Liverpool Pals Who Died on This Day

Charles Leslie was born on 07th October 1891 in Liverpool and was baptised 24th January 1892 in the Wesleyan chapel, Garston. He was the son of Joseph Bibby and his wife Ruth (nee Pye) who were married on 01st March 1881 in Quernmore Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Lancaster. His father was the owner of J. Bibby & Son Ltd – Seed Crushing and Oil Cake Mills in Liverpool. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 41 Cambridge Road, Southport.

Parents Joseph and Ruth with children Alice K, John P, James E, Joseph M, Charles L, Mary B, Henry P and Geoffrey B. 
 Geoffrey Barnet Bibby sadly died in 1901

The 1911 Census shows the family have moved and are now living at The Priory, Bidston , Wirral.

Parents Joseph and Ruth with children Alice Kirby, John Pye, Joseph Morton, Charles Leslie and four live in servants.

Charles Leslie Bibby’s service records show that he enlisted on 01st September 1914 at St George's Hall in Liverpool, joining the 17th Battalion as Private 15784. He was 22 years and 330 days old and is described as being 5’ 5½” tall, weighing 134lbs with a 35½” chest, with brown eyes and dark hair.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th 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. 

He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

Charles Leslie died of wounds on 17th August 1916, aged 24, at 12 Stationary Hospital in France.

He now rests at Abbeville Communal Cemetery.

For much of the First World War, Abbeville was headquarters of the Commonwealth lines of communication and No.3 BRCS, No.5 and No.2 Stationary Hospitals were stationed there variously from October 1914 to January 1920. The communal cemetery was used for burials from November 1914 to September 1916, the earliest being made among the French military graves. The extension was begun in September 1916. During the early part of the Second World War, Abbeville was a major operational aerodrome, but the town fell to the Germans at the end of May 1940. On 4 June, an attempt was made by the 51st Division, in conjunction with the French, to break the German bridgehead, but without success. Towards the end of 1943, eight large ski shaped buildings appeared near Abbeville. These proved to be storage units for flying bomb components an they were heavily bombed by Commonwealth air forces. Abbeville was retaken on 4 September 1944 by Canadian and Polish units. Abbeville Communal Cemetery contains 774 Commonwealth burials of First World War and 30 from the Second. 

His service record includes telegrams showing that he was dangerously ill and another asking for a warrant to be sent to his sister Beatrice Bibby at the Waldorf Hotel, Aldwych who will at once proceed to Abbeyville to visit her brother and will pay her own expenses. It is not recorded whether Beatrice managed to visit Charles before he died.

Probate for Charles Leslie shows that he left his brothers John Pye, James Edward and Joseph Morton the sum of £19,989.10.2d. (£1,750,850.50 at 2020 )

His death was reported on 19th August 1916 in the Liverpool Daily Post

Mr and Mrs Joseph Bibby, The Priory, Bidston, have been advised of the death of their son, C. Leslie Bibby, a private in the "Pals," who has died of wounds at Abbeville, France. He had been previously wounded, and had rejoined his regiment before the recent push - in which he was wounded - commenced. He and his younger brother, now lying wounded at Southmead, Bristol, were amongst the first to join the "Pals," and along with an elder brother, Mr. J Morton Bibby, a director of J. Bibby and Sons, Ltd., also wounded - they all went out to France together as machine-gunners in November last year.

His brother Joseph Morton Bibby was killed in action on 03rd May 1917 aged 28. His body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as his name is recorded on the Arras Memorial in France. Joseph had originally enlisted as a Liverpool Pal. (see his record on this site)

Charles Leslie Bibby is commemorated on the following memorials :

Southport Civic Memorial

Birkenhead Civic Memorial

Wallasey Golf Club

J.Bibby and Sons Ltd

Bidston Civic Memorial

Memorials of Old Birkonians 1914-1918

Both Charles Leslie and Joseph Morton Bibby are mentioned on the grave of their sister Alice Kirby Bibby in Holy Cross Churchyard, Woodchurch, Wirral.

Their Father Joseph Bibby of The Priory, Bidston died 11/3/1940 and left his sons John Pye, James Edward and Henry Percy (Seed Crushers) the sum of £289,474, worth £16,316,478.15 in 2020.

Their Mother Ruth Bibby of Linkside, Bidston Road, Birkenhead, died 15/12/1946 and left her sons John Pye, James Edward, Henry Percy and daughter Mary Beatrice Sharples (wife of Frank Deeks Sharples) the sum of £106,759.15.5d. worth £4,500,656,41 in 2020.

The younger brother mentioned as being wounded and in Southmead, Bristol was Henry Percy Bibby who was a Private - 15813 in the 17th Kings Liverpool. He had enlisted 1/9/1914 in Liverpool but was honourably discharged on 6/4/1917 with disabilities and was awarded the Silver War Badge. He also received the Victory and British War Medal in 1919. He married Mintose (Minnie) M Chadwick 17/12/1929 at Higher Bridge Street Methodist Chapel, Bolton and they went on to have three children. Henry Percy Bibby died at Springfield, Church Lane, Neston on 1/12/1973 and left over £2,500.000.

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

Samuel Arthur Dicks was born in Liverpool in early November 1891. His parents Benjamin Dicks, born in Caio, Carmarthenshire, and Hannah Roberts, born in Bryncoes, Caernarvon, married in West Derby Register Office in 1890.  In 1891 they live at 23 Taylor Street, Liverpool, where Benjamin is a builder’s merchant. Samuel was born later that year. In 1893 a daughter, Margaret Ann, was born, but lived only 9 months. His father died, aged 44, in 1893, just before Samuel turned 2. 

His father originally married Margaret Jones in 1878 in Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, and they were living at 17 Vanguard Street, Everton on the 1881 Census.   

His father died, aged 44, on the 30th October 1893. 

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on Friday 03 November 1893: 

DlCKS—October 30. at 23, Taylor street, Benjamin Dicks, builder merchant. The funeral will take place at Anfield Cemetery, 2.20 p.m., to-day (Friday). 

Probate 1893:- 

DICKS Benjamin of Taylor Street Liverpool builder’s merchant died 30 October 1893 Probate Liverpool 29 December to Hannah Dicks widow. Effects £767 2s 6d. 

In 1901, widowed Hannah aged 33 and Samuel, 9, are living with her parents, Robert, a blacksmith and farmer, and Margaret Roberts, in Meyllteryn, Caenarvon.  Also in the home are their son William, grandson Samuel Roberts, and a servant/smith, Evan Jones.

In 1911 Samuel is 19, a shop assistant at Allanson’s, resident on their premises at 92-96 Grange Road, Birkenhead.  (Allanson’s was a well-known drapery store which had been in business since the 1860s). He served an apprenticeship with Frisby, Dyke & Co. (draper’s) 58-66 Lord Street, Liverpool, which expired in 1914.

Samuel enlisted in Liverpool on 2^nd September 1914, as Private 16517, 18^th (Pals) Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment, giving his age as 22 years and 300 days, and his occupation as a draper.  He was described as being 5’5” tall, weighing 113 lbs, with a 34" chest, blue eyes and fair hair. He stated his religion as Methodist and gives his residence as Dolgam, Caenarvon (the address of his mother, his next of kin). 

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th 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. He arrived in France with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 07^th November 1915.

Whilst the battalion is in the lines near Maricourt, at the Somme, on 24^th May 1916 Samuel was confined to barracks for 10 days, deprived of 10 days’ pay and forfeited leave for ‘neglecting to obey an order’.  In mid-June the battalion is released for training at Fourdrinoy and Vaux sur Somme for the ‘Big Push’. Samuel survived the first week of battle, but on 08^th July 1916, he was wounded in action, a gun shot wound to the fingers, and was admitted to 13^th casualty clearing post . He rejoined his unit from the 24^th Infantry Brigade Depot in Etaples on 14^th July and on 22nd July was posted to the 13^th Bn K.L.R. who were then assisting in the attack on Delville Wood.  After some time in billets at Ville-Sur-Ancre, the battalion bivouacked at Sandpits on 11^th August, and arrived in the front line trenches at 1.00 a.m. on 15^th August.  On 16^th August, zero hour 5.30 p.m., the battalion attacks the German front line south of Guillemont.  The battalion War Diary reports ‘Casualties heavy’. 

Private Samuel Dicks was one of those lost that night. He was 24 years of age.

His body was not recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, in France.  

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 Daily Post on 30th August 1916:

The death is also announced of Samuel Dicks of Dolgam, Pontllyfni

Also in the Merioneth News and Herald on Friday 01 September 1916:  

Pontllyfni Soldier Killed. 

News was received in Pontllyfni on Thursday that Private Samuel A. Dicks, son Mrs Dicks Roberts, Ddolgam, Pontllyfni, Ciynnog, and of the late Mr Benjamin Dicks, Taylor Street, Liverpool, had been killed in France. Private Dicks, who belonged to the Liverpool “Pals,“ was the first soldier from Pontllyfni to fall in the war. 

His death was also reported, belatedly, in the Caernarvon and Denbigh Herald on 02nd February 1917:

Clynnog

KILLED IN FRANCE - News has been received that Private Samuel A. Dicks, only son of Mrs Dicks Roberts, Ddolgam, Pontllyfni, has been killed in action in France. Private Dicks was born in Liverpool 25 years ago, and then his father, the late Mr Benjamin Dicks carried on a successful business as builders merchant. He received his elementary education at the Mellteryn school, and from that school he obtained an entrance scholarship to the Botwnnog County School. Subsequently he left for Birkenhead where he was apprenticed to a well-known business firm. In September 1914 he joined the 18th Batt. King's Pals in Liverpool, and went to France in October 1915. He took part in the battle of Mametz Wood, where he was wounded. He was admitted into hospital but soon recovered and was again fit for active service. On the 16th of August 1916, he was shot in the head by a sniper and was killed almost instantly. Private Dicks was held in high esteem by all his soldier pals. Heartfelt sympathy is felt for the bereaved family. 

Samuel earned his three medals.  

Soldiers Effects and Pension to his mother Hannah Dicks Roberts

His mother, then signing herself Hannah Dicks Roberts, and living at Dolgam, Pontllyfni, LLanwnda, Carnarvon, was notified on 08^th February 1917 that there were no personal effects to be sent.  

His only living relatives were his mother, two uncles in Pwllheli, and a half sister Doris.

His mother, Hannah, died, aged 86, in 1952 still in Caernarvonshire. 

Samuel is commemorated in Sarn Meyllteryn Memorial Hall, Gwynedd.

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

Arthur Hargreaves was born in 1897 at Burnley and was the son of William and Mary Hargreaves (nee Foulds). His parents had married in 1885. His mother Mary died in March 1907 aged 44 and his father William remarried in 1911. His father married Winifred Maud Reddall at Immanuel Baptist Chapel (Bright St), Preston. 

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 123 Waterbarn Street, Burnley. Arthur is 3 years of age and is living with his parents and two siblings. His father is aged 40, born 1861 in Brierfield, Lancashire and employed as a cotton weaver, whilst his mother is also a cotton weaver born in 1862 in Burnley. His siblings, both born in Burnley are recorded as;Ethel born in 1890 and Harry born in 1893. 

The 1911 Census shows the family have moved and are living at 40 Melville Street, Burnley. His father is a widower aged 50 and is still employed as a cotton weaver. He is living with his four children, Ethel now aged 21, occupation housekeeper, Harry aged 18, a cotton weaver, Arthur aged 13, a cotton reacher and Dennis aged 6, born 1905.

He enlisted in Burnley and was formerly serving as 27371, East Lancashire Regiment but following transfer he was serving in the 20th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 49203 when he died of wounds on the 17th August, 1917 aged 20 during the Third Battle of Ypres.

He now rests at Etaples Military Cemetery, France.

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.

Details of a Memorial service in honour of Arthur and two other members of the congreataion who also fell was reported as follows;

IMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH

Last Sunday morning there was a memorial service for George Astin, Robert Thistlethwaite and Arthur Hargreaves, all of whom had fallen in battle. The pastor, Rev. H. P. Hannah, gave a message of comfort and the whole service was very impressive. There was a large congregation including a considerable number of mourners.  

Soldiers Effects to his father William and pension to his mother Winifred Maude Hargreaves.

Burnley Express 22nd March 1919

BURNLEY'S FALLEN FIGHTERS

HARGREAVES A., 49203 20th K. Liverpool's, wounds, Aug; 17, 1917, 40 Melville Street.

Arthur is also commemorated on the memorial at Pickup Croft Sunday School, Burnley.

His stepmother died in March 1976.

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

Francis Douglas Wilkinson was born 31^st July 1896 in Liverpool and was baptised on 27^th September 1896 at St John the Evangelist, Church of England, Everton. He was the son of Joseph Henry Wilkinson and his wife Annie Isabella (nee Pritchard), of 24, Norwood Grove, Liverpool. His parents married at St Margaret's Church, Walton in 1892. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 40, Grey Rock Street, Liverpool. His  father, Joseph Henry, is aged 33, born in Liverpool and employed as a coach painter, his mother, Annie is aged 38, born in Liverpool, and is an assistant school mistress. At the time of the Census they have two children, Harold William is aged 7 and Francis Douglas aged 4. They also have a domestic servant Sarah Cattrall aged 28, born 1873 in Liverpool and a boarder named Elizabeth Hughes aged 56, born 1845 in Mold, Flintshire and she is a lady missionary.  

The 1911 Census shows the family still living at 40 Grey Rock Street, West Derby Road, Liverpool. His father Joseph Henry is now aged 43, born 1868 and is a coach and motor painter, his mother, Annie is aged 48, born 1863 and is an elementary school teacher. They have been married for 18 years and have had five children off which one has died. Those listed at home are; Harold William aged 17, born 1894 occupation apprentice pawnbroker, Francis Douglas aged 14, is an office boy in a loan office, George aged 8, born 1903 and Doris aged 6, born 1905. All the children were born in Liverpool.

Francis enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 18th Battalion (No 4 Company), The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 33155 when he died on the 17th August, 1917 aged 21 during the Third Battle of Ypres.

18th Battalion Diary written by Major Clayton for 12-20th Aug 1917 at Mont Vidaigne records "33155 Pte F. D. Wilkinson, accidentally killed (self inflicted W).

He now lies in Westouter Churchyard and Extension, Belgium, where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“FATHER IN THY GRACIOUS KEEPING LEAVE WE NOW OUR LOVED ONE SLEEPING”

The Churchyard and Extension was used by field ambulances and fighting units at intervals from November 1914 to September 1918. It contains 98 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and three German graves.

Liverpool Daily Post 27th Aug 1917

WILKINSON - August 17, killed on active service, Private Frank Wilkinson (K.L.R.), second dearly beloved son of Harry and Annie Wilkinson, 40 Grey Rock Street, Liverpool.

Pension Index Card records: Killed negligently (Self-inflicted)

Soldiers Effects and Pension to his mother Annie.

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

Baptismal records show Francis Douglas was born in 1896 and the Census records hold the year 1897.

James Bernes, whose birth was recorded as James Rae Bearnes, was born on 13th April 1889 in Auchnacloy, County Tyrone, the son of James Bernes and Margaret (née Stringer) who were married, as Barnes, on 22nd August 1881 in the Parish Church of Tynan, County Tyrone. James was a 34 year old shoemaker of Auchnacloy, father Robert a farmer, whilst Margaret was aged 21 of Breaghey, father John a farmer. They had four children: John Stewart Bearnes born 28th June 1883, James born 11th April 1885 but sadly died 18 months later, James Rea born 1889 and Elizabeth.

There are various spellings of the family name, Bernes, Bearnes, Berns among them.

Alexander Vyvyan is also commemorated at home on the following Memorials:

St Patrick's Church, Crooklands

Stained Glass window at St Patrick's Church, Crooklands

Kendal Golf Club

Birkenhead Park FC

Malvern College.

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