L/Sgt 16250 William Ryley Lally

• Age: 34
• From: Barton upon Irwell
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Tuesday 24th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Warlincourt Halte Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: IX.A.12

William Ryley Lally was born at Barton Upon Irwell in the second quarter of 1882 the son of William Lally and his wife Mrgaret (nee Ryley). His father was from Dublin and his mother from Bolton. They had four children one of whom died in infancy. William's surviving siblings were Elizabeth born in 1881 and Mary Gertrude born 1889. 

The census of 1891 shows the family living at 17 Eagle Street, Chorlton upon Medlock. William is 8 years of age and a scholar. He lives with his parents; his father, William, is a 43 year old organ builder and his mother is aged 45. He has two siblinigs; Elizabeth a 10 year old scholar and Mary aged 2. 

The family are still living there in 1901. William, now 18, is shown as a shipping clerk. His father is shown as aged 51 and still employed as an organ builder, his mother is now shown as being 53 years of age. His sisters are shown as; Elizabeth a 20 year old elementary school teacher and Mary who is 12.     

By 1911 the family are at 11 Regent Street, Chorlton upon Medlock. His parents are both resident and advise that they have been married for 31 years and have had four children, one of whom has died.  William now aged 28 is a Commercial clerk, Elizabeth is now 30 and an assistant mistress and Mary Gertude is 22 years of age and described also as an assisttant mistress.   .

It is known that William was employed by Lever Brothers at their offices in the Liver Buildings, Liverpool prior to him enlisting.

He enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool, alongside many of his Lever Brothers colleagues, on 01^st September 1914 joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16250. He gave his age as 32 years and 3 months and his occupation as Clerk. He was described as being 5’7” tall, weighing 140lbs, with brown eyes and hair. He gives his father William as next of kin, living at 11 Regent Street, Chorlton upon Medlock, Manchester.

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 was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 15th June 1915, and appointed paid Lance Corporal on 03rd November 1915.

William arrived in France with his battalion on 07th November 1915.

William was wounded in action on the first day of the Somme, with a gunshot wound to the face. He was sent to 13 Casualty clearing Station and admitted to 1^st Australian General Hospital in Rouen on 03rd July 1916. He rejoined from Etaples and was in the field on 12th July 1916.He wrote home about being wounded and an extract of the letter appeared in the staff magazine of Lever Brothers:

"The right side of my face was "peppered" all over, and I got stuck on the barbed wire in front of the German Tranch....I am now back with the battalion, fit and well". 

He was promoted to Corporal on 16th August 1916 (replacing Cpl W.J. Price, to U.K. 15/8/1916)

He was granted Professional Pay Class I on 01st Deptember 1916.

William was on leave to the U.K. from 12th January 1917 until returning to duty on 25th January 1917.

He was appointed paid Lance Sergeant on 10th April 1917, replacing L/Sgt Woollam, who was killed in action on 01st April 1917, and appointed A/Sgt to replace Sgt Gunson, who was wounded in action on 09th April 1917 (and died of his wounds two days later on 11th April 1917).

Shortly afterwards, on 24^th April 1917, William received a gunshot wound to the head and was admitted to 48 Casualty Clearing Station.  He died of his wounds the same day, aged 34.

He now rests at Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery in France where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"REQUIESCAT IN PACE OUR LADY OF THE WAYSIDE PRAY FOR HIM”

The site of the cemetery was chosen in May 1916. It was used from June 1916 to May 1917 by the 20th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations, in February 1917 by the 1/1st South Midland, and from April to June 1917 by the 32nd. The whole of plots VII, VIII, IX and X were filled in April and May 1917, the months of the Battles of Arras. From June 1917, the cemetery was practically unused until the fighting of May and June 1918, when field ambulances buried in it. After the Armistice the cemetery was increased by graves brought in from other small military cemeteries. 

The cemetery now contains 1,266 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There are also 29 German and two French war graves. The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.

His father enquired on 06th May 1917: 

“Dear Sir, In the report of my son’s death (Corpl. W.R. Lally 16250 18^th Bn L’pool Regt) dated 2^nd inst you say that a separate leaflet dealing more fully with the subject of his burial is enclosed, but this has not come to hand. I would be obliged therefore for the receipt of same. I am yours truly, William Lally”. 

His father died 18 months later, age 69.

His mother received his cap badge, the only item of his personal property, on 08^th April 1918. She was by then living at 70 Plymouth Grove, Chorlton on Medlock, and received his Memorial Scroll in April 1920. She died in 1924.

William is commemorated on the Lever Brothers Memorial at Port Sunlight Village.

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