CORPORAL HENRY GERRARD
252nd Brigade Royal Field Artillery
Service Number: 4357
Died: 15th September 1916
Cemetery: Flat Iron Copse Cemetery Mametz France
Henry was a single man, who lived with parents Robert and Mary Ellen Gerrard at 99 Enfield Street Pemberton. His father Robert was a Police Officer. The family moved to Enfield Street from Jacksons Square in the town centre. George pre war was a member of the territorial army. He would have volunteered to serve overseas. On the 22nd August 1915, he set sail for France.
George joined the 252nd Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery, part of the 50th Northumbrian Division. Quite why he joined the Northumbrians is not clear. As the battle of the Somme raged on from July 1916, the Northumbrians had a relativley quiet time until September 1916, when they were about to take part in their first major action of the campaign. The battle of Fleurs Courcellette was to start on the 15th September. This battle was famous for two firsts. The first time the British used tanks and the first time the Artillery creeping barrage was employed. This as the name implies would involve the Artillery firing shells, then the Infantry would move up behind where the shells landed, all the time the Artillery and Infantry creeping up in unison.
The Division moved into position ready to commence battle. The line they occupied was approximatley 1100 yards roughly between High Wood on the right and Martinpuich on the left. Henry and his Artillery Brigade were looking after the right flank of the Division. They were located in Caterpillar valley to the north of Bazentin le Petit. On the 14th September 1916 the Artillery paved the way for the attack by dropping some 9,000 shells on the enemy. The following day the attack commenced.
Henry was laying telephone wires in no mans land under heavy machine gun fire, he was killed instantananiously . In a letter to his parents his Major wrote "You have my greatest sympathy in your loss. If all the men in England where as brave as your son, the war would be over by now". He was 21 years of age. Henry was laid to rest in Flat Iron Copse Cemetery Mametz France.
PRIVATE JOHN GREEN
19th Battalion Kings Liverpool Regiment
Service Number: 20781
Died: 20th April 1918
Cemetery: Mendinghem Military Cemetery
John was married to Maria living at 47 Soho Street Newtown along with his daughter Elsie, his parents were William and Margaret Green who lived at 76 Ellesmere Road Pemberton. Like his father, John was a coal miner, working in Pemberton collieries. John enlisted into the Kings Liverpool Regiment shortly after war broke out on the 21st October 1914. On completion of his training he joined the 11th Battalion. The 11th Kings Liverpool Battalion were attatched to the 14th Light Division, and were employed as the Divisional Pioneer Battalion. The Pioneers not only had to be Infantrymen, they were also the workhorses of the Division, repairing trenches, laying communications etc.
On the 19th May 1915 they left these shores bound for France, joining up with the Division. Their first taste of action was not long in coming. They were involved in the German retaliatory attack on the 30th July 1915, aimed at the Divisions positions, a particulary fierce attack by the enemy in which they used liquid fire flamethrowers for the first time. This battle cost the Division 2500 men. The Division then went on to take part in various other battles including the Battle of the Somme, and the Arras offensives in early 1917.
Then at some point in early 1918 John transfered to the 19th Kings Regiment, also known as the 3rd Liverpool Pals Battalion. The pals Battalions were the brainchild of Lord Derby and went on to be formed in many British towns and cities. All four of the Liverpool pals Battalions were part of the 89th Brigade, 30th Division. Quite why John transfered is not clear.
On the 7th April 1918, the 89th Brigade had gone back into the trenches around Ypres On the 16th April because of German pressure outside Hazebrook and Bailleul, the Brigade was moved south by bus, the following day they moved into the line south east of St Jans Cappel, a small town near Bailleul. During this time no major Infantry action took place, however lots of patrols were sent out by both sides, resulting in losses to both Officers and men. Also the Artillery duels were furious around this time causing inevitable casualties. At some point during this German offensive John was mortally wounded. He was taken to the Casualty Clearing Centre at Mendinghem, where on the the 20th April 1918 John died of his wounds. He was 25 years of age. John was laid to rest in Mendinghem Military Cemetery in Belgium. In a further tragic twist, shortly after Johns death, his 4 year old daughter Elsie also died at home in Newtown.
2nd LIEUTENANT NORMAN HAMPSON
11th Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
Died: 15th February 1917
Commemorated on: Basra Memorial Iraq
Norman was a single man, who before his enlistment lived at home with his parents George and Hannah Hampson. They lived at Brook House in Highfield. George Hampson was then employed as surface manager at Pemberton Collieries. Norman worked in the commercial department at J and R Stone at Park collieries in Garswood. Norman was also a former choir boy at St Mathews. He enlisted into the Kings Royal Rifle Corps as a private in November 1914. He then recieved his comission moving to the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Were he was part of the 11th Battalion, this Battalion was a training reserve unit based in Seaford, East Sussex
Following a spell at the training unit, Norman volunteered for duty overseas. He left England on his 21st birthday, arriving in Messopotamia on the 5th July 1916, where he was attatched to the 6th Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, part of the 3rd Western Division. The Messopotamian campaign is a largely forgotten campaign of the first world war. It was a campaign fighting against the Ottoman Turkish empire.
Following an embarrassing defeat for Britain in November 1915, the British and Allies appointed a new commander. His leadership gave the campaign new impetus. This campaign was fought in awful conditions of extreme heat, vermin, flies, mosquitos and regular flooding all led to apalling levels of sickness. In February 1917, the 6th Battalion moved into positions opposite the Turks at a place called the Dhara Bend, located on the river Tigris. They spent a couple of days digging in and getting ready for action.
Early on the 15th February the Battalion conducted an attack on a strongpoint held by the Turkish. The attack was succesful which enabled the Allies to leave the right and centre of their frontline open to machine gun fire from the British.The retiring Turks were losing heavily, but fought on bravely. At some point during this battle Norman was killed, most likely as a result of Turkish machine gun fire. The battle was hailed as a great success for the British. He was 23 years of age. No record exists of where Norman was buried, he is commemorated on the Basra memorial in Iraq.
SAPPER ELIAS HEATON
108th Field Company Royal Engineers
Service Number: 53316
Died: 8th May 1917
Commemorated on: Doiran Memorial Greece
Elias was a single man. He lived with his parents Peter and Emma Heaton at 282 Billinge Road Highfield, along with his 6 brothers, George, Peter, James, Walter, Simon and Stanley. His father Peter worked at Pemberton collieries as a surface worker's foreman. Following his father's death the family moved to 265 Billinge Road Highfield. Elias enlisted shortly after war broke out in 1914. He joined the Royal Engineers, an integral part of the British Army. The Royal Engineers were responsible for a variety of tasks, designing and building front line fortifications, building and maintaining roads, railways, water supply, and maintaining the guns and other weapons. On completion of his training, Elias joined the 109th Field Company, who were attatched to the 26th Division. The Division moved to France in September 1915, and concentrated around Guignemicourt to the west of Amiens. However the Division were not to remain on the Western Front for very long.
On the 2nd November the Division moved to Marseille, to set sail for Salonika. All units belonging to the Division were in place by the 8th February. The Salonika campaign was once again, a forgotten chapter of the Great War. In October 1915 Bulgaria attacked Serbia. This led to the Serbs requesting help, also at the same time, the Greeks asked for help. Because of their treaty obligations to Serbia. The main battleground was in what is now known as Macedonia. The Salonika campaign was fought in horrendous conditions, the men had to contend with not only extremes in temparature, but most notably malaria. It was estimated that for each casualty caused by the enemy, three were caused by malaria.
In April the British launched an attack on the Bulgarians, to the west of Lake Doiran. This was reasonably succesful, gaining a lot of ground, then holding back several counter attacks. Following this action the Division were taken out of the front line for a rest. On the 8th May another attack was made in the Lake Doiran area, and once again was mostly succesful, but this time a succesion of determined counter attacks mixed with heavy and accurate shell fire forced the British to retire to a more covered position in the rear. All the time while the withdrawal was taking place the Division was subject to the most fierce shell fire.
During this battle Elias lost his life, most probably as a result of the shell fire. During daylight the following day, it was reported that the battlefield was a grim sight, its narrow ravine and rocky slopes littered with the dead. Elias' body was never recovered. He was 22 years of age. Elias is commemorated on the Doiran Memorial in Greece.
DRIVER SAMUEL HODGETTS
92nd Brigade Royal Field Artillery
Service Number: 73776
Died: 4th October 1916
Cemetery: Delville Wood Cemetery Longueval France
Samuel was a single man, who lived with his parents Benjamin and Annie Hodgetts, along with his sister Sarah and brother Benjamin at the Queen Pit cottages Lady Lane. Before Samuel enlisted he worked as a filler in the Pemberton collieries 9ft mine. Samuel enlisted towards the end of 1914 into the Royal Field Artillery. He joined the 92nd Brigade attatched to the newly formed 20th Light Division. The 92nd Brigade was the Divisional Howitzer Brigade. The 4.5 howitzer fired shells weighing 35lb, and had a range of about 7300 yards. Samuel being a driver, his main task would have been driving the howitzers into position. The movements of the guns was nearly always carried out by horsepower. Also bringing up the ammunition to the guns from the ammunition dumps was one of the duties. This in particular was dangerous with the enemy targetting them.
Samuel landed in France on the 21st September 1915, along with the Division. The first major action the Division were involved in, was assisting the Canadians in the Battle of Mount Sorrel, an area to the east of Ypres. They then moved south to the Somme area, where they would remain till the Battle of the Somme was over. On the 29th September 1916, the Division took over a line between Lesbouefs and Guadecourt, the 92nd Howitzer Brigade were about 4000 yards behind the front line.
On the 4th October 1916 Samuel was killed, almost certainly by a shell, He was 22 years of age. Samuel was laid to rest in Delville Wood Cemetery Longueval France. On the 20th November 1916 a memorial service was held for Samuel at St Pauls church in Goose Green.
GUNNER HERBERT HOLLAND
110th Brigade Royal Field Artillery
Service Number: 56795
Died: 30th July 1916
Cemetery: Becourt Military Cemetery Becordel- Becourt France
Herbert was a single man who lived with his parents Joseph and Mary Ann and his three sisters Elizabeth, Ann and Mary, along with his two brothers James and Joseph, who is covered next. The family lived at 240 Billinge Road Pemberton. His father also named Joseph worked in the Pemberton Collieries. Shortly after the outbreak of war Herbert enlisted into the Royal Field Artillery. Herbert joined the 110th Brigade, one of the Artillery brigades attatched to the newly formed 25th Division. They were assembled in Salisbury in September 1914, then moving to Aldershot in May 1915 for final training.
Harold left these shores for France on the 25th September 1915, concentrating in the Nieppe area. The Division were involved in the usual tit for tat Artillery duels. They took part in the role of defenders when the Germans launched a major succesful attack on Vimy Ridge. Following this battle they were taken out of the line to reorganise and refit in anticipation of the upcoming Battle of the Somme.
The Division were not involved in the early actions on the Somme, but on the 23rd July 1916 the Division moved into a line just north of the river Ancre, near the village of Pozieres. Although the Division is not recognised as being in the area of the main attack, the Artillery Brigades would have been actively supporting the attack. The main danger to Herbert would have been the enemy's artillery.
On the 30th July 1916 Herbert was killed in action. He was most likely killed by shellfire. He was 20 years of age. Herbert was laid to rest in Becordel Military Cemetery at Becordel- Becourt in France.
PRIVATE JOSEPH HOLLAND
13th Battalion Kings Liverpool Regiment
Service Number: 108732
Died: 23rd April 1919
Cemetery: Wigan Cemetery.
Joseph was a single man. He was the younger brother of Herbert who is covered above. He most likely enlisted in early 1918. He joined the 13th Kings Liverpool Regiment who were part of 9th Brigade 3rd Division. Joseph most likely only joined up with his Battalion to take part in the final advances from October onwards.
During these final advances by the Allies, Joseph was shot twice in his right elbow. He was sent back to England for treatment on his wounds. He was admitted to Manchester Military Hospital for another operation on his wounded elbow. Unfortunately Joseph suffered a reaction to the anaesthetic and he died. A verdict of death by misadventure was recorded by the coroner. He was 18 years of age. Joseph was laid to rest in Wigan Cemetery.
PRIVATE THOMAS JACKSON
8th Battalion Canadian Infantry
Service Number: 150128
Died: 3rd June 1916
Cemetery: Woods Cemetery Belgium
Thomas was a single man, the son of William and Mary Ann Jackson who lived at 12-14 Chapel Street Pemberton with his four older sisters Martha, Ann, Mary E, and Margaret, and his older brothers William and Hezekia. Sometime between 1891 and 1901 his parents both died. He was then brought up by his elder brothers and sisters. At the age of 11 Thomas was working as a baker's errand boy in Pemberton. When he was of age he then emigrated to Canada and settled in Winnipeg, Manitoba where he was working as a baker.
Thomas enlisted into the Canadian Army on the 2nd September 1915. Following his training Thomas landed in France in early 1916, joining the 8th Canadian Infantry Battalion, part of the 1st Canadian Division. Thomas like all Infantrymen would have had to endure the daily life of being in the trenches, constant shelling, working parties, gas attacks etc. In June 1916 the enemy was planning a large attack. The attack was to be against allied positions on the higher ground to the south east of Ypres.
On the 31st May the 8th Battalion took over the positions vacated by the Canadian 3rd Battalion, just to the south of Mount Sorrel in the Zillebeke sector. The relief was carried out in relative quiet. The 8th Battalion were at the southernmost point of the battlefield. The following day they were subjected to sporadic shell fire from the enemy. It was also reported that while the Commanding Officer was carrying out an inspection of the trenches, 3 large calibre shells fired from the Canadian Artillery landed on the communications trench, fortunately no one was hit.
On the 2nd June at 0845am, the first signs of something unusual was about to happen. It started with a crescendo of shells aimed at the Mount Sorrel area. It was then reported that at 12.22pm the ground trembled as if a mine had been exploded. The Germans then commenced their attack in force. The scene was total confusion. All communications had been lost. Two Canadian Officers were seen being marched to the rear of the German lines with fixed bayonets. The 5th Battalion Canadian Infantry who were positioned north of the 8th Battalion took the worst of this attack. By 4pm the enemy was observed digging in frantically on the south east slope of Mount Sorrel, looking as if they were consolidating their gains. Orders were recieved by the Canadians to form defensive positions. The remainder of the day was spent suffering sporadic shell fire.
On the morning of the 3rd June the enemy heavily bombarded the positions, then later on in the day it appeared to slacken considerably, appearing to signify that the enemy were satisfied with their gains. Thomas was killed on this day, most likely due to the heavy shell fire. He was 25 years of age. Thomas was laid to rest in Woods Cemetery Ypres in Belgium.
PRIVATE HARRY JEPSON
1/5th Battalion Manchester Regiment
Service Number: 2640
Died: 27th July 1915
Commemorated: Helles Memorial Gallipoli Turkey
Harry was a single man, who lived with his parents Will and Charlotte Jepson at 285 Billinge Road Pemberton. His father Will originally from Derbyshire was a coal miner, working in the Pemberton collieries. Like his father Harry also was a collier, Harry was a member of the 2/5th Battalion Manchester Regiment. This Battalion was a second line Territorial Regiment based at the drill hall in Wigan. Harry left these shores in June 1915 bound for Gallipoli. He was sent as a replacement because of the large amount of casualties incurred by the 1/5th Battalion in the failed attacks of early June, including Harry's former school classmate and good friend William Winstanley who is also commemorated on the St Mathews memorial.
Harry joined up with the 1/5th Battalion, on the Greek island of Imbros, where the Battalion were enjoying a well earned rest away from the front line. However on the 22nd June, the Battalion who were part of 127th Brigade 42nd Division, arrived back on the Gallipoli peninsula. They took up positions in the trenches in front of the village of Krithia in the south of the peninsula. In the month Harry was in Gallipoli no major actions took place, just the usual trench warfare, sporadic shelling, sniping, along with the occasional raiding party.
On around the 24th July the Manchesters were working on a new trench line when, according to the war diary, the Battalion suffered 1 fatality, and 2 casualties. One of the casualties was Harry. He had suffered a large wound in his back most likely caused by shellfire. He was evacuated to the hospital ship HMS Gascon, moored in the Aegean sea. A few days later on the 27th July 1915 Harry lost his fight for life. A Chaplain who was on board the hospital ship wrote to Harry's parents Will and Charlotte " Your son came onto the ship with a wound in his back which he died from. He bore the pain very bravely and patiently. Whilst he was conscious I had some talks with him, but as I saw this evening he had lost consciousness and he died. You must be very proud of your son, as yong as he was he gave his life for his country". The Chaplain added that the following morning Harry was to be buried at sea. He was 19 years of age when he died. Harry is commemorated on the Helles Memorial on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey.
PRIVATE HAROLD JOHNSON
2/10th Battalion Kings Liverpool Regiment
Service Number: 359787
Died: 19th January 1918
Cemetery: Houplines Communal Cemetery Extension France
Harold was a single man, who lived with his parents William and Margaret Johnson at 1 Highfield. His father William who hailed from Derbyshire was employed as a Collier at Pemberton Collieries. A former pupil of St Matthews school Harold also worked at Pemberton Collieries. In April 1917 he enlisted into the 10th Kings Liverpool Regiment, more commonly known as the Liverpool Scottish Battalion. Harold was sent to Park Hall camp in Oswestry Shropshire. It was here that he underwent his basic military training. Training normally took around three months to complete.
Harold arrived in France, where he proceeded to the Infantry Base Depot at Etaples for further training. He then went from Etaples to join up with the 2/10th Liverpool Scottish. It is not clear when Harold joined his Battalion, but September 1917 would be a reasonable estimate. The Battalion where at this time in Flanders were the third Battle of Ypres was drawing to a close. They remained in the Ypres area until January 12th 1918, when they returned to familiar surroundings at Erquinhem-Lys, situated about 3 miles to the south of Armentieres.
On the 19th January 1918 Harold was in the front line trenches at Houplines. The Battalion war diary for that day reads " Colonel Brodie visited C company in the morning, and D company in the afternoon. At about 3.30pm number 24 post was 'minnied', 2Lt Spence was injured, 2 other ranks killed, and 3 wounded. This post was evacuated during the night. Our Artillery retaliated successfully. One other rank wounded by sniper fire. Weather was good, warm and no rain. A few shells fell on Houplines".
Harold was one of those other ranks killed in the "minnie" attack. A "minnie" was a slang word for the minenwerfer which was a German trench mortar. Interestingly the officer who wrote the war diary was Basil Rathbone, the actor who became famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes. Harold was 20 years of age. He was laid to rest in Houplines Communal Cemetery Extension France.
