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Remembered Today:

St. Helens Pals


DaveR

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This website is to make public our research on 11th (Service) Bn. South Lancashire Regiment. There are already a number of transcriptions available on the site, including the battalion War Diary and the regiment's Medal Rolls. Info on individual soldiers is being prepared and will eventually be made available. The URL is

http://www.sthelenspals.org.uk

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Well done, Dave, it's great to see the site taking shape after massive amounts of transcription effort by all involved.

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Excellent site. If you pm me I can let you have a photo and obituary of 2/Lt E O Champion.

Regards ... Maricourt

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Excellent. Do I gather that the Medal Rolls are for the entire South Lancashire Regiment? That is Regular, Reserve, Territorial and Service Battalions?

Ian

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Great site, good to see all the hard work coming together after a huge amount of effort.

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Excellent site. If you pm me I can let you have a photo and obituary of 2/Lt E O Champion.

Regards ... Maricourt

I'll PM you too if I may. I have written about the three Champion brothers in my recent book - see my signature - but don't recall seeing an obituary of EOC. Charles

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Ian,

yes, 14ST, 15ST, BWM/VM is for the complete regiment, Officers and ORs. SWB covers all ex SLR men we have found so far. The total entries amount to over 40,000.

Dave

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Well done! A lot of work.Thanks for the reply

Ian

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It's all coming together very well Dave. Building up nicely for next year.

Edited by Kitchener's Bugle
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  • 1 year later...

The site now has Nominal Roll of all men known to have served with the battalion.

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I have to say it is looking very professional Dave. Well done. :thumbsup:

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Well done Dave

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Dave,

Would you like the details and research of the 6 or so Widnes men who were members of 11th SLR and who are commemorated on the Widnes War Memorial?

Harry

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Harry,

indeed I would. thanks.

Dave

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Dave,

Great site, awful lot of hard work there, congratulations and thank you.

Andy

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Dave,

The men from Widnes who are listed on the War Memorial In Victoria Park, Widnes. Although Samuel Randles was not in 11th SLR, his brother, who was a member and survived the war is mentioned in this entry.

Harry

Pte Martin Byrne
No.21625
11th Bn, [service] The South Lancashire Regiment [PWV]
St Helen`s Pioneers
Pioneer Battalion
30th [New Army] Division.
Born : Not known.
Enlisted : Prescot, Lancashire in 1915.
Resided : 25 Midland Street, Widnes, Lancashire.
Died of wounds in Belgium on 26th June, 1917, aged 19.
Buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Plot XV.
Row D, Grave 8. Commemorated at St Bede`s in Widnes.
The brother of Pte James Byrne, killed in action 1st July, 1916, he was
educated at and a parishioner of St Bede`s in Widnes. Prior to enlisting he was
a labourer at the Pilkington works in Widnes.#
Before the Third Battle of Ypres which commenced on the 31st July 1917, the
11th Bn was engaged on pioneer work in preparation for the coming offensive.
The casualties during this period were two officers and eight other ranks
killed and two officers and 91 men wounded.##

Pte James Cooney
No.21452
11th Bn, [service] The South Lancashire Regiment [PWV]
St Helen`s Pioneers
Pioneer Battalion
30th [New Army] Division.
Born : Widnes, Lancashire.
Enlisted : St Helens, Lancashire.
Resided : Widnes.
Died of wounds in Belgium on 20th June, 1917, age not known.
Buried at Reninghelst New Military Cemetery, Plot III, Row G, Grave 12.
No local information. In the period leading up to the Third Battle of Ypres, the
11th South Lancs were engaged in preparations for the offensive, most of
which involved the maintaining of the lines of communication. This work was
constantly being disrupted by shell-fire and the battalion suffered casualties,
losing two officers and eight other ranks killed and two officers and 91 other
ranks wounded, including James Cooney.# Regimental History.

Pte Lawrence Hannon
No.21679
11th Bn, [service] The South Lancashire Regiment [PWV]
(St Helen`s Pioneers)
Pioneer Battalion
30th [New Army] Division.
Born : Widnes, Lancashire.
Enlisted : Prescot, Lancashire in 1915.
Resided : 14 Water Street, Widnes.
Died of wounds in France on 28th March, 1918, aged 20.
Buried at Namps-Au-Val British Cemetery, Plot I, Row P, Grave 21.

Commemorated at St Patrick`s Church in West Bank.
Enlisting at the age of seventeen, he had served in the South Lancs for three
years and went on active service in March, 1916.
The son of John & Mary Hannon, he received his education at St Patrick`s
school and attended the church. (His surname is incorrectly spelt as
Hammond on the memorial plaque in St Patrick`s church)
Lawrence Hannon died from gunshot wounds to his chest, and according to
the report in the Widnes Weekly News, "Fell back into the arms of his mates".#
On the 28th March, 1918, the 11th Battalion took part in a fighting withdrawal
in the face of the German`s "Michael" Offensive. In a week of confused actions
the “St Helen`s Pioneers” lost over half their effective strength. It was during
this period the Cpl John Thomas Davies, 11th South Lancs, won the Victoria
Cross.##
# WWN 1918. ## Regimental History.
*

Pte William Keogh
No.20999
11th Bn, [service] The South Lancashire Regiment [PWV]
(St Helen`s Pioneers)
Pioneer Battalion
30th [New Army] Division.
Born : St Helens, Lancashire.
Enlisted : St Helens.
Died of wounds in France on 29th June, 1916, aged 23.
Buried at Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery, Plot II, Row L, Grave 7.
In late June, 1916, the 11th South Lancs carried out pioneer work in
preparation for the forthcoming Somme Offensive, this would have involved
road building and other construction work, often under enemy fire. Casualties
during this period included William Keogh, he was the son of James & Ellen
Keogh.# WWN 1916.
******
Pte Patrick Makinson
No.21154
11th Bn, [service] The South Lancashire Regiment [PWV]
(St Helen`s Pioneers)
Pioneer Battalion
30th [New Army] Division.
Born : Widnes, Lancashire.
Enlisted : Sutton, Lancashire.
Resided : 11 Ellison Street, Widnes.
Killed in action in Belgium on 27th May, 1917, aged 33.
Buried at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, Plot IV, Row G, Grave 7.
A member of a working party that came under enemy artillery fire, Patrick
Makinson managed to find cover in a trench, as he did so, a shell landed in the
trench, killing him instantly. The 11th South Lancs were the only battalion of
the Regiment to take an active part in the battle of Arras and carried on with
pioneer tasks at this time.# He left a widow, Catherine.#
# WWN 1917. ## Regimental History.
******

Pte John O`Grady
No.22170
11th Bn, [service] The South Lancashire Regiment [PWV]
(St Helen`s Pioneers)
Pioneer Battalion
30th [New Army] Division.

Enlisted : Prescot, Lancashire.
Resided : Widnes.
Killed in action in France on 9th March, 1917, aged 24.
Buried at Dainville Communal Cemetery, Row A, Grave 15.
Commemorated at St Bede`s church in Appleton Village, Widnes.
No local information on John O`Grady, in March, 1917, the 11th South Lancs
were engaged on pioneer tasks in the Ypres salient in preparation for the
offensive in July of that year.# Regimental History.
******
Pte Terence Joseph Pierce
No.22389
11th Bn, [service] The South Lancashire Regiment [PWV]
(St Helen`s Pioneers)
Pioneer Battalion
30th [New Army] Division.
Born : Widnes, Lancashire.
Enlisted : Warrington, Lancashire in April, 1916.
Resided : 42 Albert Road, Widnes.
Died of wounds in Belgium on 26th June, 1917, aged 21.
Buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Plot XV, Row D, Grave 17.
Commemorated at St Bede`s church in Widnes.
Shown as “Regt Unknown” on the memorial, the above details are correct. Why

he was listed in this manner is not clear as his parents, Martin & Sarah Pierce
lived in Widnes and presumably wrote to him when he was on active service.
Going on active service in late 1916, he was soon invalided home either
wounded or ill. He eventually returned to France in in early 1917.
Before his enlistment he was employed by the Johnson`s Agency in Albert
Road, Widnes and latterly at Mr White`s butchers in Widnes Road. Educated
at St Bede`s school, he was a member of the parish and club.#
Before the Third Battle of Ypres commenced on the 31st July, 1917, the 11th
South Lancs, being a Pioneer Battalion, were engaged on tasks in preparation
for the offensive. Most of the work consisted of maintaining communications
which were being constantly disrupted by enemy artillery fire. It was during
this work that Terence Pierce suffered gas poisoning after being caught in a
German artillery bombardment.##
# WWN 1917. ## Regimental History

Pte Samuel Randles
No.10317
8th Bn, [service] The South Lancashire Regiment [PWV]
75th Bde 25th [New Army] Division.

Resided : 26 Market Street, Widnes.
Killed in action in France on 3rd July, 1916, aged 22.
Buried at Connaught Cemetery, Plot XII, Row C, Grave 9.
Commemorated at St Paul`s and St Mary`s churches in Widnes.
One of Henry & Helen Randles three son`s to enlist in the army at the
outbreak of the hostilities, he was educated at Simms Cross school and
employed prior to his enlistment at the Gaskell Deacon Works in Widnes. He
was a member of the National Amalgamated Union of Labour. His two other
brothers, Albert, in France with the 11th South Lancs when Samuel was killed
and Harry who was in hospital in Kelso, Scotland after having his legs
shattered by a shell in January, 1916, had enlisted at the same time.
Samuel Randles went to the Dardanelles in June, 1915 and in December that
year contracted fever and was hospitalised in Malta. He was returned to
England and in February, 1916 went to France.#
He was killed by a shell when the 8th South Lancs were in reserve in Aveluy
Wood acting as brigade reserve near to the German stronghold at Thiepval.##
His death was reported unofficially to his mother by one of his pals, probably
by letter.
# WWN 1916. ## Regimental History.
******

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Harry,

many thanks. Info now on our database.

Dave

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  • 1 month later...

Hi Dave,

Was so looking forward to the "St Helens Pals" book launch this morning, unfortunately I took ill as I was was getting ready, my cousin Heather attended as she had supplied some photo to you and she told me it all really went well. I felt better this afternoon but only noticed at 4pm that I could have come over after lunch, was so looking forward to picking up a copy.

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There will be other opportunities.

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I was helping at Liverpool Museum and so was unable to attend

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