L/Cpl 23029 Thomas Haynes

• Age: 29
• From: Widnes, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

At the time of the 1891 census the couple were living at 48 Milton Road in Widnes. Richard was 28 years old and working as a bricklayer, Mary was 26. They had two children Thomas aged 4 and James aged 2. Also living in the household were Richard’s widowed father Thomas and his unmarried sister Sarah aged 25, and Mary’s unmarried brother Thomas aged 21.

His father, Richard died in 1900 aged just 38 and was buried on the 16th November at St Lukes. 

Thomas enlisted on the 09th November 1914 in Liverpool joining the 20th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 23029. He gave his age as 27 years and 8 months and his occupation as a bricklayer. He was described as being five feet five inches tall, weighed 137lbs, 38" chest with a sallow complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair with a scar on his left temple. He stated his religion as Wesleyan and next of kin his wife Ellen, 6 Park Avenue, Widnes.   

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th 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. 

7.11.15: Embarked for France with his battalion.

24.6.16: treated for shellshock.

01.7.16: Appointed paid Lance Corporal and wounded in action.

04.7.16: Discharged to duty from F.A. 

Thomas was killed in action on the 30th July 1916, aged 29, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive. 

The 20^th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20^th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 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. 

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.   

Tribute was paid to Thomas in the Runcorn Weekly News of 25th August 1916, under the headline:

Death of a Well Known Footballer:

Lance-Corporal Thomas Haynes late of 78 Foster Street was killed in action in France on 30th July and on Wednesday of last week official notice was received. He was in the machine gun section of the 4th King’s (Liverpool) Regiment (“Pals”)

Lance-Corpl. Haynes was 29 years of age and his wife and three year old son now reside with his parents in law at Park Avenue. He was the elder son of the late Mr Richard Haynes and his mother, now Mrs Sprigg, lives in Milton Road. As an old boy of Simm’s Cross School and a keen sporting enthusiast, he was well known as the secretary, since its formation, of Victoria Road Wesley Guild Football Club, and when the club became the Widnes County Football Club he continued in that office until the outbreak of war. He was very popular on the field as a half back, and had a nice collection of medals and other trophies. A bricklayer by trade, he served his time with Alderman Wood and was in his employment practically during the whole of his working life. He was a member of the Bricklayers Union and took an active part in union work. As a boy he attended Lacey Street Sunday School and was a worshipper in Victoria Road Chapel. He was a member of the Bible class and also of the Society class. His Society class leader wrote the following appreciation “Tom was converted when the Rev.Grange Bennett worked a mission in Victoria Road about ten years ago. He was always prepared to play his part in anything he undertook and was always prepared to do that which was right and straight. He took and active interest in Sunday School work for seven years, and we would be glad if there were more of the same stamp. He was a robust young fellow always used to outdoor life, and when he stood up in a class meeting he always thanked God for good health, for work to do, and for strength to do it. And he would always remind us of the promise, "Lo, I am with you always”

He enlisted in November 1914 and went to France last October. On June 24th he was for three days suffering from shell shock, and after returning to the trenches was promoted. In his last letter to his wife, received a month ago, he said he was well. The first fears of his death were aroused by letters from his comrades.

His brother, Private James Haynes, of the Sherwood Foresters, was wounded in the shoulder and arm by shrapnel while in France last year. He is still convalescent in the North of England. A brother in law and an uncle are with the forces.

Ellen placed a notice in the Runcorn Weekly News on 18th August 1916:

"On July 30th, in France, at the age of 28 [sic] years, Lance-Corporal Thomas Haynes, 20th King's (Liverpool) Regiment, late of 78, Foster Street, Widnes.
   "Lo, I am with you always."
- Sadly missed by his Widow, Son, and Mother."

His 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.”

Thomas is also remembered on the War Memorial in Victoria Park, Widnes.

Ellen, by then living at 6 Park Avenue, received Thomas' Army pay and a War Gratuity of £7-10s, and was awarded a pension of 15/- a week for herself and child from February 1917.  This was increased, with an Alternative Pension in December 1918, to £1-8s-1d a week.

In 1919 Ellen and son Richard were still at 6 Park Avenue. His mother lived at 48 Milton Road with James, 30, and married sisters Gladys Royal, 27, and Ethel Jump, 25.  Elizabeth, 23, lived in Manchester, and Sarah, 20, in Frodsham, Cheshire.

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