Pte 22427 Richard Harkness Jaques

• Age: 26
• From: Workington
• 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.

Richard Harkness Jaques was born in Workington, Cumberland in 1890. He was the son of Isaac Jaques and his wife Elizabeth (née Lancaster). His father was born Isaac Jaques Orr in 1842 in Harrington, Cumberland.  By the time he was 18 he was a mariner, and obtained his Second Mate’s certificate in 1868.  Isaac Orr and Elizabeth Lancaster married in 1877, registered in Whitehaven, and had at least six children. Their first child was registered as Orr, Sarah Jane Jaques Orr, but the following children were all registered with the surname Jaques:  twins William and Henry, Isaac, Eleanor, and Richard.  The reason for the name change is not known. 

His father is found on the 1881 census (surname Jaques) with his wife and daughter in Smithy Green, Harrington, Cumberland.  He is 32, no occupation or birthplace is listed. Interestingly, their neighbour is Richard Harkness. 

His father died on 11th June 1890 at the age of 47. The probate record (Isaac Jaques) gives his address as Derwent Street, Workington, and his occupation as inn-keeper. He left effects of £658-19s. 

At the time of the 1891 Census Richard was 9 months old, as the census was taken on 5th April that year, his age suggests that Richard was born the previous June. The family are living at in Stanley Street, Harrington, Cumberland. His widowed mother Elizabeth is aged 41; his five siblings are at school, Sarah J. 11. William 9, Henry 9, Isaac 7 and Eleanor 5.  

By the time of the 1901 census the family seem to be scattered, one of his sisters Sarah, 21, is working as a milliner in Douglas, Isle of Man, it is possible that some of his siblings have emigrated already (his service papers later give addresses in Australia for them). 

His mother has moved the family to Liverpool, and the familyy are found at 77 Upper Hill Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool with four of her children. Henry, 19, is a gardener (not domestic), Isaac, 17, is an apprentice marine engineer/fitter, Eleanor is 15, and Richard 10. Note his mother is now recorded as born in Arlecdon, nr Whitehaven. 

William left for Australia in 1901; Henry followed in 1911.

His mother died in 1910, aged 47.

The 1911 Census shows Richard, aged 20, working as a grocer's assistant and living in Liverpool at 77 Upper Hill Street, Liverpool with his brother Isaac (a marine engineer fitter) his sister Eleanor and a cousin from his mother's side Annie Lancaster (manageress of a tobacconists). 

On 13th November 1914 in Liverpool Richard Harkness Jaques enlisted as Private 22427 joining the 20th Service Battalion of the King's Liverpool Regiment (He served in No.2 Company). His medical form shows that he was 24 years old and was described as being 5 feet 5 and 1/4 inches tall, weighed 130lbs, 37” chest, with a fresh complexion, dark brown hair and brown eyes. His physical development was 'good' and he gave his trade as Clerk and religion as Church of England. It was noted that he had a scar on the inside of his right leg. His next of kin was his sister Sarah Jane Jaques of 77 Upper Hill Street, Princes Park, Liverpool.  

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.

The following notes have been made on his service record: 

To Trench mortar course 23rd February 1916, rejoined ex school of mortars 02nd March 1916 attached to 89 I.B. as 894 Trench Mortar Battery 

Joined Trench mortar battery on 23^rd June 1916, attached 89/1 Trench Mortar Battery 

He was wounded in action 8^th July 1916.

Richard was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916 aged 26 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.    

His Casualty Form shows that he was initially reported as Wounded in action on 30th July, but a month later was reported killed. 

Liverpool Daily Post - Tuesday 12 September 1916 

Wounded. 

King’s (Liverpools) - Jaques, 22427, R. H. (Liverpool); 

A notice was placed in the Liverpool Echo on 19th September 1916 by a friend or sweetheart: 

“July 30, killed in action, aged 26 years, R. H. Jaques (Dick), K.L.R. (One of the best.). Fondly loved and sadly missed by Alice.”

Sadly a month later, Richard was reported as killed.

Richard's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. 

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.”

He earned his three medals, which went to his brother William in Adelaide. 

His outstanding Army pay of £10-11s-16d was shared between his siblings. The War Gratuity of £7-10s went to Sarah. Eleanor (Nellie) received a gratuity in lieu of a pension in March 1917.

Richard's effects (letters, photographs and cards) were sent to Sarah Jane with a note advising that they were the joint property of all Richard's siblings. Included in his personal belongings was Army form B.216 (which is a pass).

A tribute to Richard appeared in the Liverpool Echo on 30th July 1917, under the heading, “Lost At The Battle Of Guillemont”:

“In loving memory of our dear brother, Private Richard Harkness (Dick) Jaques (Pals), killed in action July 30, 1916. - 77 Upper Hill Street.”

He was remembered on the second anniversary of his death in 1918:

“In loving memory of Pte. Richard H. Jaques (Dick), K.L.R., killed in action July 30, 1916. 77 Upper Hill Street.”

“In ever-loving memory of Pte. Richard H. Jaques (Dick), K.L.R., killed in action July 30, 1916.  Ever remembered by Alice.”

In 1919 Sarah Jane provided information on Dick’s living relatives: She was still at 77 Upper Hill Street with Isaac, 35, and Eleanor, 33. William and Henry, both 37, lived in Adelaide, Australia. Sarah (Sally) and Nellie later emigrated to the United States.

Dick is commemorated in Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 69.

Grateful thanks are extended to Ancestry member Theresa Wyborn in Australia for permission to use the photograph of Richard now shown on the site.   

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