4 King's (Liverpool) Regiment August 1916

[Ancre1917]

I'm researching a soldier (18431 Pte Peter Molyneux) who was killed on 18 August 1916 when the 4 battalion King's (Liverpool) Regiment was attacking Wood Trench. If anyone has a transcript of the war diary or a history of the battalion or 98 Brigade, 33 Division and could send me details of what was happening on that day, I would be very grateful. 

Richard

[GraemeClarke]

Hi Richard

 

Have a look here.

 

http://lib.militaryarchive.co.uk/library/infantry-histories/The-History-of-the-Kings-Regiment-Liverpool-Regiment-1914-1919.asp

 

WD

 

    “17 August 1916 – Trenches.

     Took over right half of 4^th Suffolk line - relief complete 7.30a.m. - heavies shelling enemy’s front line - men in front line withdrawn to supports - Heavy shelling all night -  Lieutenant Sharde wounded by shrapnel, 21 wounded, 3 missing.

 

     18 August 1916 – Trenches.

     Fine - Heavies shelling enemy’s line - men in front line withdrawn to supports - Barrage on enemy’s lines 2.:45 p.m. – “B” and “D” Companies went over in 2 waves followed by “C” Company in support and “A” Company in reserve. Attack held up by enemy in false line and machine gun fire. 20^th Royal Fusiliers came up between 6 and 8.00p.m. and took over front line and supports.

     Survivors of battalion came in at dusk and battalion was collected in trench behind supports.

Captains Simmance and Beck, 2^nd Lieutenants Gaultier, Nickalls and Reid killed – 2^nd Lieutenants Goodman and Gray missing - 2^nd Lieutenants Varndell and W.R. Irving wounded. 48 men killed, 148 wounded, 22 missing. 2 men to hospital, 1 man to base under age. 4 men struck off & taken on establishment of other units.”

 

   August 19th 1916 -Mametz Wood
Relieved by 1st CAMERONIANS who took over the whole line – Battalion moved out at 2:00 a.m. to MAMETZ WOOD – search party sent out to get in wounded & offiicers’ bodies – Fine day – moved to position South of FRICOURT WOOD. Battalion H.Q. in Wood in position 9:00 p.m. Search party sent to look for officers’ bodies – 2nd LIEUT. T.H. IRVING Missing believed killed. 2 men wounded – one man from hospital."

 

Regards,

 

Graeme

[Ancre1917]

Thanks Graeme. That's just what I need. 

Richard

[GraemeClarke]

all in 48 minutes !!

[JulianB]

My great uncle was in the 4/Kings and was KIA on the same day - it appears that the 4/Kings was virtually wiped out. Anyway, this is what I have

 

4th Kings (WO 95/2427) Front Line 20-07-16

Fine. 3.35 A.M. HIGH Wood attacked by 19th Brigade. Heavy shelling all day. 12.30p.m. Capt BECK ordered to establish liaison between HIGH Wood & 98th Bgde. H.qtrs (400 yds S. of B. Le P Wood). This effected 1.30 p.m. 2nd A&SHrs dug in in front of our right two Coys. Relieved by 7th Loyal N. Lancs & GLOUCESTERS about 11 p.m. Complete 2A.M. Enemy put over gas shells 1 11 p.m. to 12 p.m. Moved to bivouac at CATERPILLAR Wood. Lt. MARTIN & 2/Lts. HUBBLE, COOK, STYRING, BUCHAN, REID from base. LIEUTS. MATHER & MARTIN to be Captains. One man killed, 26 wounded & 3 missing.

 

One of the major objectives during the lengthy Battle of the Somme was the capture of "High Wood", a strongpoint that defied most attempts. The 33rd Division was given this, seemingly impossible, task as an objective in the major offensive of the 18th August 1916. This was known as ‘The Battle of Bazentin Wood and the Attacks on High Wood’, part of the second phase of the Battle of the Somme 1916.

This was preceded by a 36 hour bombardment. The German force occupying Wood Lane was the 104th Rgt., 40 Div.  According to a letter my gt uncle was killed by a bullet in the head.

 

 

Trenches

17-08-16

Took over right half of 4th Suffolk line - relief complete 7.30A.M. - heavies shelling enemy's front line - men in front line withdrawn to supports - Heavy shelling all night - Lt SHARPE wounded by shrapnel. 21 wounded, 3 missing.

18-08-16

Fine - Heavies shelling enemy's lines. Men in front line withdrawn to Supports - Barrage on enemy's lines 2.45 p.m. - B & D Coys went over in 2 waves followed by C Coy in support and A Coy in reserve. Attack held up by enemy in false line & machine gun fire. 20th R. Fus came up between 6 & 8 p.m. & took over front line & supports. Survivors of Battalion came in at dusk & battalion was collected in trench behind supports.

Captains SIMMANCE & BECK, 2/Lts GAULTER, NICKALLS, & REID killed - 2/Lts GOODMAN & GRAY missing, - 2/Lts VARNDELL & W.R.IRVING wounded. 48 men killed, 148 wounded, 22 missing, 2 men to hospital. 1 man to base under age, 4 men struck off & taken on establishments of other units.

Mametz Wood

19-08-16

Relieved by 1st Cameronians who took over the whole line - Battalion moved out at 2A.M. to MAMETZ WOOD - search party sent out to get in wounded & Officers bodies - Fine day - moved to position S. of FRICOURT WOOD - Bn HQ in woods in position 9p.m.

 

In a report on the action on the 18th by the CO 98th Bde, Brig Gen FM Carleton, (WO 95/2424), it was recorded that the attack began at 2.45 PM and that the objective was about 1800 yards distant. Regarding the 4th King’s, he wrote;

 

The 4th King’s and 1/4th Suffolks advanced to the attack from the jumping off point at zero hour, and crept forward close to the artillery barrage fire. They seem to have got well forward and to have crept close up to the barrage. In getting forward the 4th King’s suffered heavily, particularly in Officers, a large proportion of the latter being put out of action.

 

There followed an account of the 1/4th Suffolks (temporarily) reaching the objective, then

 

The 4th King’s had been severely handled in the preliminary rush, and do not appear to have made much way beyond the edge of the artillery barrage and it is certain that none of this regiment occupied this trench.

 

At 5.50pm the CO 4th King’s (Beall) asked for reinforcements, but when he was instructed to rally and carry out a further assault he replied that his numbers were too weak.

 

The strength of the Battalion on the morning of the 17th August was 18 officers and 652 Other Ranks and only total, rather than Company casualties are given in the Bn War Diary (casualty figures in the 98th Bde WD 95/2424, showing strength above, are fractionally different; OR 47 k, 21 m, 143 wnd). Nevertheless, out of the nine officer casualties mentioned, six were from D Company which suggests that it was in the first wave of the attack. I cannot find which Company Goodman and Varndell were in but Simmance was CO of B Coy which was probably in the second wave.

 

 

The regimental history merely reproduces the relevant War Diary entry for the 18th. (Wyrall 1930, 317) and there is only a brief description in the Official History (Edmonds 1932 11,194-5) where it was noted that

Wood Lane was to be secured by the 4/King’s … The King’s who are said to have “walked right into the barrage”, came under the fire of Germans in shell holes and never reached Wood Lane;

 

A modern account (Norman 1984, 189-90), gives a fuller description;

 

Troops of the 4th King's (Liverpool Regiment) were detailed with two companies of the 4th Suffolks to storm Wood Lane. They went into the front line trench at 7.30 am. Heavy calibre shells rocketed overhead to explode on the other side of the crest, but some fell short to spew earth on to the British positions. A decision was taken to evacuate the front line trench until zero hour came a little nearer, and so the troops crowded back into the close support trench some 50 yards behind.

None of the 4th King's reached Wood Lane. Whole platoons were blasted apart by the retaliatory barrage, while individuals who managed to get close to the enemy's line perished on the barbed wire. To continue was futile. Survivors dodged from shell hole to shell hole, gradually making their way back to the starting line.

Only 4th Suffolks on their left managed to penetrate the enemy defences but were eventually driven back

 

[Ancre1917]

Thanks, Julian. I'm off to the local library tomorrow to see if his service papers have survived. Fingers crossed!

Richard

[tonyblackpool]

hi you can check out my website for some information  on the 4th , my g/grandfather PTE Frederick Rodaway was killed along side PTE Peter Molyneux and buried next but one to each other  , if you need any photos shout out,  I was there for the 3rd time in 2014, and know the area pretty good, 

my family website, http://tonyrod.webs.com/  regards Tonyrod

[Ancre1917]

Thanks for getting back on this, Tony. 

Richard

[tonyblackpool]

Richard , I PAID MY RESPECTS TO PETER SEPTEMBER 2014, and all the lads lost on the 18th AUG,1916  I have  a good few  of the  the grave photos but they are to large to post on this site, be happy to email them to you,

Tonyrod

[Ancre1917]

Thanks for your kind offer, Tony. I'll send you a pm. 

Richard

[Ancre1917]

Just a thought, did you see my post on the action of Jack Counter VC 1 King's (Liverpool) Regiment 11 April 1918 at Boisleux St. Marc?

Richard

[tonyblackpool]

missed it Richard, not add enough time on this forum, to busy searching for others,, records show

Pte Patrick Molyneaux

Birth Place:Middlewich, Cheshire

Residence:Aintree, Liverpool

Death Date:18 Aug 1916