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17th King's Liverpool Rgt, 15597 Pte JW Wilson


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Posted

This soldier was KIA 30.07.1916. That is all the info I have been able to get from SDGW (plus born B'head, enlisted Lpl, first name John), I can't find him on CWGC.

Could any pal help me on either him and/or what/where 17th King's were up to on that date.

I'm not sure when I can next get to PRO, so any help greatly appreciated

Posted

Julian............He is on the CWGC.........info as follows

Name: WILSON, JOHN W.

Initials: J W

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Private

Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment)

Unit Text: 17th Bn.

Age: 20

Date of Death: 30/07/1916

Service No: 15597

Additional information: Son of James Wilson, of 19, Greenbank Rd., Birkenhead.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 1 D 8 B and 8 C

Cemetery: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

Posted
what/where 17th King's were up to on that date.

The 17th Kings were part of 89th Brigade, 30th Division, XIIIth Corps. On 30th July, 89th Brigade was on the right flank of 30th Division's attack on Guillemont.

'The 20/King's, forming the right of the main attack, overran the German front trenches (held by the left of the German 24th Reserve Division) and reached the Hardecourt-Guillemont road. The battalion lost heavily from machine-gun fire as it did so, but began to consolidate the line of the road with the assistance of the 17/King's, which, in small columns, had followed in support. The 19/King's, next on the left, also sustained many casualties and few men arrived at the road; but farther north a party reached an orchard on the south-eastern outskirts of Guillemont'

From the British Official History.

post-1-1071873898.jpg

Guest Ian Bowbrick
Posted

You need to e-mail 'promenade' (Joe D) on the forum he has a lot of info on the King's Liverpool Regt.

Posted

Julian,

I hope that the following will help you in your research. I would strongly recommend that you consult ‘Liverpool Pals’ by my late good friend Graham Maddocks which goes into the action on 30 July 1916 in a lot of detail (pp114 to 124). You can order a copy through your local library.

Regards

Joe Devereux

---------------------------

John W Wilson was born in Birkenhead in 1896 the son of James Wilson who was living at 19 Greenbank Rd., Birkenhead at the time of the war. On 31 August 1914 John Wilson enlisted in Liverpool Town Hall as No 15597 into the 17 Battalion King’s (Liverpool) Regt [1st Liverpool Pals]. He was drafted to France with his Battalion on 7 November 1915. He was admitted to 97 Field Ambulance on 20 May 1916 (influenza) and was discharged to 30 Division Rest Station on 22 May. On 30 July 1916 John Wilson was reported as missing in action with ‘C’ Company 17 KLR. His body was never recovered from the battlefield and identified thus his name is now listed on the Thiepval Memorial.

The following is taken from 17 KLR War Diary

29/7/16 9pm

Battalion moved up to assembly positions for attack on German system of trenches from Guillemont exclusive to Falemont Farm inclusive.

30/7/16 4.45am

‘Zero hour’. The Battalion was in support to 19th and 20th Battalions KLR. Two Companies behind 19th and two Companies behind 20th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns. Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained and consolidated all along our front.

Casualties Officers Killed

2nd Lieutenant ER Porritt

2nd Lieutenant RH Smith

2nd Lieutenant SJ Faris (attd 20 KLR)

Died of wounds

FE Boundy (attd 89 TMB [Trench Mortar Battery])

Wounded

A/Captain HN Brinson

Lieutenant BS Thompson

Lieutenant EW Willmer

2nd Lieutenant JR Blabey

2nd Lieutenant FY Peet

2nd Lieutenant GM Morris

2nd Lieutenant JFW Berry

2nd Lieutenant Wh Johnston

2nd Lieutenant T Lanceley

2nd Lieutenant ET Lewis

2nd Lieutenant WS Standring

Other Ranks Killed 56

Other Ranks Wounded 130

Other Ranks Missing 95

31/7/16

Relieved by 4 King’s Own Duke of Lancaster’s Regt and Battalion returned to camp at Pt 71 North

Posted

Thank you all very much. Slight discrepancy with the given address, but I'll try & sort that out. One more chink in the armour, as they say. Julian

  • 11 years later...
Posted

Just as a catch up heres Lt Morris hes in West Brompton Cemetery

Just as a catch up heres Lt Morris hes in West Brompton Cemetery file too big upload this evening

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