Cpl 26919 Michael Condron

• Age: 20
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: 1st L.N.L.
• Died on Thursday 18th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Post Office Rifles Cem
  Panel Ref: I.A.16

Michael was born in June quarter of 1897 in Liverpool. The eldest son of Michael Condron and his wife Annie (nee Gilmour). He had brothers Thomas, James, Eric, and Harold, and sisters Janet and (Theo)Dora. His father, who was a master constructor (team owner/employer). 

At the time of the 1901 Census he is aged 3 and living at 8 Esk Street, Kirkdale. His father Michael is a 34 year old boiler cleaner born in Liverpool, whilst his mother, Annie, is 22 years of age and was born in Edinburgh. The family employ a servant; May Drew aged 19.

On the 1911 Census, Michael is aged 13 at school living at "Leaholme", Liverpool Road, Crosby with his parents and five siblings. His father, Michael, is now shown as a 45 year old master constructor, his mother, Annie is 32. They advise that they have been married for 15 years and have had 8 children of whom 6 have survived. His siblings all born Liverpool and living at home are recorded as: Janet aged 9 at school, Thomas 7, James 6, Eric 2, Theodora E. 4mths. The family again employ a servant; Mary Jane Stone 42.

There was a newspaper report in the Liverpool Echo on the 23rd May 1911 on the death of an employee of Messrs. Michael Condron and Company, scalers. He had fallen down an open ships hatch during night work.

His father died in 1913.

His mother remarried to Richard G. McMahon in early 1915 and moved to Aberdeen. 

Michael enlisted in Liverpool on 20th May 1915 as Private 26628, 17^th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment, giving his age as 19 (in fact he had just turned 18) and his occupation as Seaman. He is described as being 5’3” tall. He gives his address as 20 Park Street, Bootle, and his next of kin as Guardian James Carew, 10 Myers Road West, Great Crosby (this was possibly a friend or colleague of his father, as they were both in the construction business).

Whilst training at Knowsley, from 17^th August 1915 until 14^th February 1916, Michael was absent without leave on five occasions and was confined to barracks from 2-5 days for each offence. On 03rd July 1916 at Belton Park, he was absent without leave for 2 days, and deducted 8 days’ pay.

He was posted to 17th KLR and disembarked in France on 18th August 1916. He joined the unit at Etaples on 18/8/1916 before he was transferred to 1st Battalion Loyal North Lancs on 07th September 1916.

In Jan 1917 he was in Field Ambulance and General Hospital, Rouen, with ICT head, impetigo and eczema, and rejoined from Base Depot on 08th February 1917.

On 13th March 1917, Michael was confined to barracks for three days for “having a dirty rifle on parade”.

He was wounded in action on 14th November 1917 and was on leave 20th November - 04th December 1917.

Michael was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 04th February 1918 and on 15th March 1918 was  appointed paid Acting Corporal.

On 18th April 1918, he was declared missing. This was later confirmed as the date he died, aged 20.

A notation in his service records states that Michael was buried at Givenchy. This is most likely Givenchy les la Bassee, which is not far from the Post Office Rifles Cemtery where he was eventually interred and now rests.

Post Office Rifles Cemetery was named after an English volunteer unit formed in the 1860s and composed mostly of Post Office employees. By 1914 the unit provided most of the riflemen for the 1/8th battalion of the City of London Regiment of the Territorial Force. British troops began burying their fallen comrades here in April 1915 and the cemetery was used until the beginning of July, at which stage it contained the graves of 40 Commonwealth soldiers, almost all of whom had served with the Post Office Rifles. The gains made by Commonwealth forces during Battle of Festubert (15 – 25 May 1915) meant that the town was now less exposed to enemy fire and this sector remained relatively quiet until the German Spring Offensive of 1918. The cemetery was extended after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the surrounding battlefields, and in particular from the part of the line defended by the 55th Division in April 1918. It was designed by Charles Holden and now contains more than 400 First World War burials, over 270 of which are unidentified.

His family were not officially informed of his death until the end of October, as a notice placed in the Liverpool Echo on 1^st November 1918 reads:

“Now officially reported killed in action, April 18^th1918, in his 21^st year, Corpl. Michael Condron, Loyal North Lancs Regt., eldest son of the late Michael Condron, of Great Crosby, and Mrs. McMahon, of Aberdeen. – Sadly missed by his Mother and all at “Alverscroft”, Blundellsands.”

At the time of his death, his mother lived in Aberdeen, his brother Thomas, 17, was living with James Carew in Blundellsands; brothers James, 15, and Eric, 11, were students at Ushaw College in Durham;  brother Harold, 8,  was living in Freshfields; and sisters Janet, 19, and Dora, 10, were residents at Seafield Convent, Great Crosby.

His personal effects were sent to his mother on 21st January 1919: 1 wallet, 1 religious book, cards.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Annie McMahon, 59 Charlotte Street, Aberdeen.

In September 1919 his mother, living in Aberdeen, acknowledged receipt of his Army book.
 
On 20th Jan 1921 his mother wrote to Infantry Records, asking when she could expect his medals and plaque.

Michael is remembered on the following memorials

Coronation Road, Crosby

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Additions Panel 5. 

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

Grateful thanks are extended to Katie Louise Condron who kindly shared the photograph of Michael with us.