L/Sgt 17481 Harry Alan Shipman

• Age: 26
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Harry Alan Shipman was born in the second quarter of 1890 in Liverpool, the youngest son of Henry Shipman and his wife Elizabeth (née Williams). His parents married on the 27th September 1874 at St Michael in the Hamlet Church, Toxteth. Henry was a 23 year old clerk of Windsor Street, father Henry a fitter, whilst Elizabeth was aged 24 of Arthur Street, father William a clerk. They had four children, their first child, Adelaide Marie Catherine, was born in November 1878 in Seacombe, Cheshire, and baptised the following June in Nottingham, her parents’ residence given as Seacombe. 

The 1881 Census finds the family in Seacombe, his father employed as a general labourer. By 1883 they have moved to Nottingham, where Walter Edward Williams was born in 1883, followed by Frank (Archibald) in 1885. They returned to Liverpool, where Harry was born in 1890.

The 1891 Census shows the family are living at 12 Woodbine Street, Kirkdale, Liverpool. Harry A. is one year old and lives with his parents and two elder brothers. His father is a 38 year old railway checker, born in Draycott, Derbyshire, whilst his mother was born in Liverpool. His two brothers were born in Nottingham and are recorded as; Walter aged 7 and Frank aged 5, both are at school. Adelaide, 12, is found in the household of her aunt and uncle Mary and Walter Astle in Noel Street, Nottingham.

In 1901 Harry, 11, his parents, and Adelaide, 22, are visiting Joseph and Mary Green, 104 Noel Street, Nottingham. His father, 48, is a railway clerk, his mother is 52. His brothers Walter, 17, and Frank, 15, both railway clerks, are still at 12 Woodbine Street in Liverpool.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 55 Endbourne Road, Walton, Liverpool. His father, Henry, is now aged 58, and whose occupation is recorded as a railway goods checker, whilst his mother, Elizabeth, is aged 62, her occupation is declared as housekeeper. They have been married for thirty seven years and have had four children, all of whom have survived. Those resident at the time of the Census are: Walter Edward aged 27, born 1884 is a railway clerk who was born in Nottingham and Harry Alan aged 21, born 1890 also a railway clerk who was born in Liverpool. 

His brother Frank 25, is married and lives a few houses away at 73 Endbourne Road. Adelaide, aged 32, with no occupation listed, is living in Nottingham with her aunt Catherine Astle at 104 Noel Street.

His father died in February 1913 aged 60 and was buried on the 11th February at Kirkdale Cemetery. His death was reported in the Nottingham Evening Post on the 08th February. 

Prior to the outbreak of the war Harry had been employed as a clerk by the Liverpool and NW Railway Company and was based at Edge-Hill Goods Depot, Liverpool before he enlisted.

Harry enlisted on the 02nd September 1914 at St George's Hall in Liverpool, joining the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 17481. He gave his age as 24 years and 150 days and his occupation as a clerk. He was described as being five feet seven inches tall, weighed 139lbs, 36" chest with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England. He gave his next of kin as his mother Elizabeth at 104 Noel Street, Nottingham.

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

His service record has survived and shows the following: 

He was serving as Lance-Sergeant No 17481 when he was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 26, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive. 

19^th Battalion Diary 30^th July 1916

MALTZ HORN FARM

BATTLE begun. ZERO hour 4:45 am. The Battalion reached its objective, but suffered heavy losses, and had to evacuate its position owing to no reinforcements.

Everard Wyrall gives details of the attack in his book The History of The King’s Regiment; 

"The 2nd Attack on Guillemont- 29th July 1916 the 89th Brigade the 20th King's were to attack on the right and the 19th on the left. During the evening of the 29th the night was dark and foggy when the Battalions moved off and the 19th with Lt Col G Rollo commanding, when passing the South east of the Briqueterie they were heavily shelled first with H E and then with a new kind of asphyxiating Gas shell which had curious results, at first it had no nasty effect but about 8 hrs later men began to fall sick with violent headaches and pains in the stomach. All ranks had to wear gas masks which in the darkness and mist made the going terribly difficult. It was indeed wonderful that they were able to reach their Assembly point at all. But they did and by 2.45 a.m. on the 30th July 1916 the Btn was assembled having suffered about 30 Casualties on the way up ready for the Zero hour at 4.45 a.m.

It is known that the two left Companies of the 19th under Capt. Dodd and Capt. Nicholson advanced in touch with the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on their left although they suffered many casualties from Machine gun Fire did not encounter many Germans and reached their final objective about the time allocated, beginning at once to dig in south of the orchard on the South east corner of Guillemont.  

On the left of the 19th the Scots Fusiliers most gallantly forced their way through Guillemont to the eastern side of the village but were soon overwhelmed by the enemy and few returned. 

At 8 a.m. finding that the village was not held the two left Companies of the 19th received no word from the rear or either flank believed themselves to be totally isolated so were forced to fall back and dig in, their position being untenable.

At midday the effective fighting strength of the 19th Btn was just 7 Officers and 43 other ranks" 

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July.

Casualties in the 19^th Battalion were 11 Officers and 435 Other Ranks 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.

Harry's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

His death was reported in the Liverpool and Nottingham newspapers. 

18th August 1916:

SHIPMAN,- Killed in action, July 30th, Harry Alan Shipman, sergeant, King's Liverpool Regiment, aged 26 years, youngest son of Elizabeth and the late Henry Shipman, 104 Noel Street, Nottingham.

The Liverpool Courier of 22nd August 1916 reported;

Sergt. Harry Alan Shipman (26),Liverpool Pals, who was for 12 years in the employ of L. and N.W.Railway Company, Edgehill.

Probate records show the following:

SHIPMAN Harry Alan of 104 Noel Street, Nottingham, Lance Sergeant in HM Army died 30 July 1916 in France. Administration Nottingham 13 December to Elizabeth Shipman widow. Effects £117 19s 9d.  

His Army pay of £14 was disbursed to his mother in January 1917. She died, aged 70, in 1918 and was buried on the 12th July at Kirkdale Cemetery. After her death in July 1918 the War Gratuity of £9-10s went to sister Adelaide. No pension card has been found.

In 1920 Adelaide provided information on Harry’s living relatives: she, Walter, and Frank were all living at 104 Noel Road.

A member of the Everton branch of the Masonic Lodge No. 823, Harry's name is recorded in the Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-18 book.

Harry is also commemorated on the following Memorials;

British Army, Railwaymen Died in the Great War Memorial now housed in the National Railway Museum in York.

Masonic Hall Plaque, Hope Street, Liverpool

He is also commemorated on the family headstone in Kirkdale Cemetery -

               ALSO HARRY ALAN

    SERGEANT, 19TH K.L.R. (PALS)

  YOUNGEST SON OF THE ABOVE

KILLED IN ACTION ON THE SOMME

 JULY 30TH 1916, AGED 26 YEARS

        FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH

Grateful thanks are extended to Shelagh Milne, who has given permission for us to use the wonderful photograph of Harry on this site. 

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