Pte 17721 Charles Henry Squirrell

• Age: 26
• From: Ennis, Co. Clare
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 1st May 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Charles Henry Squirrell was born on the 12th December 1891 at the Military Barracks, Ennis, County Clare, Ireland, the son of Alfred Squirrell and his wife Sarah Jane (née Darbyshire). His father was born in Suffolk, and his mother in Kirkdale, Liverpool. His father had joined the Royal Artillery in 1881. They married at St Mary’s Church, Walton, in 1888 and had seven children. Their son George Alfred was born in Seaforth later that year. By 1890, Alfred had been posted to Portsmouth, where son Harold was born.

The 1891 census shows Alfred as a Sergeant at Cambridge Barracks, Portsmouth, with his wife and two sons. Not long after, he was posted to County Clare, Ireland, where Charles was born. 

His father was discharged in 1893 in Londonderry after 12 years’ service and the family settled in Liverpool, his mother’s birthplace. They had four more children: Eveline Ernestine 1894, Marie 1896 (died at age 1), Annie Elizabeth 1898, and Ernest William, 1901, all born in Kirkdale. 

The 1901 Census finds them at 4 Sylvia Street, Kirkdale. His father, is aged 38, and is now employed as a dock labourer, born Hitchin, Suffolk, his mother, Sarah J., is aged 38, born in Liverpool, their children; George A. aged 12, born in Seaforth, Harold D. is aged 10, born in Portsmouth, Charles is aged 9, Annie E.  is aged 2, born Kirkdale, and Ernest W. E. is aged 2 months, born in Kirkdale. 

By the time of the 1911 Census the family, with six children and a boarder, are living at 133 Bedford Road, Bootle. His parents are both 48, his father, is a dock labourer. George is aged 22, and employed as a bookkeeper, Harold, is aged 20, and is a mechanic in a rubber works, Charles is aged 19, and a tailor’s assistant, Eveline is aged 16, Annie is aged 13, and Ernest is aged 10. 

Charles enlisted in Liverpool on 11th September 1914 as Private 17721, joining the 19th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment, giving his age as 23 years, (22 years crossed out), and his occupation as tailor’s cutter. He was described as being 5’ 8 and a half inches tall, weighing 131 lbs, 36" chest, with a fresh complexion, hazel eyes, and brown hair. As next of kin he gave his father Alfred, of 133 Bedford Road, and stated his religion as Church of England.

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. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.

Charles shipped to France with his battalion from Folkestone, disembarking at Boulogne on the 07th November 1915.

His service record survives and shows -

05/4/1916 attached HQ 89th Bde.

11/9/1916 granted Class II Professional Pay.

01/7/1917 granted Class I Professional Pay.

On 11/01/1918 he was deprived of 7 days’ pay for “falling out from parade without permission”.

01/4/1918 joined unit in the field ex Bde.  He served in No.2 Company.  

On the 4th April the Pals battalions entrain for the Ypres Salient and on the 9th April the Battle of the Lys begins, where Haig issues his “backs to the wall” order. On the 16th April the 19th Bn move into the line near St. Jans Capel and on the 21st return to the Salient near Busseboom.  On 29th April the Germans unleash an assault on the Scherpenberg and the 19th is in the line west of Voormezele.  Most of the outpost positions fall quickly but eventually the attack is repulsed along the whole of the front, and the Battle of the Lys is over.

The Battalion War Diary for 1st May records that the day passed fairly quietly in the line, with enemy shelling intermittently. The battalion were relieved at night by the Cheshire Regiment. 

However, Charles was killed in action on the 01st May 1918, aged 26.

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

Charles’ personal effects were sent to his father on 13th August 1918:  2 Religious books, 1 Cigarette case, 2 Receipts, Copy of attestation, 1 Identity disc and chain, 1 Brooch, 1 Certificate of Character, 1 Pocket wallet, Letters, Army form, Cards, Photographs.

His father Alfred received Charles’ Army effects, Army Pay of £11 9s and a War Gratuity of £17.  

His mother Sarah Jane, at 133 Bedford Road, Bootle, received a pension of 10/- a week from November 1918. 

His death was reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on Saturday 25 May 1918: 

ROLL OF HONOUR. 

KILLED IN ACTION. 

SQUIRRELL - April 30, killed in action, Private Charles H. Squirrell, K.L.R., the dearly loved third son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Squirrell, 133, Bedford-road, Bootle. 

Charles was remembered in the Liverpool Evening Express on 01st May 1919:  

SQUIRRELL In cherished remembrance of my dearest friend Charles Henry (Charl) Squirrell, 3rd Liverpool Pals, killed in France, April 30, 1918. (Still loved, still missed by Daisy.)  

In 1919 his parents, with Harold, 29, Eveline, 25, Annie, 20, and Ernest, 18, are at 133 Bedford Road.  His eldest brother George, 31 and married, is at Woodfield Road, Orrell Park, Walton.

His sister Annie wrote on 28th May 1921, giving her address as c/o 113 Great Homer Street, Liverpool:  

“Dear Sir, will you please forward me as soon as possible a map reference for my brother’s grave as I wish to send to London for a photograph. Pte. C. H. Squirrell 17721 .[...] killed in France May 1st 1918, somewhere on the Vimy Ridge. I would like to have it as soon as possible, Yours respectfully, A. Squirrell.”

It is not known what information his family received concerning Charles’ death, or from what sources, or why they believed he died, near Vimy. She was informed that all enquiries concerning location of graves should be addressed to the Imperial War Graves Commission, London.

Charles earned his three medals, which his father signed for on the 24th June 1920 and on the 06th October 1921.  

His father, died, not long afterwards, in late 1921, aged 55.

In 1939 his mother Sarah Jane is found living with her married daughter Eveline, her husband and two children, at 12 St. Paul’s Drive in Lancaster.  

His mother lived through the Second World War and died in Liverpool in 1946, at the age of 83. 

Sadly, Charles had not been found on any memorial, although he is included on the Men of Clare website.

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