Pte 24494 James Walter Smaller

• Age: 24
• From: Madras, India
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

24494 Private James Walter SMALLER 20th Battalion KLR.

James Walter Smaller was born in Madras, India, on 10th November 1891, the eldest child of George Edward Smaller and his wife Ada Harriett (nee Vickers). He was christened on 12th December 1891 in Madras; his parents’ residence is listed as North Black Town, and his father’s occupation is shown as clerk. His parents were both born in Madras, and lived there all their lives. James had a younger brother George, and sisters Mary Ann, Jane, Emelia, Edna, Merlyn, Gladys, and Dulcie.

As his service record has not survived, it is not known when James enlisted. SDGW shows his residence on enlisting as Kirkdale, Liverpool. An incoming passenger record shows a Mr. J.W. Smaller arriving in Liverpool on 16th March 1915 from Karachi on the “City of Poona”, age 23, employee of Indian Railway, and future intended address c/o Mrs. Garrett, 12 Alphonse (Alfonso) Road, Kirkdale. An Elizabeth Garrett, widow, aged 52, lives at this address on the 1911 census; she has a boarder, James Moultrie. Although the relationship of the Smallers to Mrs. Garrett is not known, it is very likely that this J.W. Smaller is the right man, as there are no births by that name in England or Wales between 1870 and 1902.

He enlisted in Liverpool joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 24494.

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 set sail for France from Folkestone and disembarked at Boulogne in France on 07th November 1915.

In the new year, the battalion takes up position in the south of the Somme line, near Carnoy, and at the end of April are in the front line near Maricourt. At the end of May the battalion moves to Abbeville for specialist training for the ‘Big Push’.

The Battle of the Somme begins on 01st July 1916. This is the bloodiest day in British military history. The Liverpool Pals attacked and liberated the vllage of Montauban. In doing so Private James Smaller became one of the 19,240 men of the British Army killed in action on that day. 

The events of that day are recorded in the War Diary :

Maricourt

Zero Hour 7.30am. After 65 minutes intensive bombardment the Battalion advanced to the attack of the German trenches. The Battalion advanced in four lines each of the two leading Companies on a frontage of 2 platoons – No’s 1 & 2 Companies (in that order from the right) leading. No.3 Company in the 3rd wave, No.4 Company in the 4th wave. There being a distance of about 100 yards between each line. The lines advanced through the enemy’s artillery fire as though on parade in quick time. The leading waves went on without a pause to Alt Trench and Casement Trench which were secured at (time not stated) am. The casualties up to this being small. Our barrage lifting Dublin Trench (the 1st Objective) was captured and consolidation immediately proceeded with. Captain Whiting with the 3rd wave entrenching about 150 yards in the rear. Captain Robinson was wounded and No.2 Company was commanded during the day by Lt C P Moore. Casualties up to now were killed 2 officers – 1 wounded and 49 other ranks casualties killed and wounded.

At 11.50 am orders were received for the assault of the Briqueterie. The Battalion operation orders for this were issued from NW of Germans Wood. Our barrage lifted at 12,30 pm and No. 4 Company under Captain E C Orford assisted by a section of bombers under 2nd Lt Baker who

went up Nord Alley and Chimney Trench to secure his left flank, who had got right forward under cover of the fire of our guns rushed it almost without opposition. On the far side a party of the enemy were found in deep dug-outs. They brought a machine gun into action and some close fighting ensued in which Lt Gooch and Lt Williams were wounded. Opposition was however speedily overcome and the garrison consisting of the H.Q. of a Regt, one Colonel and 4 other officers – 40 rank and file , 2 machine guns together with maps, orders, documents and material fell into our hands. Steps were immediately taken for consolidating the ground won, which however owing to the destruction wrought by our “heavies” was a matter of great difficulty, what had been trenches being almost unrecognisable as such and the earth so pulverised that cover could only be made by aid of sandbags.

The garrison was heavily shelled through the afternoon and most of the night and casualties were many. Battalion H.Q. were at the junction of Glatz Alley and Casement Trench north west of Germans Wood and this together with Dublin Trench received considerable attention from enemy guns. Casualties during the day 2 officers killed (2nd Lts F Barnes and JC Laughlin) and 3 wounded (Captain H H Robinson, Lt S Gooch and 2nd Lt F J Williams). 75 other ranks killed and wounded.

James' body was never recovered and he is remembered 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.”

He earned his three medals; his effects went to his father, George Edward Smaller, 53 Main Road, Perambur, Madras.

Grateful thanks are extended to Peter Thyreum for providing the wonderful photograph of James Walter.

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