Pte 23034 William Hindle

• Age: 25
• From: Huncoat, Lancashire
• 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.

William Hindle was born in about September 1890 in Huncoat, Lancashire, east of Accrington and 4-5 miles west of Burnley, the son of John Hindle and Alice Marshall, the couple were married in 1878 at St James, Altham. His father was born in Great Harwood, and his mother in Clayton le Moors. They had eight children: Janet Ellen, John, and Mary Catherine, all born in Huncoat, George Marshall born in Burnley, William, and Hannah Elizabeth, born in Huncoat. Sadly, their two youngest children did not survive: Edith Alice died at 11 months, and Marshall died at 3 months old.

At the time of the 1891 census the family were living in Moorfield Terrace, Huncoat. Alice is 37 and John 42, his occupation is engine fitter. The couple have five children, Janet aged 11, John 8, Mary 5, George 2 and William is 6 months old.

By 1901 the family live at 54 Todmorden Road, Burnley.
His father, John, is an engine tender in a cotton mill, and the children’s occupations reflect the industry of Burnley at the time: Janet and John work in a cotton mill, and Mary is an underclothing machinist. George and William aged 10 are at school as is Hannah who was born in 1892.

William’s mother died in 1910, aged 57.

The family are still at the same address in 1911.
His widowed father is 62 years old and is working as an engineman at a weaving mill. Still living at home are; Mary, aged 25, who is a machinist of baby clothes, George is 22 and is an assistant bookkeeper, William 20 is a cabinet maker and Hannah is aged 19.

William enlisted on the 10th November 1914 at Liverpool and gave his age as 24 years and two months and his occupation as a cabinet maker. He was described as being five feet five and half inches tall, weighed 123lbs, fresh complexion, 38” chest, brown eyes, brown hair and gave his religion as Church of England. He gives as next of kin his father John, at 3 Linden Street, Burnley.

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 married May Lackenby on 30th March 1915 in St. Stephen's Church, Burnley. She was the daughter of Robert and Mary Lackenby, born 10^th May 1893. His brother, George, was one of the witnesses. May, born in Burnley in 1893, one of nine daughters, was working as a cotton weaver in 1911. After their marriage the couple lived at 169 Brunshaw Road, Burnley.

On 07th November 1915 William embarked for France with his battalion.

He was serving in the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 23034 when he was killed in action on the 30th July 1916, aged 25, 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.   

The news of William's death was reported in the Burnley News on 19th August 1916:

ANOTHER BURNLEY CRICKETER

OFFICIAL NEWS OF DEATH IN ACTION

Official news was received on Thursday of the death in action of Private William Hindle, 169 Brunshaw Road, Burnley. He was in the Liverpool 'Pals' and was 25 years old. He enlisted in November 1914 and had been in France 10 months without being wounded. His wife received a field card from him dated July 29th, the day before he was killed, saying he was quite well. A letter written by him two days before, stated he was then in the best of health. He came safely out of the big push on July 1st. He was home on leave last September and expected getting another leave shortly. Private Hindle had played cricket for Burnley's second eleven prior to joining the army. He worked as a cabinet maker for Mr Arthur Taylor. His brother, Private George Hindle, who formerly worked at Lupton Brothers market stall, is now in Plymouth. Private William Hindle was a regular attender at St. Stephen's Church.

Various family notices were also placed in the aftermath of the news of William's death:

Hindle - In loving memory of William Hindle, killed in action July 30th 1916, from his wife, "Cordova", Carnoustie, Scotland.

Hindle - in loving memory of Private William Hindle, the King's Liverpool Regiment, killed in action, July 30th 1916, aged 26.

Peace, perfect peace with loved ones far away;

In Jesus' keeping we are safe and they.

• From his loving wife.

Hindle - In proud and loving memory of Private W. Hindle, 20th King's Liverpool Regiment, who fell in action July 30th 1916. - From his father, sisters and brother.

Hindle - In loving memory of Private William Hindle of the Liverpool 'Pals', killed in action July 30th 1916.

Peace, perfect peace.

- From Mr and Mrs Lackenby and family, 169 Brunshaw Road.

William's 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.”

His Army pay and a War Gratuity of £7-10s went to his widow May, who was awarded a pension of 10/- a week from February 1917.

William’s loss was not the only tragedy to befall the family as just months later his brother George Marshall Hindle, Private 23624 of the 2nd East Lancs Regiment was killed in action on 23rd October 1916. He also left a widow, Nellie, who he had married in the summer of 1915 and also a baby. George also has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme with his brother.
 
There were three notices placed in the Burnley Express on the first anniversary of his death.

"Loving memory .., Jesu's keeping ... Wife

"In proud and loving memory of Pte. W. Hindle, .... From father, sisters, and brother."

"Loving memory ... Peace, perfect peace ... Lackenbury

Again in 1918 :

"In loving memory of W. Hindle, King's Liverpool Regt., killed in action July 30, 1916.  Too dearly loved to be forgotten. - From all at 167 Brunshaw Road."

And on the third anniversary of his death in 1919:
In loving memory ... Wife , Cordova, Carnoustie ...

In 1919 May provided information on William's living relatives.  She was living in Kildonan House, Horwich, Lancashire.  His father lived at 344 Colne Road, Burnley, with married daughter Janet Pickles, 38, (and most likely her husband and children). Mary, 34, was in Scotland, and John, 36, and Elizabeth, 28, married, were in Burnley.

May qualified as a nurse, and spent some time in India. She is found on a passenger list from Liverpool to Rangoon, Burma, in 1923, and from Calcutta to London in 1924, address 169 Brunshaw Road, country of permanent residence India. May Hindle, of the correct birthdate, died in Ulverston, Lancashire, in 1973, aged 80.

William is commemorated on the Memorial in St Stephen's Church, Burnley.

There is also a W. Hindle commemorated in Cross Bank Wesleyan Church, Burnley. 

ST STEPHEN'S WAR MEMORIAL

The following is a list of names of the Fallen Heroes, as they will appear in the Memorial Window to be installed in St. Peter's and Stephen's Parish Church:- 

Pte's J.C. Green, Frank Harker, W. Hindle, W. Pollard and W. H. Stuart, Kings Liverpool Regiment;

[Note: John Charles Green 31263 4th Bn, Frank Harker(193602 Labour Corps), William Pollard 48986 13th Btn, W H Stuart 50650 17th Bn] 

Grateful thanks are extended to Burnley in the Great War website for permission to use the photograph of William.

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