Liverpool Pals Who Died on This Day

From: Liverpool
D.O.W (109 Years this day)
Saturday 14th April 1917.
29 years old

James Davies was born in Toxteth Park, Liverpool, in the second quarter of 1888 the son of John Davies and his wife Elizabeth (née Roberts), who were both born in Denbighshire. They had at least six children: John, Sarah A. and Ellen were born in Wales; the family moved to Liverpool between 1880 and 1884, where Martha, James, and Blodwen were born.

At the time of the 1891 Census the family are living at 34 Halliburton Street, Toxteth Park, with six children, three lodgers and a visitor. His father is 44 years of age and is a warehouse porter,born in Llanarmon, Denbighshire, his mother is 43 years of age and was born in Llanfair,Denbighshire. John aged 15 is a warehouse lad, Sarah A. is 13, and a scholar, Ellen is 11 and a scholar, Martha is 6 and also a scholar, James is 3 and Blodwen is a newborn. There are three lodgers in the houshold and one visitor.

His mother died in late 1899, aged 51.

In 1901 James, with his father and younger sister, are still at 34 Halliburton Street. His father, 54, is a sampler in a tobacco warehouse, James is 13, and Blodwen 10. It is not known when his father died.

1911 James is living with his married sister Sarah Roberts, her husband and three children, at 62 Underley Street. James is 23, single, employed as a cotton porter.

James enlisted in Liverpool on 04th September 1914, as Private 17569, 19th Bn King’s Liverpool Regiment, giving his age as 26 years and 180 days, and his occupation as clerk. He is described as being 5’ 7 and a quarter inches tall, weighing 156 lbs, with a sallow complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair. He gives his religion as Church of England and his next of kin as his sister Mrs. Sarah Roberts, at 6A Garrick Street, Smithdown Road, Liverpool.

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. On 03/10/1915 whilst at Larkhill, James was absent without leave for 24 hours; he forfeited two days’ pay and was confined to barracks for seven days..

James shipped to France with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 07th November 1915.

04/9/1916 granted Good Conduct Badge on completion of two years’ service.

07/10/1916 to Lewis Gun course.

15/10/1916 rejoined unit.

James was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 30/12/1916. He served in no.2 Company.

03/02/1917 granted leave to U.K.

20/02/1917 rejoined from leave

James was wounded in action on 09th April 1917, the opening day of the Battle of Arras. He was admitted to No.20 Casualty Clearing Station with gunshot wounds to his right arm, right leg, and back. James died of his wounds at No.11 Stationary Hospital, Rouen on 14th April 1917, aged 29.

He now rests at St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen in France.

During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city.

Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross and one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension, where the last burial took place in April 1920.

The Cemetery and the Extension adjoin each other but have separate Registers.

During the Second World War, Rouen was again a hospital centre and the extension was used once more for the burial of Commonwealth servicemen, many of whom died as prisoners of war during the German occupation.

The cemetery extension contains 8,348 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (ten of them unidentified) and in Block "S" there are 328 from the Second World War (18 of them unidentified). There are also 8 Foreign National burials here. The adjoining St. Sever Cemetery contains 3,082 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There is also 1 French burial and 1 non war service burial here.

The extension was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

The telegram sent from 11 Stationary Hospital, to Infantry Records, Preston, informing them of his death, states GSW R arm, R chest, R hip.

His name appeared in the list of K.L.R. Died of Wounds published in the Liverpool Daily Post on 10th May 1917.

James earned his three medals, which were sent to his only brother John. The pension card in the name of his brother Mr. John Davies, 4 Evans Street, off Blenheim Street, Scotland Road, Liverpool, appears to show that a pension was initially refused, then later awarded.

His Army effects went to his siblings John, Mary Roberts, Elizabeth Davies, Sarah A. Roberts, Ellen Carridge, and nephews Norman, Eric, and Isaac Longrigg. The War Gratuity of £12 was shared between his siblings as well as nephew Isaac.

In 1920 his brother John, 45, provided information on James’ living relatives: his four sisters were all married; Mary, Elizabeth, and Sarah were living in Liverpool, and Ellen was “somewhere in Staffordshire”.

Sadly, James has not been identified on any memorials.

Grateful thanks are extended to David Sharpe for permission to use the fantastic photograph of James that is now on the website. James' sister Sarah was David's great grandmother.

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

Pte 48367 Frederick Gallagher

From: Liverpool
D.O.W. (109 Years this day)
Saturday 14th April 1917.
19 years old

Frederick was born in Bootle on 26th June 1897 the son of George Gallagher and Margaret Ellen (née Donnelly), both born in Liverpool, and had married on the 24th (illegible) August 1890 at All Saint’s Church of England (probably Anfield). George was a 22 year old property master(stage) of 6c 8h, Bean Street, father William a porter, whilst Margaret was aged 18 of 5c 3h, Bean Street, father James a deceased blind maker. They had nine children, two of whom died young.

Frederick was baptised also at All Saints Church on 11th July 1897 where his father's occupation is a Music Hall Manager and the family address is given as 83 Brisbane Street, Kirkdale. He had 4 brothers; James, George, William and Edward and two sisters Jane Elizabeth and Margaret Ellen.

In 1901 the family is living at 83 Brisbane Street, Kirkdale. His father is aged 33, a stage manager, mother Margaret is 29, children James 9, George 6, Frederick 3 and William 1.

They are still at 83 Brisbane Street in 1911. His father is 43, a music hall stage manager, his mother is 39, James, 19, is a theatre clerk, George, 16, is a grocer’s shop boy, Frederick 13, William 11, Jane 8, and Edward 6, are at school, Margaret is 2.

His father died, aged 43, on the 13th January 1912 and was buried on the 17th January at Kirkdale Cemetery.

He enlisted in Liverpool joining the 18th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment. The amount of the War Gratuity suggests that he had not been at the front long before he was killed. He was serving with the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 48367 when he was killed in action on 14th April 1917 aged 19. (SDGW shows Killed in Action, whereas his family notice and the pension card shows Died of Wounds. Soldiers’ Effects records no cause of death).

He now rests at Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery in France.

The site of the cemetery was chosen in May 1916. It was used from June 1916 to May 1917 by the 20th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations, in February 1917 by the 1/1st South Midland, and from April to June 1917 by the 32nd. The whole of plots VII, VIII, IX and X were filled in April and May 1917, the months of the Battles of Arras. From June 1917, the cemetery was practically unused until the fighting of May and June 1918, when field ambulances buried in it. After the Armistice the cemetery was increased by graves brought in from other smaller cemeteries.

The cemetery now contains 1,266 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There are also 29 German and two French war graves.

The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.

Frederick earned his two medals.

He was reported as died of wounds in the Liverpool Weekly Courier on Saturday 05 May 1917:

Private F. Gallagher, who died of wounds on April 14th. He lived with his mother at 83 Brisbane Street, Kirkdale, was only 19. Before joining up he was employed at the L. and N. W. goods station, Canada Dock,

He was reported as died of wounds in the press on 17th May 1917.

Soldiers Effects, Army Pay of £2 17s 2d to his mother Margaret E. and brothers James and William, Pension to Margaret Ellen.

His family paid tribute to Fred in the Liverpool Weekly Courier on Saturday 16 April 1921:

Also in the Liverpool Evening Express on Saturday 14 April 1923:

GALLAGHER - In loving memory of Pte FREDERICK GALLAGHER (our Fred), who died of wounds received in action in France April 14, 1917. (Not forgotten by his mother, brothers, and sisters, 83, Brisbane-street, Kirkdale.)

Not dead to those who love him,

Not lost, just gone before;

Within our hearts

His memory shall live forever more.

The pension card in the name of his mother Margaret, at 83 Brisbane Street, Kirkdale, showing 3rd Liverpools (perhaps meaning 3rd Liverpool Pals Battalion), does not specify the amount of the pension awarded. Margaret received the War Gratuity of £3.

In 1939 his mother, 67, was living at 8 Freeland Street, with son Edward, 35, she lived through the Second World War and died in 1966, aged 94.

Frederick is commemorated on the War Memorial at St Mary's and St Athanasius Church in Kirkdale.

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

2nd Lieut Oswald Sydney Wilson Mahon

From: Wallasey, Cheshire
D.O.W (109 Years this day)
Saturday 14th April 1917.
19 years old

Oswald Sydney Wilson Mahon was born in the fourth quarter of 1897 the youngest son of James Joseph Mahon and his wife Mary (nee Thomson). His parents married at Emmanuel Church, Everton in 1882.

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 23 St Domingo Grove, Everton. His father, James J. is aged 40, born in Dublin and is shown to be employed as a ship and insurance brokers agent. He is living with his wife Mary, who is aged 37 and was born in Scotland. They reside with seven their children recorded as follows; Eveline T aged 17, Lilian G aged 14, James H aged 12, Norman E aged 8, Irene A aged 5, Oswald S W aged 3, and Muriel D aged 1. There is one servant registered in the house Maggie Barnett aged 27 born in Llangefni, Anglesey.

The 1911 Census shows the family have moved across the River Mersey and are residing at "Brentwood" 85 Seabank Road, Liscard, Cheshire. Oswald is 13 years of age and lives with his parents and four sisters, all of whom are single; Eveline Thompson aged 27, Lilian Grace aged 24, Irene Alwyn aged 15, and Muriel Dorothy aged 11. The family again employ a servant; Hannah Thomas a 16 year old from Denbigh.

Oswald was educated at Liverpool College, and Councilor Wrigley’s Liscard High School; he was also a member of the 1st New Brighton Territorial Cadet Corps part of the Cheshire Regiment. He served in that unit for over four years, and during his last year, was appointed Lieutenant and Adjutant. Oswald was working with a Cotton Broker in Liverpool prior to enlistment.

It is not certain when he joined the Army, but he was commissioned on his 18th Birthday, as a Second Lieutenant in the 5th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment. Gazetted on 22nd October 1915. At some stage after this he crossed to France and was posted on attachment to the 17th Battalion. This must have been very shortly before the action in which he received his fatal wounds, as he doesn’t appear in the 17th Battalion’s War Diary before this date. The action took place on the 09th April 1917, during the first day of the Battle of Arras. He was attached to ‘B’ Company, which was dug in West of Boiry Copse.

Oswald died of his wounds, five days later on 14th April 1917, aged 19, and now rests at Mont Huon Cemetery in France.

During the First World War, Le Treport was an important hospital centre and by July 1916, the town contained three general hospitals (the 3rd, 16th and 2nd Canadian), No.3 Convalescent Depot and Lady Murray's B.R.C.S. Hospital. The 7th Canadian, 47th and 16th USA General Hospitals arrived later, but all of the hospitals had closed by March 1919. As the original military cemetery at Le Treport filled, it became necessary to use the new site at Mont Huon. There are now 2,128 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery and seven from the Second World War. The cemetery also contains more than 200 German war graves. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

CWGC shows him as being attached to the 17th Battalion from the 5th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment.

An obituary was placed in the Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury, 21st April 1917:

April 14, died from gunshot wounds received in action, aged 19 years, Second Lieutenant Oswald S. W. Mahon, King’s (Liverpool Regiment), the dearly beloved youngest son of James J. and Mary Mahon, Brentwood, Seabank Road, Wallasey.

The Wallasey News reported his death as follows:

Liscard Lieutenant Dies From Wounds

We regret to record the death of 2nd Lieut. Oswald (Ossie) S.W. Mahon, of the King’s Liverpool Regt., which occurred on April 14, at the General Military Hospital, Le Pleport, France, from gunshot wounds received in action in the big push on Easter Monday. He was only 19 years age, and received his commission on his eighteenth birthday. The brave young soldier, who was educated at the Liverpool College, completed his studies at Councillor Wrigley’s Liscard High School, was held in great esteem as one of the most popular boys of the 1st New Brighton Territorial Cadet Corps. He was over four years in the Corps, and previous to joining the Forces had been Lieutenant and Adjutant for twelve months. He was the youngest son of Mr and Mrs James J. Mahon. “Brentwood,” Seabank Road, Wallasey.

His elder brother, Captain Mahon, was killed in action last September. (Wallasey News).

Soldiers Effects to father James Joseph, no Pension record found

Oswald is commemorated on the Cotton Association Memorial now situated within Walker House, Exchange Flags, Liverpool.

The brother referred to in the Wallasey News article was Ossie's brother James H. He was a Captain in the 8th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. He was killed on 16th September 1916 aged 28, and he rests at La Neuville British Cemetery, Corbie.

Both brothers are commemorated on Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, at Panel 23

Their father died in the March quarter of 1929 aged 68.

Their mother died in the June quarter of 1950 aged 87.

The photograph of Oswald was taken when he was in the Cheshire Regiment (New Brighton Cadet Corps).

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

Pte 18210 Samuel Welbourne

From: Tamworth
D.O.W (109 Years this day)
Saturday 14th April 1917.
27 years old

Samuel was born in Tamworth, Warwickshire on 02nd February 1889, the son of Joseph Welbourne and his wife Charlotte (née Rodgers or Rogers). The surname is recorded with various spellings, Wellborn, Welburn, Welbourn, etc. Joseph, born in Lincolnshire (or Leicestershire), and Charlotte, from Sheffield, married in Yorkshire in 1878. Both were widowed with children. They had Emily (died at age 3), Ethel, Joseph, and Edith (died in infancy), born in Yorkshire, and by 1887 had moved to Tamworth (then in Staffordshire), where George (William), Samuel, Alfred, and Wilfred (who died in infancy) were born.

In 1891 the family is living at 1 Wheeler’s Yard, Tamworth. His father is 42, a stoker in a paper mill, his mother is 38. Half siblings Polly, 19, and John, 16, also work in the paper mill. Ethel is 11, Joseph 8, William is 4, and Samuel is 2.

His father appears to have died in 1894, although the age in the death record is inconsistent with the census age. Samuel would have been 5 years old.

The 1901 census finds the family at 1 House, 3 Court, Lickfield Street, Tamworth. His widowed mother Charlotte, 50, is a sorter in a paper mill, half brother John Husband, 25, born Cheetham, Lancashire, and brother William, 14, are bricklayer’s labourers, Ethel is 20, a paper sorter at a mill, Samuel is 12 and Alfred 9.

His mother died in early 1903, aged 51, when Samuel was 13 or 14.

By 1911 Sam Welbourn is listed as a boarder with Samuel Markhew, his wife and four children, at 22 Green Lane, Birchmoor, Tamworth. Sam is 22, working as a miner (filler). He was employed at Pooley Hall Colliery, Polesworth, before he enlisted. His younger brother Alfred was also a miner, and in 1911 was living with married half sister Mary Percival and family in Coventry. Alfred was apparently in a reserved occupation, being a miner, as a local newspaper in June 1917 reports that he was fined for not obscuring his acetylene lamp, (giving his address as Springfield Towers, still living with Mary). His half brother John Husband is also a miner, living in the same street as Samuel, Green Lane, Birchmoor.

He enlisted in Tamworth on 03rd September 1914, his occupation described as a miner. He was originally posted to the in 12th Bn KLR, age 24 years and seven months, giving his next of kin as his sister, Mrs. Ethel Horton, living in Birchmoor, near Farnworth, Lancashire. He disembarked in France on 24th July 1915. Samuel was wounded in action on 24th August 1916 and sent to England for treatment on the 27th, and left for France again on 1st January 1917. He was posted to 19th Battalion on 05th January 1917.

Samuel was wounded in action on 09th April 1917, admitted to hospital on the 10th with wounds to his left forearm and left leg, and died of his wounds at the 1st Canadian General Hospital, Etaples on 14th April.

His CWGC headstone shows his service number with a prefix 12/18210.

During the First World War, the area around Etaples was the scene of immense concentrations of Commonwealth reinforcement camps and hospitals. It was remote from attack, except from aircraft, and accessible by railway from both the northern or the southern battlefields. In 1917, 100,000 troops were camped among the sand dunes and the hospitals, which included eleven general, one stationary, four Red Cross hospitals and a convalescent depot, could deal with 22,000 wounded or sick. In September 1919, ten months after the Armistice, three hospitals and the Q.M.A.A.C. convalescent depot remained.

The cemetery contains 10,771 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, the earliest dating from May 1915. 35 of these burials are unidentified. It is the largest CWGC cemetery in France, and was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Samuel's death was reported in the Tamworth Herald on 28th May 1917:

DIED OF WOUNDS

PRIVATE S. WELLBURN

Mrs S. Marklew, 174 Green Lane, Birchmoor, has received information that 18210 Private Samuel Wellburn, King's Liverpool Regt., who had resided at her house for about 16 years, died in a Canadian Hospital in France of wounds received in action on April 14. He was 28 years of age, and had been previously wounded, having been under treatment at Huddersfield Hospital. After recovering, he returned to France last November. Prior to joining the army, Private Wellburn was employed at Pooley Hall Colliery.

SDGW says his residence was Garth, Nr. Neath, South Wales, where his sister Ethel Horton was living.

Samuel’s siblings and half siblings appear to have maintained ties. His Army effects of £9-16s-2d were shared between his brothers Charles and Alfred, sister Ethel Horton, half sister Mrs. Mary Percival, and half brother John R. Husband; brother George requested his share go to sister Ethel.

The War Gratuity of £12 went to his brothers Joseph, George, and Alfred, sister Ethel Horton, half brothers (illegible) Husband and John R. Husband.

In August 1917, his personal effects were sent to a Mrs. Mary Percival, Springfield Towers, Shustoke, Coleshill, Birmingham. These were listed as: 2 discs, 1 Letter, Photos & cards, 1 Pipe, 1 Bible, 1 Pouch, 1 Belt, 1 Watch, 1 Watch key, 1 Wallet, 1 Bag.

His memorial Plaque and Scroll were sent to Mrs. E. Horton, 174 Green Lane, Birchmoor.

Joseph Welbourne, of 40 Rectory Cottage, Arley, Coventry, signed for his medals.

Samuel Marklew, calling himself Samuel’s foster father, at 174 Green Lane, Birchmoor, Tamworth, wrote to Infantry Records on 26th June 1920 (although he did not list his “foster father” as his next of kin on enlistment and in 1911 was a “boarder” in the Marklew household): “Deceased was left an orphan at an early age and was adopted by about 19 years ago and was regarded by all as a member of the family. Such relatives as he may have, have drifted to other parts of the country and their whereabouts are unknown. The Mrs. E. Horton given in the address may be deceased’s youngest sister, of whom we have no knowledge, except that about five years ago she was reported to be in Wales.” (In 1911 Ethel, 30, with husband and four children, as well as her brother Joseph Welbourne, 28, was living in John Street, Resolven, near Neath, South Wales.)

On Army Form W.5080, listing living relatives, Samuel Marklew lists brother Alfred, whereabouts not known, no half brothers, one sister and one half sister, whereabouts not known, and no knowledge of nieces, nephews, uncles or aunts.

Samuel is commemorated on the Pooley Hall Colliery Memorial, Polesworth, North Warwickshire.

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

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