Pte 17836 Reginald Charles Heyes

• Age: 22
• From: Anfield, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 8th November 1916
• Commemorated at: Pommier Cc
  Panel Ref: 19

17836 Private Reginald Charles HEYES, 19^th Battalion (Lpool Pals) KLR.

Reginald Charles was born in Anfield, Liverpool around 24th July 1894, his enlistment papers state his age as 20 years and 60 days. He was the second of five children born to Robert William Heyes and his wife, Annie, (née Fisher) who were married in St George’s Church, Everton, on the 27th July 1887. Robert was a 24 year old barman of 76 Louisa Street, his father, James, was a commercial traveller, whilst Annie was aged 20, of the same address, her father, Edward, was a joiner. His father was born in Bristol in 1864, while his mother was born in Manchester in 1865. He was baptised in St Mary’s Church, Walton on the Hill, on 25th July 1895. 

1881 Census :  27 Fielding Street, Liverpool.   James Heyes,  is aged 54 years, and is a timber agent, born in Ditton. His wife, Elizabeth, is aged 49 years, born in Prescot. Florence Mary is aged 25 years, and is a dressmaker, born in Bristol. Elizabeth Muriel, is 19 years, and is a dressmaker, born in Bristol. Robert William, is aged 17 years, and is a fruit warehouseman, born in Bristol. Charles James, is aged14 years, and is at school, born in Bristol.  Josephine Margaret,  is aged12 years, born in Bristol. Frances Jane, is aged 11 years, born in Bristol.

1891 Census : 4 Gilman Street, Everton.(off Walton Breck Road)  Robert William Heyes, 27 years, public house keeper, born in Bristol 

Annie( nee Fisher ),  is aged 25 years, born in Manchester. Robert William, aged 2 years, born in Liverpool.

1901 Census : 13 Lillian Road – off Walton Breck Road. Robert Heyes,  is aged 36 years, cotton sampleman.  His wife Annie, is aged 32 years. Robert William, is aged 12 years. Reginald, is aged 6 years born in Liverpool. Beatrice, is aged 4 years, born in Liverpool. Irene, is aged 2 years, born in Liverpool. John Fisher, aged 23 years, brother in law of Robert, hotel waiter, born in Bristol.

1911 Census : 11 Bingley Road (off Priory Road).  Robert Heyes, is aged 46 years, cotton warehouseman. Annie, is aged 43 years. TYhey advise that they have been married for 23 years; and have had 6 children, one of whom died. Robert, is aged 22 years, cotton sampleman. Reginald, ia aged 16 years, office boy (fruit warehouse). Beatrice, is aged 14 years. Irene, is aged 12 years. Harold, is aged 7 years, born in Liverpool.

Reginald Charles Heyes  :23.09.1914 – enlisted in Liverpool as Private 17836, 19^th Battalion (ie 3^rd Pals), King’s Liverpool Regiment. Gave age as 20 years, 60 days; occupation as clerk; 5’7 ¼”; weight 145 lbs; fresh complexion; brown eyes; brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England.

Initially the 19th Battalion trained in Sefton Park but in November 1914 they moved to Knowsley Park where Lord Derby had built a camp within his grounds. On 30th April 1915, all four Liverpool Pals Battalions moved to Belton Park Camp, Grantham, Lincolnshire, where they continued their training as members of 89th Brigade, 30th Division. It must be remembered that for many of the Pals this would be the first time they had been away from home and they were still relatively raw recruits, so it is no surprise that many of them were subject of disciplinary proceedings, usually for being absent without leave.

In Reginald’s case, his name appears in the defaulter’s records for having, on 21st August 1915, “been inattentive on firing point” – he was confined to barracks for 3 days.

In the first week of September 1915, the Pals moved down to Larkhill Camp, Salisbury Plain before, on the 6th November 1915, leaving for France. 

On the 10th December 1915 he returned to duty after receiving treatment for scabies at 96 F.A.

On 18th December 1915 the 19th Battalion is split into two halves with one half being sent to La Haie and the other to nearby Fonquevillers on the Somme Front.

Three weeks later they moved to Carnoy, just south of the Somme line, where they stayed until 16th March 1916 to spend the next month behind the British lines. He reported sick (a chill) to 98 F.A. on the 08th March 1916, the next day being admitted to 96 F.A. with influenza, resuming duty on the 11th. 

They returned to the front line near Maricourt on 30th April, but on 25th May 1916 the 19th, 20th and 17th Pals were taken out of the line for training for the forthcoming “Big Push”. After almost 7 days of allied bombardment the Battle of the Somme started on 1st July 1916. All but the 19th Battalion found themselves in the front line for the opening attack, and although they achieved the objectives set for them that day it was at a very heavy cost to the 18th and 20th Battalions. The 19th Battalion (Reginald’s) was held in reserve at Maricourt when the Battle started but still lost about 14 men to German artillery and sniper fire.

The 19th remained in the front line, being involved in the fighting around Trones Wood, until relieved opn 12th July 1916. On 29th July, the 17th, 19th and 20th Battalions moved forward and next day take part in an abortive attack on the village of Guillemont – on that one day alone the Pals suffered almost 500 men killed and many hundreds more were wounded – “Liverpool’s blackest day”. 

The following day, 31st July 1916, the 30th Division, including the Liverpool Pals Battalions, were withdrawn to camp near Fricourt and then to Abbeville for rest and recuperation. On 3rd August however they were moved up to the Givenchy area. The 18th Battalion had not been involved on 30th July at Guillemont and returned to the Front Line on 11th August while the other three battalions did not follow them until 26th August, all in the area of Givenchy.

In October 1916, the 17^th and 20^th Pals Battalions were in the front of an assault on the Transloy Ridges, while the 19^th was again held in reserve. The assault had a very limited success with the 17^th Battalion having to consolidate a new position a mere 150 yards in front of their old front line. The 19^th and 20^th replace the 17^th during the night of 11^th/12^th October. Six days later a further attack on the Transloy Ridges takes place, with the 18^th Battalion at the head – the attack is “an abysmal failure” and by the time the Pals are withdrawn on 22^nd October they had lost 13 officers and 213 other ranks killed.

On 31^st October 1916, the 30^th Division including the Liverpool Pals moved to take over a part of the line north of the Somme near Bienvillers and It was during this time, what the Regimental historian calls a “quiet time”, that Reginald Heyes lost his life on 8^th November 1916, killed in action, possibly by German artillery fire.

His body now rests at Pommier Communal Cemetery, the only Kingsman amongst the 26 British soldiers buried here and the only one of them killed in November 1916.

There are now over 20 First World War casualties commemorated in this site.

A letter dated 20^th February 1917 in Reginald’s file says that any effects should be forwarded to his father, Robert, at 11 Bingley Road, but the letter is endorsed “No effects”.  

The War Office issued a commemorative plaque, known colloquially as the “Death Penny” to the next of kin of all those men who died during the Great War and in order to distribute the plaques, which were accompanied by a “scroll”, they wrote to the last known address of the next of kin, i.e. Reginald’s father, and asked that he or she complete a declaration form which detailed the names etc of all of the deceased’s immediate relatives.

Robert Heyes completed this form, the contents of which he swore on oath before the vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Walton Breck Road, declaring that Reginald was survived by his parents, two brothers (Robert William, aged 31 years, and Harold Leslie aged 15 years), and two sisters (Beatrice Annie, aged 22 years and Irene Grace, aged 20 years all of whom were living at 11 Bingley Road.

On 22^nd July 1920, Reginald’s 1914/15 Star was sent to his father but was returned for amendment when it was noticed that his name had been spelt “Hayes”.

In 1921 his father received Reginald’s British War Medal and Victory Medal and the Star was returned having been corrected. In due course. In due course a small war gratuity of £9 and £1.10s arrears of pay owed to Reginald were also received by his father.

His family remembered him on his anniversary:

His death was announced in the Liverpool Echo on Thursday, 8th November 1917:

ROLL OF HONOUR

HEYES - In sad but loving remembrance of Private Reginald C. Heyes (our Bon), who was killed in action November 8, 1916. (Never for one moment forgotten by his Mam, Dad, Sisters, and Brother.). Also Brother Bert, in Mesopotamia.  (Sans changer.) 

When alone in sorrow and bitter tears flow, 

There stealeth a dream of the sweet long ago, 

And unknown to the world he stands by our side

And whispers, “Dear ones, death cannot divide.”

On the 1921 Census at 11 Bingley Road, Anfield, his father, Robert, is aged 56, a cotton warehouseman, his mother, Annie, is aged 51, with Irene aged 22, and Harold Leslie, aged 17, a junior clerk.

His father died, aged 72, in 1936.

His mother was living alone at Bingley Road on the 1939 Register, her date of birth registered as 31st November 1868. She died, aged 90, in 1957

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