L/Cpl 23966 Edward Nicholas Moran

• Age: 19
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

At the time of the 1891 census his parents lived in College Street, when his father worked as an extra Officer for H.M. Customs, and his mother’s brother Joseph Bergin lived with the family.   

His sister Mary Theresa appears to have died in 1900, when she was 11 years old.

In 1901 they are living at 12 College Street East, Everton, with three children. His father is aged 38, now a general dock labourer, born in Liverpool, mother is aged 35, born Kingstown, Co.Dublin, children born Liverpool are: William 10, at school, Edward is 4, and Winifred 2 months. His uncle Joseph Bergin is 32. 

Edward enrolled in St. Francis Xavier School in 1904 and left school in 1910.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 8 Sykes Street, Everton, Liverpool. His father, Nicholas, is aged 48, born in Liverpool in 1863, his occupation is shown as a tobacco sampler, his mother, Theresa, is aged 44, born in Kingstown, Ireland in 1867 with no occupation recorded. They have been married for 23 years and have had seven children of which three had died, Edward aged 14, is a grocer’s errand boy, Winifred aged 10, born 1901 is at school and Theresa is aged 6, born 1905. Their children were all born in Liverpool. They also have their brother in law Joseph Bergin aged 41, born 1870  a furniture porter born in Kingstown, Ireland living at the address. 

He enlisted in Liverpool around December 1914 joining in the 20^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 23966. (Pte 23976 Ramsbottom enlisted on the 16th Dec.) 

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th 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 07th November 1915, disembarking with his battalion at Boulogne.

Edward, now a Lance Corporal, was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 19, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive. 

The 20^th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20^th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 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. 

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.

Edward was initially declared Missing. His parents appealed for information in the Liverpool Echo on 29th August 1916:

“Lance-Corporal Edward Moran of the “Pals”.  Any information regarding him will be gratefully received by his parents, who reside at 56 Rydal Street, Breck Road, Liverpool.”

His name was included in the Missing list published on 14th September 1916 in the  Daily Post.

His mother contacted the International Red Cross in Geneva, hoping they had information on Pte. 23966 Edward Moran, 2nd Coy, 5th Platoon, K.L.R., but their reply dated 15th September 1916 was negative.

His death was later presumed for official purposes as having occurred on or since 30th July 1916.  

Edward's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

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.”

He earned his three medals.

His Army pay of £2 16s 2d and a War Gratuity of £7 went to his father. His parents were awarded a pension of 7/- a week from May 1917.

On the first anniversary of his death his parents paid tribute in the Liverpool Echo, under the heading, Lost At The Battle Of Guillemont:

“Missing since July 30, 1916, now officially reported killed in action, Lance-Corporal Edward Moran (our Ted), K.L.R. 4th Pals, aged 20 years, the beloved youngest son of Nicholas and Theresa Moran, 56, Rydal Street, Breck Road.  R.I.P.

To an unknown grave far, far away,

A sad mother’s thoughts wander day by day,

Unseen by the world he stands by my side,

And whispers, “Dear Mother, don’t fret; death does not divide.”

Sadly missed by Father, Mother, Brother, and Sisters, and all who knew him.”

He was also remembered on the second anniversary of his death in 1918:

"In loving memory of our dear son Lance-Corporal Edward Moran (K.L.R.), reported missing July 30, 1916, later reported killed on that date, in his 20th year.  R.I.P.

In 1939 his father, 75, a retired tobacco sampler, is living at 251 Townsend Avenue, with married daughter Theresa Clare and her family.

His father died in hospital, aged 82, on the 02nd November 1945, and was buried on the 8th November 1945 at Anfield Cemetery. 

Edward is not found on any local Memorials, even though he attended St Francis Xavier school for 6 years. 

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