Pte 24222 Louis Molyneux

• Age: 26
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Louis was born in Liverpool in 1890 the son of William Brook Molyneux and his wife Lydia (nee Foley). The couple were married on Christmas Day, 1876 at Emmanuel, Everton. William was a 21 year old tobacconist of Hygeia St, father Thomas a foreman, whilst Lydia was aged 20, same address, father Thomas a tailor. William was born in Huddersfield and Lydia in Longton in Staffordshire. Louis was baptised on the 23rd April 1890 at St Catherine, Edge Hill. 

In the 1891 census the couple were living at 51 Kinglake Street in Edge Hill.

The one year old Louis had three sisters Lydia aged 13, Mabel 5 and Beatrice Alice 2 and a brother Thomas aged 7. His father William is aged 34, a tobacco operative, mother Lydia is 33. 

By the 1901 census the family are living at 22 Cawdor Street, Princes Park.

The father William is aged 44, a foreman tobacco operative, mother Lydia is aged 43 and the couple have two more children, Lilian aged 8 and Millicent aged 1. Their daughter Lydia died in 1900 aged 22. Thomas is 17, an apprentice tobacco operative, Mabel G. is 15, a tobacco packer, Beatrice A. is 12, and Louis 11. 

In the 1911 census the family are living at 14 Eversley Street.

The father William now aged 55, still a foreman tobacco operative, mother Lydia is aged 55(married 34 years, 11 children, 6 still alive). Children Mabel 25, a typewriter clerk for steamship owners, Beatrice 22, a drapery shop assistant, Louis is 21, a lithographic printer, Lilian 18, a dressmaker and Millicent 11, at school. Thomas is not at home but his future wife Lilian was staying with the family as they were married just a couple of weeks later.    

Louis enlisted in the 19th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 24222, exact dates are not known as his service record has not survived. Formed on 07th September 1914 the 19th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th 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 embarked for France on the 7th November 1915 and was killed in action on the 30th July 1916 aged 26 at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive. 

19^th Battalion Diary 30^th July 1916

MALTZ HORN FARM

BATTLE begun. ZERO hour 4:45 am. The Battalion reached its objective, but suffered heavy losses, and had to evacuate its position owing to no reinforcements.

Everard Wyrall gives details of the attack in his book The History of The King’s Regiment; 

"The 2nd Attack on Guillemont- 29th July 1916 the 89th Brigade the 20th King's were to attack on the right and the 19th on the left. During the evening of the 29th the night was dark and foggy when the Battalions moved off and the 19th with Lt Col G Rollo commanding, when passing the South east of the Briqueterie they were heavily shelled first with H E and then with a new kind of asphyxiating Gas shell which had curious results, at first it had no nasty effect but about 8 hrs later men began to fall sick with violent headaches and pains in the stomach. All ranks had to wear gas masks which in the darkness and mist made the going terribly difficult. It was indeed wonderful that they were able to reach their Assembly point at all. But they did and by 2.45 a.m. on the 30th July 1916 the Btn was assembled having suffered about 30 Casualties on the way up ready for the Zero hour at 4.45 a.m.

It is known that the two left Companies of the 19th under Capt. Dodd and Capt. Nicholson advanced in touch with the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on their left although they suffered many casualties from Machine gun Fire did not encounter many Germans and reached their final objective about the time allocated, beginning at once to dig in south of the orchard on the South east corner of Guillemont.  

On the left of the 19th the Scots Fusiliers most gallantly forced their way through Guillemont to the eastern side of the village but were soon overwhelmed by the enemy and few returned. 

At 8 a.m. finding that the village was not held the two left Companies of the 19th received no word from the rear or either flank believed themselves to be totally isolated so were forced to fall back and dig in, their position being untenable.

At midday the effective fighting strength of the 19th Btn was just 7 Officers and 43 other ranks" 

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July.

Casualties in the 19^th Battalion were 11 Officers and 435 Other Ranks 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.   

Louis has no known grave and is now commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, France.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

His death was not reported until October:  

Liverpool Daily Post - Saturday 14 October 1916 

Killed. 

King’s (Liverpools) - Molyneux, 24222, L.; 

In the Liverpool Echo, on 30th July 1917 under the heading ‘Lost At The Battle of Guillemont’ Lou's family and friends paid tribute to him on the first anniversary of his death: 

“In loving and honoured memory of my dearly-loved youngest son Lou, of the Pals, who gave his life, his best, his all, on July 30, 1916. (His duty nobly done.) – Mother.”

“In sad and affectionate memory of my dear brother Lou, of the Pals, who gave his life for his country, July 30, 1916. (A true British hero.)

You are not forgotten, brother dear.
Nor will you ever be;
As long as life and memory last
I will remember thee.

His loving sister Lilian.”

“In loving memory of my chum, Private Louis Molyneux (Pals), killed in action July 30, 1916. (Not forgotten.) – Arthur Whitehead.”

“In loving memory of our dear brother, Louis, of the Liverpool Pals, who was killed July 30, 1916. (“To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.”) - Mabel and Alice.” 

“In honoured memory of my dear and only brother Lou, of the Pals, who was killed in action July 30, 1916. - Tom, A.S.C., Lathom Park".

Lou’s brother Tom was serving at the Remount Depot, Army Service Corps in Lathom Park which was one of the depots that gathered and trained horses and mules for service in France. He enlisted in August 1916 at the age of 32. He was married with three young children. In May 1917 he was kicked in the face by a restless horse while he was leading them out for parade and had to sit through a Court of Enquiry to find out whether it was his own fault or not. He was found to be not at fault and served further until March 1919.

Louis is commemorated on the Roll of Honour in Liverpool Town Hall.

Soldiers Effects and pension of 10/- p.w. to mother Lydia, 14 Eversley Street. 

His father died aged 75 on the 18th Aug 1932 and was buried on the 23rd at West Derby Cemetery. 

Liverpool Daily Post - Monday 22 August 1932 

MOLYNEUX— August 18, suddenly, at 9 Classic-road, Stoneycroft, aged 75 years, WILLIAM BROOK, the devoted husband of Lydia Molyneux (55 years at Messrs. Cope Bros and Co. and for many years served on the Hospital Saturday and Maternity Boards). Interment at West Derby Cemetery to-morrow (Tuesday) at 11 a.m. (Friends accept this —the only— intimation.) 

His mother died aged 76 on the 15th Aug 1934 and was buried on the 18th at West Derby Cemetery. 

Liverpool Daily Post - Friday 17 August 1934 

MOLYNEUX - August 15 at 16 Gatclif-road, West Derby, aged 76 years, LYDIA, dearly-loved wife of the late William Brook Molyneux. Interment at West Derby Cemetery tomorrow (Saturday) at 11 a.m. 

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