Pte 15557 William Johnson

• Age: 19
• From: Salford, Manchester
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 12th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

William Johnson was born on the 01st January, 1897 in Salford and was the son of William Johnson and his wife Mary Hannah (nee Chapman) who were married on the 30th September 1896 at Christ Church, Salford. William was a 21 year old railway porter of 49 Hodge Lane, father Joseph, whilst Mary was a 23 year old “jack tenter” of 47 Hodge Lane, father Abraham.

William was baptised on the 14th February 1897 also at Christ Church, Salford, his parents gave their address as 47 Hodge Lane. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 121 Higher Green, Astley, Salford.

His father, William, is aged 26, and is a railway signal man born in Ince, Cheshire. His wife ,Mary Hannah, is aged 26, born in Salford.  They have three children. William aged 4 born in Salford, Amy aged 3 born in Salford, and Henry aged 1, born in Astley.   

The 1911 Census shows that the family have moved to Liverpool and are living at 26 Whitland Road, Fairfield, Liverpool.

His father William is aged 35, born 1876 and is a superintendent and was born in Ince, Cheshire. His wife Mary Hannah is aged 38, born 1873, in Salford.  They have six children declared in the household. William aged 14, born 1897, Amy aged 13, born 1898 both at school and both born in Salford. Henry aged 11, born is also at school and born in Astley, as were Frank aged 9, born 1902 and Winifred aged 6, born 1905. Their youngest son John aged 2, was born in Leigh in 1909.    

Prior to the outbreak of the war he was employed as a clerk at the Liverpool Cotton Exchange.  

He enlisted  at St George's Hall in Liverpool joining in the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 15557.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14th September 1914, he trrained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th 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 07th November 1915. 

William was killed in action on the 12th October 1916 aged 19 during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

17th Bn War Diary:  Battle of Transloy Ridge –                                               

11-10-16 - Gird Trench/Gird Support – Battalion in front line and support trenches. British bombardment of enemy front line system commenced about midday.  Hostile shelling was intermittent throughout the day.

12-10-16  - Our bombardment continued. Enemy reply weak.  2.5 p.m. Zero hour. Attack on German front line system commenced.  Enemy wire was found to be uncut and attack was unsuccessful.  Hostile machine gun fire was very heavy and caused many casualties. Battalion H.Q. and Support Trench were heavily shelled throughout afternoon and evening. […] During this action all communication had to be carried out by runners and carrier pigeons as all wires were being continually cut by enemy shelling.

Casualties: 5 officers killed,  5 officers wounded, 38 OR killed, about 225 OR wounded/missing etc.

Graham Maddocks, in “Liverpool Pals” p.140, adds: “As the whistle blew, the 17th Battalion left its trenches to move forward.  […]  As soon as the attacking waves left their trenches the enemy artillery began to register on them, and at the same time, the defending infantry commenced a murderous rain of fire.  […]  Although their numbers had been depleted by the British bombardment, they were trained and experienced soldiers, well dug in on high ground, and for the most part, looking out on uncut wire.  As such, it was virtually impossible for them to miss the City Battalion men struggling to advance in the mud towards them.   The 17th Battalion, on the left, was particularly badly hit, as its portion of No Man’s Land contained a slight rise in the ground, and as the troops emerged onto it they were silhouetted against the sky and became easy targets.  Those on the left of the attack, who managed to avoid the hail of bullets and make it to the German wire, then found that it was totally uncut, and thus trapped, they too became easy targets, to be picked off almost at the enemy’s will.  It was hardly surprising that, seeing the first waves being wiped out, some of the following waves turned back and made for their start lines. These lines were now packed with other waves of troops, however, and the fleeing men added to the congestion already there, and became easy prey for the German gunners.  There is some evidence also, to suggest that at this stage, the British trenches were also being hit by their own heavy artillery shells which were falling short.”

William has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

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.”

William is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel New

Soldiers Effects to father William, Pension to mother Mary H., of 27 Fazakerley Rd, Walton, Liverpool.   

His father died, aged 73, on the 18th October 1948 in Wallasey and was buried in Everton Cemetery on the 21st October. 

His mother died, aged 89, on the 03rd July 1962 and was buried in Everton Cemetery on the 6th July.    

Grateful thanks are extended to Sefton RUFC for permission to use the photograph of William. 

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

Grateful thanks are extended to Sefton RUFC for permission to use the photograph of William.