Sgt 22407 Edwin Hill

• Age: 30
• From: Bootle
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• Died Friday 16th November 1917
• Commemorated at: Llanros (ss Eleri & Mary) Cy
  Panel Ref: I.F.17

Edwin Hill was born on 25th September 1887 in Bootle and was baptised on 26th November 1887 at St Paul's Church, Kirkdale. He was the son of John William and his wife Tamar Elizabeth (nee Eastwood). 

The Census of 1891 shows the family are living at the home of Tamar’s widowed father at Kirkdale. John William Hill was recorded as a paper dealer.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 4 Thorburn Road, Lower Bebington; Edwin is 13 and his siblings are listed as  John W (12), Rowland (11), Harold E (10), Sydney (8) and Emma (5); John William Hill was described as a sack merchant.

By 1911, the family had moved to “Holmfield”, Huyton, Liverpool; John William Hill was described as a merchant in jute goods. Edwin now 23 is described as a commercial clerk. His siblings listed in the household are; Harold Eastwood aged 20, born 1891 are commercial clerks, John William Junior aged 22, born 1889 no occupation, Rowland aged 21, born 1890 is a bank clerk and Sydney aged 18, born 1893 is a shipping clerk. They also have two servants Georgina Bird aged 45, born 1866 a Mother Help and Annie Wilton aged 21, born 1890 a general domestic servant.

Prior to the outbreak of war he had been a manager in his father’s Jute goods manufacturing business.

He enlisted 10^th November 1914 at Liverpool joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. he was aged 27 years and ninety three days and gave his occupation as a clerk. He was five feet three inches tall, weighed 133lbs, fresh complexion, brown eyes, light brown hair and gave his religion as Church of England.

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. He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

His service record shows: 

09.02.15: Appointed unpaid Lance Corporal.

On 20 March 1915, he married Marguerite Bowker at Llanrhos Parish Church

08.10.15: Promoted to Corporal. Appointed unpaid Lance Sergeant and appointed acting Company Quartermaster Sergeant.

07.11.15 Arrived in France

02-11.06.16: Granted leave to the UK.

15.07.16: Severely reprimanded by CO:

1. Neglecting his equipment.
2. Not complying with an order.
3. Failing to equip himself before leaving the trenches.

19.12.16: Severely reprimanded by CO for using improper language to an NCO.

10.01.17: : Severely reprimanded by CO for improper conduct as an NCO.

02.05.17: reverted to the rank of Sergeant and his own request.

14.05.17: admitted by No 2 Field Hospital and taken to 63 Casualty clearing Station Clearing Station at Boubers-Sur-Canche where he was diagnosed with PUO – pyrexia (fever) of unknown origin. By 24 May he was at No 3 General Hospital Le Tréport. With an additional diagnosis of trench fever. 

12.06.17: Returned to UK aboard hospital ship HMAT Warilda and was admitted to the Western General Hospital at Manchester on 14 June 1917. On the same day that he was admitted to the hospital in Manchester, he was posted to the depot of his regiment for administrative purposes.

On 10 July 1917, Edwin Hill was transferred to Colwyn Bay Auxiliary Military Hospital – his wife’s address was then “Broom Vale”, Penhryn Bay.

On 30 July 1917 he contracted typhoid fever, his temperature reaching 104°F.

He died at the Colwyn Bay Isolation Hospital on 16 November 1917 aged 30.

He was commemorated in De Rivigny's Roll of Honour

HILL, EDWIN Company Quartermaster Sergeant 20th (Service) Battalion, the King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment(sic), eldest son of John William Hill of Holmfield, Huyton, Liverpool, goods manufacturer and merchant, by his wife Marguerite, daughter of Adam Eastwood of Liverpool; Born Liverpool 23rd September 1887, educated High School there, was a manager of works in his father's business; Enlisted 14th of November 1914, promoted Company Quartermaster Sergeant in September 1915, served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from the following November, and died at Colwyn Bay, County Denbigh, 16th of November 1917 from gas poisoning, trench fever, and shell shock, contracted while on active service; buried at Penrhyn-Llanrhos, County Carnarvon; he married at Penryn-Llanrhos, 20th March 1915, Marguerite, daughter of Edward Bowker.

A report of his funeral was covered in the local press:

FUNERAL OF MR. EDWIN HILL

The funeral took place on Wednesday, at Penryn Llanrhos, of Edwin Hill, late Co.Qmr.S  (K.L.R.), husband of Daisy Hill,  Broom Vale, Penrhyn Bay, near Llandudno, and eldest son of Mr and Mrs J.W Hill "Holmfield," Huyton, Liverpool after a serious illness contracted abroad. He joined the army in November 1914. The very impressive ceremony which was carried out with full military honours was conducted by the Rev. J. F. Reece, vicar of Penryn Llanrhos. Among a large number present where Mrs Edwin Hill, Mr and Mrs J.W.Hill, Mr H.E. Hill, Miss D. Hill, Mrs Bowker, Mrs Yates, Miss M. Law, Mr J. Stubbs, Mr Richards, Miss Bond, Mr and Mrs Gregory, Miss Morris, Miss Plant, the commandant, the section leader and contingent of wounded from Red Cross Hospital, the Matron from the hospital and Nurse Jones. The body was carried on a gun carriage, escorted by troops, including firing party and buglers from Kinmel Park. The approach to the church was lined with a guard of honour. At the close of the ceremony buglers sounded the "Last Post" and three vollleys were fired.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to his widow Marguerite.

Edwin now rests in Llanrhos Cemetery (Ss. Eleri and Mary) Churchyard where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"HE GAVE HIS LIFE IN THE GREAT WAR"

There are 25 CWGC graves in the churchyard commemorating both World Wars.

Edwin is also commemorated on the memorials at:

Llanrhos Parish War Memorial

Huyton with Roby Civic Memorial.  

In 1939, Marguerite Hill and her mother Annie Bowker were recorded as living in Llandudno.

Edwin’s brother-in-law, Leonard Astley Bowker, also fell in the First World War. He is remembered on the Penrhynside Memorial.

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