Pte Henry Pemberton (MM)

• Age: 20
• From: Litherland, Liverpool
• Regiment: 13th KLR
• Died on Wednesday 21st August 1918
• Commemorated at: Bucquoy Rd Cem Ficheux
  Panel Ref: I.B.21

Henry was born in Litherland on 04th September 1897 the son of Joseph Pemberton and his wife Amelia Rose (nee Titchmarsh). His siblings were Frank, Alfred, Fannie and Amelia. 

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 26 Murat Street, Waterloo, Liverpool. Henry is 3 years of age and lives with his parents and two siblings. His father, Joseph, is a 30 year old driver (furniture van) born in Rossett, Denbighshire, His mother Amelia R. is 32 years of age and was born in Cheshire. His siblings are recorded as; Joseph aged 5, born in Waterloo and Fanny aged 1 born in Seaforth. 

By the time of the 1911 Census the family are living at 30 Murat Street, Waterloo. Henry is now 13 years of age and is at school but is also shown as a confectioner's errand boy. He lives with his parents and five siblings. His father is now 40 and is a furniture removers van man, his mother is 42. They have been married for 15 years and have had six children, all of whom have survived. His siblings are shown as; Joseph who is shown as a 15 year old student/junior clerk, Fanny is 11 and is at school, as are Frank aged 7, and Alfred aged 5. Also recorded is Amelia who is one year old.    

Prior to the war Henry was working for Messrs Williams and Watson of Victoria Street, Liverpool. 

He enlisted at the first opportunity at St George's Hall, Liverpool on 31/08/1914 joining the 18th (Pals) Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment, giving his age as 19. This is evidently wrong as on this date he was just short of his 17th Birthday. He lied in order to ensure that he was able to serve overseas. He was described as being 5' 8 inches tall,weighed 114lbs and had a sallow complexion, hazel eyes and black hair. His occupation is shown as a Clerk.

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th 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

Henry served overseas from 07th November 1915.

The service papers have survived. These show that Henry was treated at the Field Ambulance in January 1916 for an ankle injury and bronchitis. In February of 1916 he was found to have Measles. This led to his treatment in isolation at Le Harve. Henry rejoined his Battalion on 28/04/1916. Further illness followed when he was hospitalised again in September 1916 this time with Scabies. He returned to duty in October 1916.

Henry received his 2 years good conduct medal on 31/08/1916 and attended a Divisional Signal Course in January 1917. He was granted leave to the UK from 22/06/1917. He was given 28 days Field Punishment No.1 on 22/10/1917 for "quitting his  post without being relieved whilst on gas guard at Battalion HQ".  A month later on 22/11/1917 he had to forfeit 10 days pay for being deficient in ammunition whilst on active service. He was allowed home on leave between 18/03 and 01/04/1918. He joined the Infantry Base Depot on 14/05/1918 and was transferred to the 13th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment on 30/05/1918.

He was awarded the Military Medal which was gazetted on 29/08/1918. 

By the time his award appeared in the London Gazette, Henry had been killed in action on 21st August 1918 aged 20.

The Bn War Diary for August 1918 records -

Part of the 9th Brigade 3rd Army advance on Bapaume August 21st – 24th

20th August – Bivouacked at Hannescamp. At 11 p.m. the battalion moved to assembly positions. Intermittent shelling of assembly area.

21st August – At Zero Hour 4:55 a.m. the battalion moved forward in a thick mist exacerbated by smoke cloud to cover tanks. Direction was extremely difficult. The troops never hesitated even though nothing could be seen of their objective or of the troops on their flanks. Several strong points were encountered, but were outflanked with Lewis Gun and rifle fire. ‘C’ Company on the right had no tank assisting but advanced in short rushes on the machine guns. Enemy heavy artillery was active throughout the day. The men suffered heavy casualties from exposure of the right flank.

Total casualties during the operation – 3 Officers Killed, including 2nd Lt. J.B. Friend, 263 Other Ranks. Of those other ranks were  Arthur Cottrell, Charles Napier Mitchell, Henry Pemberton, Andrew Pinder,  Herbert Cunningham Wands, William Watson and Robert Tudwal Williams who were all former Liverpool Pals.

He was originally recorded as being 23 when he was killed, having lied about his age in order to join up in August 1914. Thanks to a family member, Lin Pemberton, his records were corrected in 1999.

Henry now rests at Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux, France  and his headstone at Bucquoy Road reflects his correct age at the time of his death and bears the epitaph;

"HE SLEEPETH THE SLEEP OF THE JUST"

In November 1916, the village of Ficheux was behind the German front line, but by April 1917, the German withdrawal had taken the line considerably east of the village and in April and May, the VII Corps Main Dressing Station was posted near for the Battles of Arras. It was followed by the 20th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations, which remained at Boisleux-au-Mont until March 1918, and continued to use the Bucquoy Road Cemetery begun by the field ambulances. From early April to early August 1918 the cemetery was not used but in September and October, the 22nd, 30th and 33rd Casualty Clearing Stations came to Boisleux-au-Mont and extended it. By the date of the Armistice, it contained 1,166 burials but was greatly increased when graves were brought in from the surrounding battlefields and from small cemeteries in the neighbourhood. 

The cemetery now contains 1,901 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 168 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 23 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials commemorate 21 casualties buried by their comrades in Henin-sur-Cojeul German Cemetery, whose graves could not be found on concentration.

The cemetery was used again in May 1940 for the burial of troops killed during the German advance. There are 136 burials and commemorations of the Second World War; 26 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate 39 soldiers whose graves in the cemetery could not be specifically located.

The Crosby Herald of 28th September 1918 reported Henry's death under the headline:

"Military Medallist Killed".

The report advised that he was awarded the Military Medal in May 1918. It also advised that Henry had formerly been a Choir Boy at St John's Church in Waterloo.

Grateful thanks are extended to Lin Pemberton for sending details for the biography of Henry as well as granting permission for us to use Henry's photograph on the site.

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