Capt Ernest Charles Orford

• Age: 31
• 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.

Ernest Charles Orford was born in Liverpool on 02nd November 1884, the son of Thomas Orford and his wife Emily (nee Gelling) who married at Holy Trinity C.of. E. Church, Anfield on the 11th November 1874. Thomas was a 26 year old merchant of 65 Shaw Street, father, Thomas, a merchant, whilst Emily was aged 24 of Clifton Road, West Derby, father, Thomas a deceased currier (leather). Ernest was baptised at St Michaels R.C Church on 26th November 1884. 

The 1891 Census shows the family are living at 41 Bedford Street North, Liverpool (from electoral roll). His father Thomas is a Steamship Agent born in Liverpool in 1843, whilst his mother was born in 1850 also in Liverpool. Ernest is the youngest of four children in the household, he is listed as 6 years of age. His siblings are; Thomas b.1879, Emily Gertrude b.1881 and Beatrice Mary. b.1883. There is also a domestic servant listed in the household. 

The 1901 Census places the family still specifically at 41 Bedford Street North. Both parents are still resident at the property, father Thomas is aged 52, a Steamship Agent, mother is aged 51. Ernest is now aged 16. His elder siblings Thomas, aged 22, an insurance average adjuster, and Beatrice, aged 18, are still in the household as is a servant.  

By 1911 the family have moved to 27 Denman Drive, Newsham Park, Liverpool. Both parents are living in the household, father Thomas is aged 62, still a Steamship Agent, mother is aged 51. They advised that they have been married for 35 years, and have had 5 children, 3 who have survived. Ernest is now 26 years of age and is shown as a Chartered Accountant. His elder brother Thomas is still living with the family, he is aged 26 and an average adjuster, and there is a servant listed.  The family were involved in several businesses: Orford & Reid insurance brokers and average adjusters of 19 Castle Street and Thomas Orford & Son, merchants and stem packet agents for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co.    

Ernest was educated at St Francis Xavier’s College and was Secretary of the Old Xaverians Dramatic Society. Prior to the war Ernest was a chartered accountant.

He enlisted in Liverpool joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16672. He was granted a Commission in the 20th Battalion, announced in the London Gazette on 13th January 1915, effective from the 27th December 1914 as a temporary 2nd Lieutenant. He crossed to France in November 1915, by then holding the rank of Captain. 

On 25th March 1916, he attended a course of instruction at the 4th Army School, in France and then served with the 20th Battalion during the build up to the fighting on the Somme. On 1st July 1916,after the Battalion had attacked and taken the German line south of Montauban, Captain Orford led. No.4 Company and a party of bombers, who rushed and took the heavily fortified German position in the Old Briqueterie. Graham Maddock's in his book Liverpool Pals recalls the action:

"At about 11.50 am, orders were received from Brigade, to proceed with the second phase of the attack, - the capture of the Briqueterie, to the west of the Maricourt to Bernafey Wood road. A briefing for this operation was given at the north-west corner of Germans Wood, which had recently fallen to the 17th Battalion, and then at 12.20pm No.4 Company, led by Captain E. C. Orford, began the assault, following a thirty-minute hurricane bombardment on the position by the Royal Field Artillery. To help pin down the German defenders, and to secure the left flank of the attack line, a section of bombers had already moved up the twin communication trenches known as Nord Alley and Chimney Trench. They were able to prevent any attempts to rescue the Germans in the Briqueterie, or cut off any attempt by the garrison to escape. As a consequence, Orford and his men, after a brief fight, were able to overcome the garrison there and capture a Colonel and adjutant from the headquarters staff of the 3. Oberschlesische Infanterie-Regiment Nr.62, the commander and observer of Feldartillerie-Regiment von Clausewitz, (1.Oberschlesisches) Nr.21, one other officer and forty men. Two machine guns and many documents and maps were also captured".           

Following the death of his CQMS Arthur Phillips on 01st July Ernest wrote to Arthur's wife and part of the letter was published in the Wallasey News:

Mrs. Phillips, the wife of the late Inspector Phillips, of the Wallasey Police Force, whose death at the front we reported last week, has received a letter from Captain E.C. Orford, expressing his sympathy. “Not only,” he said “was he invaluable to me as quartermaster-sergeant, but I had a great affection for him, having been with his company from November, 1914. A cooler, braver man never breathed. He WAS a man.  

Ernest would have taken part in the action at Trones Wood before the Pals next objective the attack upon the strongly fortified village of Guillemont. He was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 31, during this attack.

One of almost 500 men killed in action on that fateful day.

30th July 1916

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.

His body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

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.”

Ernest earned his three medals. 

His Soldiers Effects of over £160 went to sister Beatrice, no pension record found.  

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on Monday 07 August 1916; 

CAPTAIN ERNEST ORFORD.  

Much sympathy will be felt for Mr. Thomas Orford, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, and his family in the bereavement that has befallen them. Mr. Orford's younger son, Captain Ernest Charles Orford, of the King's (Liverpool Regiment), was killed in action France on the July 30. Educated at St. Francis Xavier's College, Captain Orford gained a commission in one of the "Pals" battalions shortly after their formation. Captain Orford was 31 years of age and unmarried.

Following Ernest's death a notice was placed in the Liverpool Evening Express:

"Much sympathy will be felt for Mr Thomas Orford of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, and his family in the bereavement that has befallen them. Mr Orford's younger son, Captain Ernest Charles Orford of the King's (Liverpool Regiment) was killed in action in France on the 30th of July. Educated at St. Francis Xavier College, Captain Orford gained a commission in one of the "Pals" battalions shortly after their formation.  He was a thoroughly capable officer, he took both pride and pleasure in his work and his bright and genial disposition won him the regard of all with whom he was associated. He was 31 years of age and unmarried. A memorial to him in the form of an artistically stained glass window of the Resurrection is about to be inserted in St Francis Xavier's Church".

His eldest brother, Thomas also held a commission in the King's Liverpool Regiment. He does not have a Medal Roll so did not serve overseas. 

L.G. 7th March 1916 

The King’s Liverpool Regiment. 

Second Lieutenant (temporary Captain) Thomas Orford to be Lieutenant (temporary Captain). Dated 5th August, 1915. 

His mother Emily died, aged 66, on 18th July 1916 whilst Ernest was in the midst of the heavy fighting at the Somme. She was buried on the 21st July at Anfield Cemetery. 

Her death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on Thursday 20 July 1916; 

ORFORD—JuIy 18, at 27, Denman-drive, Anfield, Emily, the beloved wife of Thomas Orford. Service at the Church of St. John the Divine, Fairfleld, at 11 a.m., to-morrow (Friday), prior to interment at Anfield Cemetery. 

Probate was granted to his sister in December 1917:- 

ORFORD Ernest Charles of 27 Denman Drive Liverpool captain 20th Liverpool regiment died 30 July 1916 in France Probate London 2 December to Beatrice Mary Orford spinster. Effects £849 10s 6d. 

His father retired to Prestatyn, Wales and died there, aged 74, on the 04th January 1923. 

Probate 1923 to daughter Beatrice:- 

ORFORD Thomas of Nere Kayola, Gronant Rd, Prestatyn Flintshire died 4 January 1923 Probate London 13 April to Beatrice Mary Orford spinster and Thomas Orford insurance broker. Effects £14,469 2s 9d. (Well over £1million today) 

Ernest is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Chartered Accountants Memorial Board

St Francis Xavier R.C. School, Everton.

St Francis Xavier's Church. 

There is also an Inscription on the family gravestone in Anfield Cemetery Liverpool:

ALSO OF ERNEST CHARLES ORFORD CAPT. THE KING’S LIVERPOOL REGT.
BELOVED SON OF THE ABOVE THOMAS AND EMILY ORFORD,
KILLED IN ACTION NEAR GUILLEMONT 30TH JULY 1916 AGED 31 YEARS, BURIED IN FRANCE.

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