter, as well as his aunt Sarah Ann Porter.

In 1901 the family, with seven children, is living at 107 Upper Essex Street, Toxteth Park. His father is a general porter, William is 19, a coal porter, Albert, 16, is a railway messenger, Edith is 14, an upholsterer’s apprentice. Charles 13, Florence 11, and Herbert 9 are at school. Annie is 1. His widowed grandmother Elizabeth Porter is living with them, as well as his aunt Sarah Ann. His sister Florence died the following year at the age of 12.

William married Florence Ellis on 1st April 1907 in All Saints Church, Princes Park. He gives his age as 27, his occupation as dock porter, and his address as 49 Mozart Street, Toxteth Park. He gives his father as William Eves, dock porter. Florence was aged 23, a laundress, with same address, father George a bricksetter.

Their daughter Edith May was born on 03rd May 1907, followed by William George on 27th July 1908, and Florence Mary on 03rd February 1911.

The 1911 census finds them at 54 South Street, Toxteth Park. William is 30, a dock labourer, Florence is 26, Edith is 4, George 3, and Florence one month old. They have a visitor, 30-year old Francis Booth, married. His parents, with four of his siblings, are living at 8 Alfred Place, Toxteth Park. His father is 55, working as a dock labourer, his mother is 51.

Three more children were born: Josephine Irene on 23rd October 1912, Annie Ada 30th March 1914, and Frederick Verdun on 31st January 1916.

William enlisted, or was likely conscripted in late 1916 or early 1917.

He originally served in the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private No 59347.

His name appeared in the list of K.L.R. Wounded published in the Liverpool Daily Post on 15th September 1917, but showing Eves 59347 A. No records for an A. Eves in the K.L.R. have been found.

At some point he was transferred to the 18th Battalion King's Liverpool Regiment, most likely in February 1918, when the 20th Battalion was disbanded.

He was killed in action on the 18^th April 1918 during the German Spring Offensive.

18th Btn War Diary - 18th April 1918

FRONT LINE

Opposite BAILLEUL.

4.50 a.m. - 4 Officers and 24 O.R.’s of TANK CORPS with Lewis guns reported for duty and attached to frontline Coy’s.

Patrols were pushed out during the night towards BAILLEUL but no enemy encountered.

10 a.m. Front lines shelled, 77’s, causing casualties, then artillery action throughout the morning.

Slight enemy movements, individuals seen at S.8.b.

4 p.m. - C.O. met Brigadier at H.Q. 17th K.L.R. and analysed details for change of position.

5 p.m. - Enemy continued to shell sector.

William has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

His children were 10, 9, 7, 5, 4, and 2 years old when William was killed. Florence, living at 45 Aberdeen Street, Dingle, was awarded a pension of £2-2s-1d a week from October 1918. Soldiers’ Effects (written as Eaves and transcribed as Daves), shows that Florence received his Army effects, Army Pay of £4 5d and a War Gratuity of £4-10s.

Florence remarried to widow John Ewing in Toxteth in 1920 and had one more child Norman in 1922.

On the 1921 Census at 45 Aberdeen Street, Florence is aged 35, John Ewing is aged 39, a ships plater born in Dumbarton. The Eves children are Edith 14, Florence 12, George 10, Josephine 8, Annie 7, and Fred 5. John’s children are Walter 2 and John 2 months.

His father William died in 1935, aged 78.

Florence lost her husband in 1935, and daughter Josephine in August 1939, aged 26.

On the 1939 Register, Florence is living at 45 Joliffe Street with children William and Florence Eves, and sons Walter, John, and Norman Ewing. Florence’s age is listed as 42, whereas she would have been 54. Son William is 31, a motor lorry driver, and daughter Florence, 28, is a café waitress.

His widow Florence died in 1952, aged 67.

His nephew Herbert, the son of his brother Herbert, was killed in World War Two, on 08th August 1944, serving in the Royal Artillery. He rests in Bari War Cemetery, Italy. He was 24.

William is commemorated on the Men of Coopers Memorial.

We currently have no further information on William Eves. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Pte 202844 Loammi Farey

From: London
K.I.A (108 Years this day)
Thursday 18th April 1918.
30 years old

PRIVATE LOAMMI FAREY – 202844 – 19TH BATTALION KING'S LIVERPOOL REGIMENT - KILLED IN ACTION – 18/4/1918 AGED 30.

Loammi was born on 08th May 1887 in Chelsea, London and was baptised on the 07th August 1887 at Holy Trinity, Chelsea. He was the son of Samuel and Sarah Lavinia Farey (Nee James). Samuel Farey and Sarah Lavinia James were married on 03rd August 1886 at the Parish Church, Guiting Power, Gloucestershire. He was agde 26 and a coachman of Chelsea and the son of Samuel Farey an Innkeeper. Sarah was aged 28 and a domestic servant of Guiting Power and the daughter of Loammi James a labourer. Their witnesses were David James and Isabella Hamblett. Bride and Groom and witnesses all signed the register.

1891 Census – 245 Pavilion Road, Chelsea North Samuel Farey – 31, Sarah L Farey – 32, with children Loammi – 3, and Algar – 2.

1901 Census – The Grange Stables, Beneden, Cranbrook, Kent ( The home of Lord & Lady Medway – The Hardy family who were residing at The Grange). Loammi Farey age 14 (Domestic Hall Boy) a Lodger - residing with Henry G Robinson, (Domestic Coach Man) his wife Martha and their daughter Muriel.

1911 Census – Seighford Hall, Stafford Loammi Fairey – age 23 – Servant (Footman) – single – (Born London, Middlesex) - residing with William Warrington Dobson (Chairman of a Brewery Company) 1901 Census for Parents – 8 New Cottages, Birdinbury, Warwickshire Samuel and Sarah L with children Algar, Edith M, Arthur J, Frances E and Albert E. 1911 Census for Parents – 27 Ennismore Gardens Mews, S.W. London Samuel and Sarah L with children Algar, Edith May and Albert Edward His siblings were Algar, Edith May, Arthur James, Frances Eleanor and Albert Edward.

Loammi Farey married Ethel Jane Morley 05th April 1915 at St Pauls, Kirkdale, Liverpool they were both living in St Johns Road, Kirkdale and the witnesses were Algar Farey and Doris Morley. They had a daughter Edith M Farey born in 1916 September quarter.

Loammi was serving with the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 202844 when he was killed in action on 18th April 1918.

The Battalion diary entry for the day reveals that 10 Other Ranks were killed during heavy shelling of the area.

18^th April 1918

The weather, which up to this time had been quite good, turned and snow, rain and hail fell.

Loammi was one of the 10 Other Ranks referred to in the diary.

He now rests at Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extnesion in France.

Bailleul was occupied on 14 October 1914 by the 19th Brigade and the 4th Division. It became an important railhead, air depot and hospital centre, with the 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 11th, 53rd, 1st Canadian and 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Stations quartered in it for considerable periods. It was a Corps headquarters until July 1917, when it was severely bombed and shelled, and after the Battle of Bailleul (13-15 April 1918), it fell into German hands and was not retaken until 30 August 1918.

The earliest Commonwealth burials at Bailleul were made at the east end of the communal cemetery and in April 1915, when the space available had been filled, the extension was opened on the east side of the cemetery. The extension was used until April 1918, and again in September, and after the Armistice graves were brought in from the neighbouring battlefields.

BAILLEUL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION contains 4,403 Commonwealth burials of the First World War; 11 of the graves made in April 1918 were destroyed by shell fire and are represented by special memorials. There are also 17 British burials of the Second World War (all 1940) and 154 German burials from both wars (10 of which are Second World War).

During the Second World War the cemetery suffered major bomb damage that necessitated the replacement of nearly 200 headstones after the war.

Both the Commonwealth plot in the communal cemetery and the extension were designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

He was reported killed in the Weekly Casualty List 11th June 1918 - Farey 202844 L. (Bootle);

Soldiers Effects and Pension to widow Ethel Jane and child Edith May

His widow Ethel J Farey was the NOK on the UK Army Register of Effects.

She re-married in 1939 to William R Maunder at St John the Evangelist, Knotty Ash, Liverpool.

1939 records show – 34 Hillcrest Road, Crosby William R Maunder born 12th May 1893, Ethel Jane Maunder born 13th February 1891 and Edith M Farey born 09th June 1916. Edith married Thomas H. Pearce in 1948 in South Sefton Registration district and it appears that they had three children David in 1948 in Crosby, Susan E in 1950 in Liverpool North and John in 1958 in Liverpool South

His brother ARTHUR JAMES FAREY also died in WW1. He was Gunner 42738 Royal Garrison Artillery and was born in 1894, he died of wounds on 05th May 1917 and his residence was Towcester, Northants. He is buried at St Sever Cemetery. His father Samuel was his NOK on the UK Army Register of Effects.

ALGER FAREY was married on 04th June 1916 to Rose Ada Loveys at Emmanuel West, Dulwich, Lambeth. He was aged 28 and a Police Constable and his father shown as Samuel Farey – Licensee. Rose was aged 28 and her father was James Isaac Loveys a Builder. They both resided at 26 Chancellor Road in West Dulwich. A tree on Ancestry gives them having 2 sons and a daughter. One of whom was Arthur Leonard Farey baptised 01st July 1917 in London, shortly after Alger's death.

Information and photograph kindly provided by Laommi’s granddaughter Susan.

We currently have no further information on Loammi Farey. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Pte 49547 Stanley James GaskIll

From: Manchester
K.I.A (108 Years this day)
Thursday 18th April 1918.
38 years old

Stanley James Gaskill was born in the March quarter of 1880 at Manchester and was the was the son of James Gaskill and his wife Annie (nee Gill). his parents married in St John's Church, Manchester in 1867. Stanley was baptised at St. James The Apostle Church, Birch, Manchester on 28th March 1880, his parents' residence Rusholme Grove, and his father's occupation newsagent.

Stanley was the fifth of nine children, all born in Rusholme. His older siblings were Harry, Clara, Elsie Annie, and Hilda (who died in
infancy), and younger siblings George Bernard (who died at age 2), twins Fred and Arthur, and Mabel.

At the time of the 1881 census the family is living at 6 Birch Street in Rusholme, with four children; Stanley is one year old.

By 1891 the family has moved to 32 Thomas Street, with their seven children. His father is still working as a newsagent, Harry, 22, is a
solicitor's clerk, Clara, 20, is a bookkeeper, and Elsie, 16, is a dressmaker apprentice. Stanley is 11, Fred and Arthur are 5, and Mabel
is 2 years old.

On the 1901 Census, Stanley is aged 20, a commercial clerk for a stuff (cloth) merchant living with his parents and four siblings at 32 Thomas Street, Rusholme. His father is now employed as a club steward. His siblings are shown as Elsie is 26, Fred and his twin brother Arthur are 15 and Mabel is 12. Also in the household is grandson Arthur Wadsworth, 4 (Clara's son).

The 1911 Census shows the family are still living at 32 Thomas Street, Rusholme, Manchester. His father James is aged 69 was born in Manchester in 1842 and his occupation is shown as a messenger in the billposting trade, whilst his mother Annie is aged 66, was born in Cheadle in 1845. They have been married for forty three years and have had nine children of which two had died. Those listed at home are; Elsie aged 36, born 1875, Stanley aged 31, is a merchant shippers clerk, Fred aged 25, born 1886 is a cotton manufacturers clerk and his twin brother Arthur is a joiner in the billiard trade, and Mabel aged 22, born 1889 is a milliner. The children were all born in Manchester.

Stanley married Gertrude Cheetham on the 04th April 1912, in Holy Trinity Church, Hulme. Both were aged 32. They were to have two children Alan born on 18th March 1913 and Sydney on 26th March 1915 both born in Chorlton.

His mother died in the June quarter of 1915, aged 69.

Stanley enlisted in Manchester and and served in the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private No 49547. Based on the amount of the War Gratuity, he enlisted or was conscripted in about August 1916. At some point after arriving in France he was posted to the 19th Battalion K.L.R.

He was killed in action on the 18^th April 1918, aged 38, during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary entry for the day reveals that 10 Other Ranks were killed during heavy shelling of the area.

18^th April

The weather, which up to this time had been quite good, turned and snow, rain and hail fell.

Stanley was one of the 10 Other Ranks referred to in the diary. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

His widow placed a notice in the Manchester Evening News on 06th May 1918:

"In proud memory of Private Stanley J. Gaskill, King's Liverpools, who was killed in action April 18, 1918, the beloved husband of Gertrude Gaskill (nee Cheetham). He laid his richest gift on the altar of duty - his life. - 31 Rial Street, Hulme."

His sons were 5 and 3 years old when Stanley was killed.

He was reported killed in the Weekly Casualty List 11th June 1918:

- Gaskill 49547 S. J. (Moss Side, Manchester);

His effects were sent to his widow Gertrude, including a War Gratuity of £7. She was also awarded a dependent's pension of 25s/5d, later increased to 30 shillings. She lived at 20 Henbury Street in Moss Side, Manchester, and later moved to Blackpool and lived at 19 Broughton Avenue.

His father died in 1921, aged 79.

On the 1939 register, taken at the end of September, Gertrude, then aged 59, and living on private means, was at 17 Carsluith Avenue in Blackpool, with her sister Annie Cheetham.

Gertrude died in 1968, aged 87.

His son Alan married in 1937 and had a family.

In 1939 his wife Lily lived at 400 Warley Road in Blackpool. Alan was not in the household, possibly having been called up.

He died in Blackpool in 2000, aged 87.

In 1939, Sydney was 23 years of age and a coach builder, boarding in Ripponden, near Halifax, in Yorkshire. He married in 1944 and had a daughter. He died in 1989 in Yorkshire, aged 73 or 74.

Sadly, Stanley has not been found on any U.K. memorial.

We currently have no further information on Stanley James Gaskill, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Pte 203773 Lawrence Green

From: Burnley, Lancs
K.I.A (108 Years this day)
Thursday 18th April 1918.
38 years old

Lawrence was born in Burnley in the December quarter of 1879 the son of Lawrence Green and his wife Mary (nee Doonal).

On the 1881 Census the family are living in Pickup Street, Burnley, Lawrence is aged 1 and is living with his parents and two siblings. His father, Lawrence, is a 47 year old cotton weaver, whilst his mother Mary is aged 40 and was born in Ireland. His siblings are shown as; Michael a 16 year old cotton weaver born in Ireland, and Mary aged 8 was born in Blackburn.

His father died in the December quarter of 1898, aged 62.

On 1901 census he is aged 20, a cotton weaver living in James Street, Padiham, Burnley with his widowed mother aged 60.

He married Catherine Flatley in Burnley, in 1909. Catherine was born in Padiham. They had three children; Winifred born in the March quarter of 1912, Teresa born in the March quarter of 1913 and Angela born in the September quarter of 1915.

Prior to the war, Lawrence was employed as a Cotton Weaver and he was living in Padiham, Lancashire.

His mother died in the March quarter of 1917, aged 76.

Lawrence was serving in the 19^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 203773, attached to the Machine Gun Corps, when he was killed in action on the 18th April 1918 during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary entry for the day reveals that 10 Other Ranks were killed during heavy shelling of the area.

18^th April

The weather, which up to this time had been quite good, turned and snow, rain and hail fell.

Lawrence was one of the 10 Other Ranks referred to in the diary.

He now rests at Mont-Noir Military Cemetery, St. Jans-Cappel, France.

He left a widow, Catherine and three children; Winifred, Teresa and Angela.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to widow Catherine and children Winifred, Theresa and Angela

His widow Catherine was living with daughter Angela on the 1939 register at 4 Cotton Street, Padiham

We currently have no further information on Lawrence Green, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Pte 50020 Thomas Hollidge

From: London
K.I.A (108 Years this day)
Thursday 18th April 1918.
19 years old

Thomas was born on 21st May 1898 in Greenwich, London the son of William Vitler Hollidge and his wife Lucy Ann (nee Kelly). He was baptised on 16th June 1898 at Christ Church, Greenwich, his parents' residence at the time Aldeburgh Street. His parents married in 1887; Thomas was the sixth of their seven children, and the youngest boy. His older siblings were William Thomas, Jane Alice, John Frank, Lucy Ann, and Rose (who died in infancy). He had a younger sister Emily Elizabeth Ada.

On the 1901 Census Thomas is aged 2, living at 19 Marlton Street, Greenwich. His father, William, is a 34 year old joiner, whilst his mother, Lucy, is aged 30. Thomas has the following siblings listed as living at the property; William aged 13, Jane aged 11, John aged 9, Lucy aged 7 and two visitors Emily 18 and Thomas 17 Vielley. All members of the family were born in Greenwich, also recorded are visitors Emily and Thomas Kelly, both of whom were born in Greenwich.

By the time of the 1911 census the family have moved. Thomas is aged 12 and is living at 30 Riddlesdown Road, Purley, Croyden with his parents and three sisters. His father, William, is now a 44 year old carpenter, his mother Lucy Ann is aged 40. His sisters are shown as; Jane Alice, married name Harris, aged 21 and a domestic servant, Lucy Ann aged 17 and is also a domestic servant, and Emily Ada aged 7.

His mother, Lucy, died in the March quarter of 1912 aged 41.

His elder brother William had joined the Royal Navy and John the Royal Field Artillery.

Sadly, his sister Emily died in 1914, at the age of 10.

His father remarried on the 22nd June 1913 to widow Florence Sarah Williams at St Augustine's Church, Croydon.

Thomas enlisted in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey joining the East Surrey Regiment as Private 11752. Based on the amount of the War Gratuity, he enlisted in about May 1916, when he would have turned 18 years old.

At some point he was transferred to the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 50020. After shipping to France he was posted to the 19th Battalion K.L.R., most likely in February 1918 when the 20th Battalion was disbanded.

Thomas was killed in action on the 18^th April 1918, during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary entry for the day reveals that 10 Other Ranks were killed during heavy shelling of the area.

18^th April

The weather, which up to this time had been quite good, turned and snow, rain and hail fell.

Thomas was one of the 10 Other Ranks referrred to in the diary.

His body was not recovered from the battlefield or his grave was subsequently destroyed as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

Soldiers Effects including a War Gratuity of £7-10 to father William V., no pension record found.

His brothers both survived the war, William with the R.N. and John with the R.F.A.

Thomas has not been found on any U.K. memorial.

His father died in the December quarter of 1931, aged 63.

We currently have no further information on Thomas Hollidge, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Pte 27143 Richard George West Jones

From: Wrexham, N.Wales
K.I.A (108 Years this day)
Thursday 18th April 1918.
40 years old

Richard George West Jones was born in Wrexham in 1877, the son of Richard George West and his wife Martha (nee Lloyd). His parents married in 1859; seven children have been found on censuses. Richard had older siblings Mary, Martha, Walter, Sarah, and Ellen, and a younger brother William Henry.

At the time of the 1881 census the family is found at 15 Beast Market in Wrexham with six children. His father is a slater and plasterer, 14-year old Mary is employed in a leather works, and Richard is 3 years old.

Beast Market is named after the cattle market that had been held on the site since medieval times.

On the 1891 Census he is aged 13, and an agriculture labourer, living at 20 Beast Market, Wrexham with his parents and four siblings. His father, Richard, is a 60 year old plasterer, whilst his mother, Martha, is aged 50. His siblings are listed as; Walter aged 20 and a stationary engine driver, Sarah is aged 19 and employed as a nailer?, Ellen is aged 15, and William H. is an 8 year old scholar. Also present is his cousin William Willcock aged 20 and a bricklayers labourer (All were born in Wrexham).

On the 1901 census he is aged 23, a collier, boarding at 9 Abenbury Street, Wrexham. Also there is his future wife Betsy Rogers, aged 16, listed as sister-in-law.

His parents are now living at 56 Marley Road in Wrexham. His father is 70, still working as a plasterer, his mother is 60, and youngest son William, 19, works as a driver below ground in a colliery.

He married Betsy Rogers in Wrexham on 03rd June 1901. On his marriage cert his middle name is written down and signed "Gorge". Richard, 24, gave his address as Napier Street, and his occupation as collier. Betsy gave her age as 17, in fact she was only 16.

They had four children, all born in Wigan: Bessie May, born on 17th August 1903, Lily 27th January 1906, Frank 03rd February 1908, and Rose, born on 02nd January 1911.

His mother died in the June quarter of 1907 aged 66.

His father died in the March quarter of 1908 aged 77.

On the 1911 Census, Richard is aged 33, and works as a coal miner/hewer. He is married and living at 63 Sandy Lane, Lowton, Lancashire. His wife Betsy is aged 26 and they have four children, they are recorded as; Bessie May aged 7, Lily aged 5, Frank aged 3 and Rose is just 3 months old.

Another child, Walter, was born on 25th November 1913 and was baptised in St. Mary's Church, Lowton.

At the time of the war he was living in Newton Le Willows and was employed as a Coal miner.

He enlisted in Wigan, joining the 11th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. He arrived in France on 14th July 1915 and at some point was transferred to the 19th Battalion K.L.R. as Private No 27143.

Richard was killed in action on the 18^th April 1918, aged 40, during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary entry for the day reveals that 10 Other Ranks were killed during heavy shelling of the area.

18^th April

The weather, which up to this time had been quite good, turned and snow, rain and hail fell.

Richard was one of the 10 Other Ranks referred to in the diary.

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lsot as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

Richard is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Newton le Willows War Memorial

St. Mary's Cross, Lowton.

He earned his three medals.

Soldiers Effects including a War Gratuity of £13-10s and a pension of 24s/2d to widow Betsy and children Bessie May, Lily, Frank, Rose and Walter. His children were 15, 12, 10, 7, and 4 years old when Richard was killed.

Notations on the pension card read, Reason for refusal - "Letter rec'd re woman's conduct sent to Section to deal with (18/5/18 not returned)". If a widow was deemed morally unfit by the standards of the day, a pension could be refused.

In 1939 Betsy is at 63 Sandy Lane with four children: Alfred, born in 1919, Albert 1920, one record which is redacted but is in fact Alice, born in 1923, and Mary, 1926, all Jones born to mother Rogers.

His daughter Rose is married and living in Leigh with her husband Richard and two children. Richard Royle served in the Second World War as a Gunner in the Royal Horse Artillery. He was killed in North Africa on 31st May 1942. Richard, who was 32 years old, is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial in Egypt.

Betsy never remarried and died on the 20th January 1945, aged 60, her address was still 63 Sandy Lane, Lowton

We currently have no further information on Richard George West Jones, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Pte 54115 John Patrick Kavanagh

From: Liverpool
K.I.A (108 Years this day)
Thursday 18th April 1918.
25 years old

John Patrick Kavanagh was born in Liverpool on 21st April 1892, the son of William Kavanagh and his wife Mary (née Cogley). His parents were both born in Wexford, Ireland, and by 1881 had come to Liverpool, where eight children were born, three of whom sadly died young. John had older siblings Catherine and Matthew, and younger sisters Bridget and Mary.

He was baptised on 2nd May 1892 in Our Lady of Reconciliation de la Salette.

Unfortunately the family has not been found on the 1901 census.

In 1911 John, with his parents and two sisters, is living in two rooms at 76 Gildart’s Gardens. According to the Housing Handbook (1903), Gildart’s Gardens, off Vauxhall Road, were “cheap tenements for the very poor”. His father, 50, is a dock night watchman, his mother is 46. John is 18, a labourer, Bridget 15, is a dressmaker, and Mary is 8. They state that five of their eight children are still living.

When he was 21, John married Margaret Sealey in St. Bridget’s Church, Liverpool, on 13th June 1913.

A daughter Mary was born March 1916, but sadly died at 13 months old. She was buried in Ford Cemetery, her parents living at 32 Travers Street.

He enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 54155 when he was killed in action on the 18^th April 1918 during the German Spring Offensive, just three days before his 26th birthday,.

The Battalion diary entry for the day reveals that 10 Other Ranks were killed during heavy shelling of the area.

18^th April 1918

The weather, which up to this time had been quite good, turned and snow, rain and hail fell.

John Patrick was one of the 10 Other Ranks refereed to in the diary entry. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

His wife Margaret was notified on 03rd May 1918. Nevertheless, an enquiry was made with the British Red Cross on 20th November 1918.

His widow Margaret, at 32 Travers Street, off Soho Street, Liverpool, received John’s Army effects and a War Gratuity of £7. The pension card shows Margaret received a widow’s pension of 13/9d a week from November 1918.

Margaret remarried in 1920 to John Gavin, and lived at 161 Richmond Row, Liverpool.

In 1939 Margaret, 46, was living with son Andrew 19, at 16B Owen House, Liverpool. She is married, but her husband is not in the household. Margaret appears to have died in 1965, aged 71.

John is commemorated on the following memorials -

Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 68

Our Lady of Reconciliation, Liverpool.

We currently have no further information on John Patrick Kavanagh. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Pte 31798 Peter Edward Lawler

From: Liverpool
K.I.A (108 Years this day)
Thursday 18th April 1918.
32 years old

Peter Edward Lawler was born on on 13th August 1885 in Liverpool the son of Peter Lawler and his wife Eliza (nee McCauley). His parents married in 1872 in Liverpool; Peter was the youngest of their seven children. Sadly, their first four children died young: Catherine Ann at 9 months, Elizabeth Ann at age 5, Francis James at 9 months, and Isabella, 2 days. Peter had two surviving older sisters, Mary and Margaret Ann.

His father is found on the 1881 census when the family was living in court housing in Charters Street. His parents were both born in Ireland (his mother in Belfast), and both were aged 28 (his father's age differs from the age stated at burial). Peter snr. is an unemployed seaman, Mary is 6 months old.

Peter was baptised at Our Lady of Reconciliation de La Salette in Liverpool. The Catholic baptism record contains some poor transcription but the details we have gleaned are as follows:

Name Petrus Edwardus Lalor

Birth Date 13 August 1885

Baptism Date 18 August 1885

Baptism Place Our Lady of Reconciliation de La Salette, Liverpool.

Father Ceton Lalor

Mother Elizae Macauley

His father, died aged 28, just a month after he was born. He was buried at Ford Cemetery on 20th September 1885. The family was then living at 53 Eldon Place, Liverpool.

His mother married James Darragh in 1890 at St Peter's Church, Liverpool.

In 1891 5-year old Peter is found in court housing in Burlington Street with his mother, 40, and stepfather James Darragh, 52, who is a seaman. Stepbrother Charles Darragh, 18, is a dock labourer, Mary is 10 and Margaret 8.

The 1901 census shows the family living at 6 Court, 1 House, Burlington Street, Liverpool. James Darragh (step father) is a 70 year old Able Seaman, born in Ireland, whilst his mother Elizabeth is aged 50 also born in Ireland. Their children are listed as; Charles Darragh aged 29, and a labourer in oil mill, Mary Lawler aged 20 and assisting at home, Peter Lawler is aged 15, and a labourer in oil mill, David Darragh is aged 9, and Elizabeth Darragh is aged 6. All children were born in Liverpool.

Peter married Mary Ellen Welsh in 1907. They had a daughter Ann Jane born in the September quarter of 1907 who sadly died at age 22 months, a son Peter born in the March quarter of 1910, he sadly died aged 20 months in 1911.

On the 1911 Census, Peter is aged 26, a married dock labourer living at 5 Burlington Street, Liverpool with his wife Mary Ellen who is 22, and their daughter Ann Jane aged 2. Their son Peter is declared deceased.

They had further children, a son Francis, born on13th December 1911, Elizabeth, born in 1913, died in infancy, Mary, born in 1915, and another son who was named after their first born son Peter, he was born on 07th July 1917.

Prior to enlisting Peter worked as a dock labourer.

He enlisted in Liverpool on 13th September 1915 and initiallty served in the 13th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 31798. At some point after shipping to France he was transferred to the 19th Battlion K.L.R.

He was killed in action on the 18th April 1918, aged 32, during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary entry for the day reveals that 10 Other Ranks were killed during heavy shelling of the area.

18^th April 1918

The weather, which up to this time had been quite good, turned and snow, rain and hail fell.

Peter was one of the 10 Other Ranks referred to in the diary entry.

He now rests at Mont-Noir Military Cemetery, St. Jans-Cappel, France.

LAWLER, PETER - Private No. 31198 The King's Liverpool Regiment; son of M. E. Lawler; born Liverpool 13 August 1885; educated there; was a dock labourer; enlisted 13 September 1915; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders and was killed in action 18 April 1917; he married at Our Lady's Church, Liverpool 20 May 1907 to Mary Ellen, 111 Burlington Street, Liverpool, and had two sons, Francis born 13th December 1911, and Peter born 7th July 1917.

Mary Ellen suffered another loss when daughter Mary died not long after Peter, in July 1918 aged 3. She has now buried four of her six children.

His son Francis was 6 years old and Peter 9 months old when Peter was killed.

Soldiers Effects including a War Gratuity of £12, and Pension of 25s/5d a week to widow, Mary Ellen, and children Francis and Peter, 111 Burlington St, Liverpool. There is no mention of his daughter Ann Jane in Du Rivigny's nor on the Soldiers effects register.

His widow Mary Ellen remarried 1921 to Joseph Millar. They had three children John born in 1922, James in 1924 and Catherine in 1928.

She appears on 1939 register at Portland Street, Liverpool then aged 50, and working as a bag mender. James and Catherine Millar and son Peter Lawler, aged 22 and a joiner's labourer. One entry is redacted, possibly Francis.

Mary Ellen died in 1954 aged 65;

His son Francis died in 1971 aged 60, and Peter died at 58 in 1976.

Peter is commemorated on the following memorials -

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 24 Left (erroneously listed as P.P. Lawler)

Our Lady of Reconciliation Church, Liverpool.

We currently have no further information on Peter Edward Lawler. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Pte 52901 Frank Merrick

From: Manchester
K.I.A (108 Years this day)
Thursday 18th April 1918.
26 years old

Frank Merrick was born on 04th January 1892 in Manchester and was the son of George Edwin Merrick and his wife Elizabeth Ann (nee Jackson). Frank was baptised on 23rd March 1892 at the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in Irwell Street, Salford. His parents married in 1883.

On the 1901 census he is aged 9 b.Salford living at 5 Lower Islington, Salford. His father George E. is aged 44 and employed as a carpet cleaner born in Stone, Staffs., whilst his mother Elizabeth A. is aged 41 and was born in Salford. Frank has one sibling, his brother Sidney who is aged 13 and was born in Salford.

On the 1911 Census Frank is aged 19, and employed as a home trade warehouseman, living at 18 Muriel St, Lower Broughton. His father George E. is now aged 54 and an upholsterer, whilst his mother Elizabeth A. is aged 51 and described as a housekeeper. They advise that they have been married for 28 years and have had four children, two of whom have survived. His brother Sidney is also in the household, he is now aged 23 and is a home trade warehouseman.

The two children who sadly died are George who died in infancy in the September quarter of 1886 and Edwin who also died in infancy in the June quarter of 1894.

Frank enlisted in Manchester and was serving in the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 52901 when he was killed in action on the 18th April 1918 aged 26 during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary entry for the day reveals that 10 Other Ranks were killed during heavy shelling of the area.

18^th April 1918

The weather, which up to this time had been quite good, turned and snow, rain and hail fell.

Frank was one of the 10 Other Ranks referred to in the diary entry.

He now rests at Mont-Noir Military Cemetery, St. Jans-Cappel, France.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Elizabeth Ann.

His father died aged 74 in 1930 whilst his mother died aged 85 in 1945.

We currently have no further information on Frank Merrick, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Pte 49558 Albert William Parker

From: Litherland, Liverpool
Died (108 Years this day)
Thursday 18th April 1918.
30 years old

Albert William Parker was born in 1888 in Litherland, Liverpool the son of Elizabeth Parker, the unmarried daughter of John H. Parker and Maria Louisa Parker.

At the time of the 1891Census he is recorded as a grandson, aged 2, living at 66 Beaumont Street, Toxteth Park. His grandfather John H. Parker, is a 50 year old book keeper born in Hull, whilst his grandmother Maria L. Parker is also aged 50 and also born in Hull. They live with their children who are listed as; Rose aged 24 and a domestic servant born in Rock Ferry, Edith aged 22 is a cook in cafe born in Toxteth, Elizabeth is an 18 year old dressmaker born in Toxteth, and Kate is aged 15 and a printers shop assistant also born in Toxteth.

Elizabeth married George E. Mellor on 22nd April 1903 at St Saviour's Church, Everton

By the 1901 Census he was living at 25 Fowler Street, Everton with his Grandparents.

Albert married Elizabeth Phillips in 1908 in the West Derby Registration District. They had three children; Albert Leslie born in the March quarter of 1909, William Henry born in the June quarter of 1912 and James Harold born in the September quarter of 1914.

At the 1911 Census Albert is now living at 88 Boswell Street, Bootle with wife Elizabeth - Albert was a Joiner at a Wood Box Makers.

On the 1911 Census their son Albert Leslie Parker was with his grandmother Elizabeth Phillips at 11 Garden Lane, Bootle.

By the 1911 census his mother Elizabeth and her husband George Mellor are living at 300 Stanley Road, Bootle with widowed mother Maria Louisa and sisters Rose, Louisa and Kate. (Mr and Mrs Mellor are named amongst the chief mourners at Albert's military funeral in Bootle)

Albert was serving with the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment when he died at home on 18th April 1918 aged 30..

He now rests at Bootle Cemetery, Liverpool where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“HE DIED THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE”

There are 199 burials from the First World War in the Cemetery.

A report on his death appeared in the Bootle Times on the 26th April 1918.

GALLANT LITHERLAND BANDSMAN.

MILITARY FUNERAL AT BOOTLE CEMETERY.

The funeral of Private Albert W. Parker, K.L.R., of 23 Beechwood-road, Litherland, who died in a military hospital in Scotland as the result of wounds and double pneumonia, took place yesterday (Thursday) at Bootle Borough Cemetery, with full military honours. The coffin, covered by the Union Jack, was conveyed to the cemetery on a gun-carriage, and an escort and firing-party from Sniggery Camp were in attendance. After the coffin had been lowered, three volleys were fired, and the Last Post sounded over the open grave.

Pte. Parker was in the employ of Messrs. Boothroyd's, Ltd., Bootle, before the war, and was held in the highest esteem by his firm and fellow-workers. He was deeply fond of music, and as a member of the 8th Irish Band took part in the big recruiting campaign. On their disbursement he was drafted into another battalion of the King's. He was home on leave just before Easter, but returning to France was wounded on Good Friday, and was sent to Edinburgh, where he succumbed. For a period of twelve years Pte. Parker was a capable and esteemed member of the Litherland Prize Band. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him, and the large attendance at the funeral gave an indication of the respect in which he was generally held.

The chief mourners were Mrs. Parker (widow), Mr. Phillips, Mr. and Mrs. Witlow, Master L. Parker, Miss Parker, Mr. and Mrs. Mellor, Mrs. Phillips, Miss K. Parker, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Wood (representing Boothroyd's), Mr. Pugh and Mr. J.A. Vincent (representing the Litherland Prize Band). Others present were Mrs. Vincent, Mrs. Woods, Mrs. Helsby, Miss Helsby, Mr. H. Hughes, Mr. G. Williams, Mr. Tons, Mr. W. Rimmer, R.N.R., Mr. T. Carney, etc. Beautiful floral tributes were sent by His sorrowing wife and family, Eddie and mother-in-law, Fanny and Jim (in France), Rose and Kit, Eddie, Edith and Joe, The Neighbours, Mrs. Hughes, Mrs. Schofield, Mr. and Mrs. G. Miller, Mr. G. Smith, jun., Female Employees of H.M. Factory, etc

The funeral arrangements were entrusted to Mr. G. Stanton, funeral director and carriage proprietor, 74, Marsh-lane, Bootle, 4, Bridge-road, Litherland, and 38, Mount-pleasant, Waterloo.

The firing party from "Sniggery Camp" mentioned in the funeral article was so named as it was just between Sniggery Farm and Sniggery Wood, Blundellsands.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to widow Elizabeth Parker and children Albert Leslie, William Henry and James Harold. The records state that Albert died at Bangour War Hospital, Edinburgh.

Albert is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Linacre Mission

Litherland Civic

His widow Elizabeth re-married in 1919 at St Andrew’s Church, Litherland to Frederick Brown. She lived at 23, Beechwood Road, Litherland, after the war.

We currently have no further information on Albert William Parker, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Pte 50620 Thomas Parker

From: Lancaster
K.I.A (108 Years this day)
Thursday 18th April 1918.
21 years old

Thomas Parker was born in Lancaster in the June quarter of 1896 the son of was the son of Alfred Frederick Parker and his wife Eleanor (nee Baxter). His parents married in 1889 in Lancaster.

On the 1901 Census the family are visiting George E. Howard at 31 Gardner Rd, Poulton. His father Alfred Frederick is aged 35 and described as an Irish linen traveller born in Ipswich, his mother Eleanor is aged 34 and was born in Morecambe. Thomas is aged 5 and his sister Ada M. is aged 6 band was born in Lancaster.

On the 1911 Census the family are living at 2 Osborne Road, Poulton. His father, Alfred Frederick, is now a 45 year old dock labourer born in Bury St Edmunds, whilst his mother Eleanor is aged 42. She advised that she had been married for 21 years having had with 3 children one of whom (Eleanor Winifred born in 1891) had sadly died. Her surviving children are listed as; Thomas aged 15 a programme boy, and his sister Ada aged 16 a general servant.

Prior to the war he had been employed on the London and North Western Station (Morecambe Euston Road).

Thomas enlisted in Liverpool and originally served as Private 34489, in the Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. Following a transfer he was serving in the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 50620 when he was killed in action on the 18th April 1918, aged 22. He was hit by a shell and died instantly during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary entry for the day reveals that 10 Other Ranks were killed during heavy shelling of the area.

18^th April 1918

The weather, which up to this time had been quite good, turned and snow, rain and hail fell.

Thomas was one of the 10 Other Ranks referred to in the diary.

He now rests at Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

During the Second World War the cemetery suffered major bomb damage that necessitated the replacement of nearly 200 headstones after the war.

Both the Commonwealth plot in the communal cemetery and the extension were designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Eleanor.

His mother died in the September quarter of 1924, aged 56.

His father died in September quarter of 1929, aged 62.

Thomas is commemorated on the Morecambe War Memorial.

We currently have no further information on Thomas Parker, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Pte 28911 Reginald William Roberts

From: Liverpool
(108 Years this day)
Thursday 18th April 1918.
21 years old

Reginald was born in Liverpool in the summer of 1896 the son of Aloysius Roberts and his wife Annie Maria (nee McCabe). His father was born in Formby, and his mother in Liverpool. His mother, a widow, had married Francis Brown in 1883, and had two daughters, Ethel Grace in 1884 and Florence Gertrude in 1887, the year she was widowed. Aloysius and Annie married in 1893 and had three children: Reginald had an older sister Ida Marie, born in 1894, and a younger sister Helena May, born in 1898 but died in infancy.

At the time of the 1901 Census, his parents are living at 22 Green Street, Mount Pleasant, Liverpool, with four children and a maid: Reginald, 4, his sister Ida, and his two half sisters. His father is a shipping agent’s manager.

By 1911 they have moved across the Mersey and are at 146 Liscard Road, Wallasey, a large three-storey terraced house opposite Central Park. His father is 41, a forwarding clerk for a shipping agent, his mother is 43, half sister Florence 22, and sister Ida 16, have no occupation, Reginald is 14, a scholar. They have two visitors, his newly married half sister Ethel Grace, 25, and her husband Jules Meurs, 27, born in France, a cotton broker’s clerk.

Reginald enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool in September when he joined the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16867.

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France, disembarking at Boulogne on 7^th November 1915.

It is not known when he transferred to the 8th Bn King's Own Royal Lancs. Whether with the 18th K.L.R. or the 8th K.O.R.L., Reginald would have taken part in the Battle of the Somme, including the costly attack on Guillemont, then Arras, Passchendaele, and the German Spring Offensive.

Reginald was killed in action on 18th April 1918, aged 21. He now rests at London Cemetery, Longueval. The CWGC Graves Registration form shows his date of death as 19th April, later amended to the 18th.

The original London Cemetery at High Wood was begun when 47 men of the 47th Division were buried in a large shell hole on 18 and 21 September 1916. Other burials were added later, mainly of officers and men of the 47th Division who died on 15 September 1916, and at the Armistice the cemetery contained 101 graves. The cemetery was then greatly enlarged when remains were brought in from the surrounding battlefields, but the original battlefield cemetery is preserved intact within the larger cemetery, now known as the London Cemetery and Extension.

The cemetery, one of five in the immediate vicinity of Longueval which together contain more than 15,000 graves, is the third largest cemetery on the Somme with 3,873 First World War burials, 3,114 of them unidentified.

London Cemetery and Extension was used again in 1946 by the Army Graves Service for the reburial of Second World War casualties recovered from various temporary burial grounds, French military cemeteries, small communal cemeteries, churchyards and isolated graves, where permanent maintenance was not possible. These graves are in one central plot at the extreme end of the cemetery, behind the Cross of Sacrifice. Second World War burials number 165.

The original London Cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker, but the site was completely re-modelled after the Second World War by Austin Blomfield.

His parents placed a notice in the Liverpool Echo on 1st May 1918:

“April 18, killed in action, age 21 years, Corporal [sic] Reginald Roberts (Pals), only son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Roberts, of 4, Greenheys Road, Wallasey.”

All military records show his rank as Private.

Reginald earned his three medals. His Army effects and a War Gratuity of £17 went to his father. His mother, then living at 16 Parkfield Drive, Liscard, was awarded a pension of 10/- a week from November 1918. After her death his father, at 4 Greenleys Road, Wallasey, continued to receive the pension. His father died in 1927, aged 56.

CWGC contacted his father, at 4 Greenleys Road, Wallasey in connection with Reginald’s headstone, but received no response. It is possible that his father had recently died.

His brother-in-law Jules Meurs served in the Royal Field Artillery, the Royal Engineers, and the Royal Fusiliers. He survived the war and was discharged as Acting Sergeant.

Reginald William is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Wallasey Civic Memorial

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 44 Right (Cpl. 18th K.L.R.).

We currently have no further information on Reginald William Roberts, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Cpl 26919 Michael Condron

From: Liverpool
(108 Years this day)
Thursday 18th April 1918.
20 years old

Michael was born in June quarter of 1897 in Liverpool. The eldest son of Michael Condron and his wife Annie (nee Gilmour). He had brothers Thomas, James, Eric, and Harold, and sisters Janet and (Theo)Dora. His father, who was a master constructor (team owner/employer).

At the time of the 1901 Census he is aged 3 and living at 8 Esk Street, Kirkdale. His father Michael is a 34 year old boiler cleaner born in Liverpool, whilst his mother, Annie, is 22 years of age and was born in Edinburgh. The family employ a servant; May Drew aged 19.

On the 1911 Census, Michael is aged 13 at school living at "Leaholme", Liverpool Road, Crosby with his parents and five siblings. His father, Michael, is now shown as a 45 year old master constructor, his mother, Annie is 32. They advise that they have been married for 15 years and have had 8 children of whom 6 have survived. His siblings all born Liverpool and living at home are recorded as: Janet aged 9 at school, Thomas 7, James 6, Eric 2, Theodora E. 4mths. The family again employ a servant; Mary Jane Stone 42.

There was a newspaper report in the Liverpool Echo on the 23rd May 1911 on the death of an employee of Messrs. Michael Condron and Company, scalers. He had fallen down an open ships hatch during night work.

His father died in 1913.

His mother remarried to Richard G. McMahon in early 1915 and moved to Aberdeen.

Michael enlisted in Liverpool on 20th May 1915 as Private 26628, 17^th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment, giving his age as 19 (in fact he had just turned 18) and his occupation as Seaman. He is described as being 5’3” tall. He gives his address as 20 Park Street, Bootle, and his next of kin as Guardian James Carew, 10 Myers Road West, Great Crosby (this was possibly a friend or colleague of his father, as they were both in the construction business).

Whilst training at Knowsley, from 17^th August 1915 until 14^th February 1916, Michael was absent without leave on five occasions and was confined to barracks from 2-5 days for each offence. On 03rd July 1916 at Belton Park, he was absent without leave for 2 days, and deducted 8 days’ pay.

He was posted to 17th KLR and disembarked in France on 18th August 1916. He joined the unit at Etaples on 18/8/1916 before he was transferred to 1st Battalion Loyal North Lancs on 07th September 1916.

In Jan 1917 he was in Field Ambulance and General Hospital, Rouen, with ICT head, impetigo and eczema, and rejoined from Base Depot on 08th February 1917.

On 13th March 1917, Michael was confined to barracks for three days for “having a dirty rifle on parade”.

He was wounded in action on 14th November 1917 and was on leave 20th November - 04th December 1917.

Michael was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 04th February 1918 and on 15th March 1918 was appointed paid Acting Corporal.

On 18th April 1918, he was declared missing. This was later confirmed as the date he died, aged 20.

A notation in his service records states that Michael was buried at Givenchy. This is most likely Givenchy les la Bassee, which is not far from the Post Office Rifles Cemtery where he was eventually interred and now rests.

Post Office Rifles Cemetery was named after an English volunteer unit formed in the 1860s and composed mostly of Post Office employees. By 1914 the unit provided most of the riflemen for the 1/8th battalion of the City of London Regiment of the Territorial Force. British troops began burying their fallen comrades here in April 1915 and the cemetery was used until the beginning of July, at which stage it contained the graves of 40 Commonwealth soldiers, almost all of whom had served with the Post Office Rifles. The gains made by Commonwealth forces during Battle of Festubert (15 – 25 May 1915) meant that the town was now less exposed to enemy fire and this sector remained relatively quiet until the German Spring Offensive of 1918. The cemetery was extended after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the surrounding battlefields, and in particular from the part of the line defended by the 55th Division in April 1918. It was designed by Charles Holden and now contains more than 400 First World War burials, over 270 of which are unidentified.

His family were not officially informed of his death until the end of October, as a notice placed in the Liverpool Echo on 1^st November 1918 reads:

“Now officially reported killed in action, April 18^th1918, in his 21^st year, Corpl. Michael Condron, Loyal North Lancs Regt., eldest son of the late Michael Condron, of Great Crosby, and Mrs. McMahon, of Aberdeen. – Sadly missed by his Mother and all at “Alverscroft”, Blundellsands.”

At the time of his death, his mother lived in Aberdeen, his brother Thomas, 17, was living with James Carew in Blundellsands; brothers James, 15, and Eric, 11, were students at Ushaw College in Durham; brother Harold, 8, was living in Freshfields; and sisters Janet, 19, and Dora, 10, were residents at Seafield Convent, Great Crosby.

His personal effects were sent to his mother on 21st January 1919: 1 wallet, 1 religious book, cards.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Annie McMahon, 59 Charlotte Street, Aberdeen.

In September 1919 his mother, living in Aberdeen, acknowledged receipt of his Army book.

On 20th Jan 1921 his mother wrote to Infantry Records, asking when she could expect his medals and plaque.

Michael is remembered on the following memorials

Coronation Road, Crosby

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Additions Panel 5.

We currently have no further information on Michael Condron, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Grateful thanks are extended to Katie Louise Condron who kindly shared the photograph of Michael with us.

Pte 23868 William Henry Woodward

From: Liverpool
(108 Years this day)
Thursday 18th April 1918.
21 years old

William Henry Woodward was born on 21st July 1896, the only child of William Oulton Woodward and his wife Mary (née Moss). His parents married in 1894 in St. Saviour’s Church, Everton, when his father, a butcher, was 21 and his mother 22, both living in St. Domingo Grove, Everton.

William was baptised in the same church on 11th October 1896, his parents’ residence given as 6 Samuel Street, and his father’s occupation as butcher.

Sadly, his mother died in November 1897 at the age of 25, when William was one year old. His father remarried in 1899 to Martha Watts Hunt, born in 1878 in Liverpool.

A daughter Martha was born in December 1899 who died at three weeks. They had two sons who survived: Francis Oulton in 1901 and Harold Oulton in 1908.

The 1901 census finds the family at 46 Pitt Street. His father is 27, a butcher/storekeeper, Martha is 22, and William is 4.

When William was 12 his father died, in 1909, aged 35. William stayed with his stepmother (the only mother he had ever known).

In 1911 his widowed stepmother Martha is head of household at 40 Bala Street, Anfield. She is 32, a grocer/provisioner/dealer. William who is listed as son, is 14 years of age, and an office boy in a tobacco factory, his half brother Harold is 2. Francis, 9, is an inmate in the Bluecoat Hospital, Wavertree. Also in the household is his stepmother’s widowed father, Francis Hunt, 61, a general labour born in Kildare, Ireland.

William enlisted in Liverpool in late 1914 when he would have been 18 years old, as Private 23868, joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment.

He did not ship overseas with his battalion in November 1915 (when he would have been 19), but remained in England, reason unknown, and at some point was transferred to the 12th Bn K.L.R.

He shipped overseas with the 12th Bn, in 1916 at the earliest.

In 1916 they saw action at the Battle of Mount Sorrel, recapturing the heights with the Canadians. They were in action at the Somme at Delville Wood, Guillemont, Flers-Courcelette, and Le Transloy. In 1917 they were in action during the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, the Battles of Langemarck, the Menin Road Ridge, and Polygon Wood.

It is not known when William was wounded, but his name appeared in the list of K.L.R. wounded published in the Weekly Casualty List and the Liverpool Daily Post on 20th November 1917:

Woodward 23868 A. [sic] (Anfield, Liverpool). (No A. Woodward has been found with this regimental number.)

At some point, possibly after recovering from his wounds, he was posted to the 4th Bn K.L.R. The 4th Kings were part of 98th Infantry Brigade, 33rd Division and in January 1918 were in the Ypres Salient.

For the rest of the month the battalion alternated between billets at St. Lawrence Camp at Brandhoek and the front line, then at Boisdinghem for most of February, then at St. Lawrence Camp, in and out of the front line, providing working parties and incurring casualties from shelling and gas.

In early April they entrained at Brandhoek for Ligny and marched to Ambrines on the 7th.

On 13th April the battalion proceeded to a position north of Meteren, where the battalion was heavily shelled and suffered many casualties. At 9 p.m. on the 14th the battalion moved forward to a position along the road south of Meteren, with the 5th Scottish Rifles on the right and the Tank Corps on the left. The next 24 hours were fairly quiet. At 5 a.m. on the 16th O.C. C.Coy reported that the Tank Corps had evacuated the position in the front line on his left without letting him know. Two platoons were at once sent forward to fill the gap but did not succeed in reaching the position before the enemy launched his attack.

At 5:30 a.m. the enemy attacked very heavily without much bombardment and succeeded in penetrating the line through the gap left by the Tank Corps. B Coy on the right stood fast, and the left of the line was withdrawn and reformed. It was then discovered that the left front company had practically disappeared. At 11 a.m. the enemy attacked the right of the battalion line. The attack was repulsed with loss to the enemy.

Casualties from 15th to 17th April: 20 Officers and 469 O.R.

It is not known when William suffered his fatal wounds, but he was transported to one of the hospitals in Wimereux, on the coast, where he succumbed to his wounds on 18th April 1918.

He now rests at Wimereux Cemetery where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"ONE OF THE BEST. HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE"

Wimereux was the headquarters of the Queen Mary's Army Auxilliary Corps during the First World War and in 1919 it became the General Headquarters of the British Army. From October 1914 onwards, Boulogne and Wimereux formed an important hospital centre and until June 1918, the medical units at Wimereux used the communal cemetery for burials, the south-eastern half having been set aside for Commonwealth graves, although a few burial were also made among the civilian graves. By June 1918, this half of the cemetery was filled, and subsequent burials from the hospitals at Wimereux were made in the new military cemetery at Terlincthun. During the Second World War, British Rear Headquarters moved from Boulogne to Wimereux for a few days in May 1940, prior to the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk. Thereafter, Wimereux was in German hands and the German Naval Headquarters were situated on the northern side of the town. After D-Day, as Allied forces moved northwards, the town was shelled from Cap Griz-Nez, and was re-taken by the Canadian 1st Army on 22 September 1944. Wimereux Communal Cemetery contains 2,847, Commonwealth burials of the First World War, two of them unidentified. Buried among them is Lt.-Col. John McCrae, author of the poem "In Flanders Fields." There are also five French and a plot of 170 German war graves. The cemetery also contains 14 Second World War burials, six of them unidentified. The Commonwealth section was designed by Charles Holden.

His family placed a notice in the Liverpool Echo on 23rd April 1918:

“April 18, died of wounds received in action, in his 22nd year, Private William H. Woodward, K.L.R., the dearly loved eldest son of Mrs. M. and the late William Woodward, 40, Bala Street, Anfield.
We have lost, heaven has gained,

One of the best this world contained.

Dearly loved and sadly missed by his Mother, Frank, and Harold.”

Soldiers’ Effects, giving his number as 20/23868, 4th Bn, shows that his Army effects and a War Gratuity of £16 went to his mother Martha Watts Woodward, 40 Bala Street, Anfield. The pension card in the name of his mother Martha does not specify the amount awarded.

Martha was still living at 40 Bala Street in 1939. She died in 1957, aged 78. His half brothers both married and remained in Liverpool. In 1939 Francis is a factory night watchman; he died in 1941 at the age of 39. Harold is a chartering clerk for a shipping agent; he died in 1980, aged 71.

Sadly, William has not been identified on any memorial.

We currently have no further information on William Henry Woodward, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Liverpool Pals Who Died on This Day

Killed On This Day.