Pte 23135 William Thomas Peters

• Age: 22
• From: Tipton, Staffs
• 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.

William Thomas Peters was born on the 21st February 1894 at Tipton, Staffordshire and was baptised 15th March 1894 at St Luke's Church, Tipton. He was the son of William Henry Peters and his wife Elizabeth (née Partridge). His parents married in Staffordshire in 1888 and soon after their marriage moved to Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, where his father worked as a boiler-smith and where their daughter Elizabeth was born in 1891.

By early 1894 they returned to Tipton, where William was born, and by 1897 moved to Birkenhead in Cheshire, where Ernest, Harry, Richard, and Albert were born.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 55 Park Street, Birkenhead. His father, William Henry, is aged 47, born in Tipton in 1864, occupation now recorded as a potato dealer, his mother, Elizabeth, is also aged 47, born in Tipton in 1864 whose occupation is recorded as assisting in the business. They have been married for twenty three years and have had six children. Those listed in the household are; William Thomas aged 17, born 1894 is a labourer for a wine and spirits merchant and like his parents was born in Tipton, Ernest aged 13, born 1898, Harry aged 11, born 1900 and Richard Arthur aged 8, born 1903 are at school and Albert Edward is aged 5, born 1906. They were all born in Birkenhead. 

Their other child Lizzie, 20, is a general servant to a boarding house keeper in Birkenhead.

Prior to the war William had been employed by the Birkenhead Brewery Company in Oxton Road. He was also a member of the Claughton Male Voice Choir.

He enlisted in Liverpool on the 10th November 1914 joining the 20th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 23135. He gave his age as twenty years and 337 days and occupation as a clerk. He was described as being five feet five and a quarter inches tall, weighed 127lbs, 36" chest, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair. He gave his father as next of kin at 149 Grange Road, Birkenhead and stated his religion as Church of England. 

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 07^th November 1915.

William was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 22, 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.

William's body was not recovered from the battlefield 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.”

There were two reports of his death in the Liverpool Echo dated 18th August 1916: 

"Killed In Action": PETERS - Killed in action, Private William Thomas Peters ("Pals"), son of Mr. and Mrs. Peters, of 149, Grange-road, Birkenhead.

"Roll of Honour:

Killed": Private William T. Peters, of the "Pals," was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Peters, of 149, Grange-road, Birkenhead, and was employed by the Birkenhead Brewery Co.

Additionally it was reported in the Birkenhead News on Saturday 26 August 1916: :

A Birkenhead "Pal" Killed.

Claughton Male Voice Choir Member.

The sad news has been received by Mr and Mrs W.H. Peters of 149 Grange Road, that the eldest son, Pte Wm. Thomas Peters of the 4th Liverpool "Pals", was killed in action on July 30th. He was 22 years of age and was most popular with his fellow-soldiers in the Regiment. He joined the army in November 1914 and was sent to the front with his Battalion in November 1915. He was an old boy of St John's School, Oliver Street, and prior to joining the forces he was in employ of the Birkenhead Brewery Company, Oxton Road. The deceased soldier was in pre-war days and enthusiastic member of Claughton Male Voice Choir, and was well known throughout the town.

He earned his three medals.

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

“In loving memory of Private William Thomas Peters (our Will), 20th King’s Liverpool Regiment (Pals), killed in action, July 30,1916.

Gone is the face we loved so dear,
Silent is the voice we long to hear,
Far, too far, away from sight and speech,
But not too far for our thoughts to reach.
Time may make the wound less sore,
But time can never stop the longing
For the loved one gone before.

Never forgotten by Father Mother, Sister, and Brothers. 149 Grange Road, Birkenhead.”

“In loving memory of my dear brother, Will, 4th Liverpool Pals, who was killed in action, July 30, 1916.

The fairest flower is first to fall,
A brother true and brave; The dearest, fondest, best of all,
Has found a hero’s grave; So far away your grave to see,
But not too far to think of thee.

From his loving Sister.”  

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

In 1919 his brothers Ernest, 22, Harry, 19, Richard, 17, and Albert, 14, are living at home with their parents at 149 Grange Road. Newly married sister Elizabeth, 29, also lives in Birkenhead.

In 1939 his parents are both 75 years old, living at 297 Borough Road, Birkenhead.  

His father is still working, as a shopkeeper (tripe dealer) on his own account. 

William is commemorated on the Men of Birkenhead Cenotaph

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