Pte 21431 David Reid

• Age: 33
• From: Birkenhead, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Friday 22nd March 1918
• Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
  Panel Ref: P21-23

David Reid was born in Birkenhead in 1883, the son of Sarah Elizabeth Reid. 

The 1891 Census shows him as a 6 year old scholar of Birkenhead Union School.

On the 1881 census at 90 14th St, Birkenhead his unmarried mother Sarah Elizabeth Reid aged 28, a laundress with daughters Mary Ellen, and Hannah 1.

By the 1891 Census mother Sarah is aged 36, in Birkenhead Union Workhouse, David 6, and sisters Hannah 10, Mary Ellen 12 are scholars at Birkenhead Union School, Union Workhouse, Higher Tranmere.

Family trees suspect mother Sarah died in the Workhouse about 1900.

On the 1901 Census at 127 Bridge St, Birkenhead, Anna Morgan aged 20 is living with 25 year old Morris Morgan (Anna is David's NOK).

David cannot be found in 1901.


The 1911 Census finds him living as a boarder in the home of John William Alderson and his wife Octavia. David is shown as an assistant in a Dairy business in West Kirby.  

He enlisted in Liverpool on 24th September 1914 joining the the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 21431 though the service number 18032 is crossed out on his attestation papers. He gave his age as 28 years and 120 days which may show that he was born in May 1886. He is described as being 5'5 inches tall, weighed 110 lbs with a 35 inch chest. He is of fresh complexion with hazel eyes and dark brown hair and gave his religion as Church of England. He originally gave his next of kin as his sister Anna Morgan (nee Reid).

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th 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. Whilst stationed at Grantham he married Dora Ethel Walker in Peterborough on 12th June 1915. The 19th Battalion remained at Belton Park until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

His service record shows that he attended Lewis Gun school on 11th October 1916. He had a period of sickness in December 1916 which resulted in him twice being treated at Field Ambulance. He was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 04th March 1917. He received a Gun Shot Wound to his face on 23rd June 1917 and rejoined his unit on 02nd July 1917. He was then granted leave to the UK from 12th July - 24th July 1917. Upon his return he was appointed paid Lance Corporal on 09th August 1917. He was reverted to the rank of Private on 19th March 1918 by the OIC for not complying with an order, which was to advise upon completion of a task as instructed. This was just days before the start of the German Spring Offensive.

David was killed in action on the 22^nd March, 1918 whilst serving in 3 Company, 10th Platoon, although he was originally posted as wounded and missing.

The Battalion diary gives an insight into the events of the day: 

22^nd  GERMAINE – HAM- MOYENCOURT

The battalion moved up accordingly being in position at 6:30 a.m. About 3pm the enemy attacked the left of our position and advanced on our left flank towards FLUQUIERES. At 4:30 pm an attack was launched on our front and the enemy forced his way through on our right. The remainder of the Battalion was forced to retire to south of FLUQUIERES. During this engagement the Battalion lost 11 Officers and About 21 O.R. The order was given to retire to the defences at HAM. The Battalion by this time was very weak, and passing through the 20^th Division took up positions in HAM, as ordered, getting into position at 2am.

David has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial in France.

The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.

The cemetery and memorial were designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, with sculpture by Laurence A. Turner. The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930.

He left a wife Dora Ethel Reid and a young child Kathleen Louvain Reid, born on 17th March 1916 in Peterborough.

His wife Dora made enquiries with the International Red Cross in the hope that (L/Cpl) Reid, wounded and missing, had been captured by the Germans, but received a reply in the negative, dated 17th June 1918.

Soldiers Effects to and Pension to mother Dora E. and child Kathleen Louvain.

David is commemorated on the Peterborough and District War Memorial Hospital 

The CWGC records show his age as 33 and his wife's residence as Lime Works, Fengate, Peterborough.

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