Pte 22138 Sidney Egerton Johnston

• Age: 20
• From: Liverpool
• 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.

Sidney Egerton Johnston was born in Liverpool on 27th February 1896, the son of John Dickson Johnson and his wife Mary (nee Smorthit) who were married in 1883 in St Chrysostom’s Church, Everton. John was a 27 year old engineer of 48 Spencer St, father Andrew a match maker, whilst Mar was aged 22 of same address, father Robert a compositor. John had been born in Ayr in Scotland. His mother Mary Spencer Smorthit was baptised in the Church of England on 03rd January 1883 before her marriage in April that year. Sidney had four older brothers: Andrew, Robert Smorthit, John Dickson, and Arthur William. 

In 1891 before Sidney’s birth his mother, 30, was living in St. David’s Road, Walton, with Andrew 7, Robert 5, and John 3. Her mother Celia Smorthit was also in the household; her husband was away at sea.

Sydney's mother died at home on the 6th November 1897, aged 37, when Sidney was 20 months old. The family was living at 43 Osborne Road at the time. She was buried in the non-conformist section of Anfield Cemetery. 

Liverpool Evening Express - Monday 08 November 1897 

Johnston— Nov 6, at 43 Osborne-road, Tuebrook, aged 37 years, Mary, beloved wife of John Johnston, chief engineer ss City of Sparta. Funeral at Anfield Cemetery, to-morrow (Tuesday), 9th instant at 3 p.m. Friends accept this, the only, intimation. [Sparta - 3 Masted, iron ship] 

By 1901 Sidney's widowed father, John, who was 40 and a marine engineer, was living at 43 Osborne Road, Tuebrook, with his children Andrew aged 17, a marine insurance clerk, Robert aged 15, John aged 13 and Arthur aged 7. John has a housekeeper a 61 year old lady called Jane Bowman who was born in Dundee. She may have been a family friend as she has a relative staying with the family in the 1901 and the 1911 census.  

Sidney, 5, is found at 150 Walton Breck Road with his mother’s sister, Martha Otty, and her four children. His aunt is 44, widowed, a retail draper working on her own account at home.

His brothers Robert and John emigrated to Canada and settled in Vancouver. 

At the time of the 1911 census, Sidney’s father John is away at sea and Sidney aged 15, at school, and his brother Arthur aged 18, a engineers apprentice, are being looked after by Jane Bowman, aged 72, and listed as housekeeper, at 55 September Road, Anfield. 

Some time after the census Arthur joined his brothers in Vancouver.  

Sidney enlisted on the 06th November 1914 at Liverpool, joining the 20th Battalion (No 1 Company) of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 22138. He gave his age as 19 years and 240 days (he was actually 18) and his occupation as a clerk. He was described as being five feet 4 and a quarter inches tall, weighed 110 lbs, 35” chest, and had a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair and gave his religion as Church of England. He gave as next of kin his father at 55 September Road, later 140 Priory Road. 

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. 

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

He was killed in action on the 30th July 1916, aged 20, 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.    

Sidney was initially declared Wounded, then Wounded and Missing. His death was officially accepted a year later on 08th August 1917 as having occurred on or since 30th July 1916.

His body was not recovered from the battlefield 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.”

He earned his three medals.

His Army pay and a War Gratuity of £7-10s went to his father.  No pension card has been found, as Sidney had no dependents. 

Probate (Christian name Sydney), giving his address as 55 September Road, was granted to his father in the amount of £159-6d-2d.

Arthur enlisted in Vancouver in December 1917 (conscription had been introduced at the end of August) and served as a driver in the Canadian Field Artillery. He survived the war. 

Sidney's records show that his belongings which consisted of three letters were returned to his father in March 1918, and his service medals were received by his father in 1920. There’s a note from his brother acknowledging a letter from the Army informing them that his father was away at sea and currently at Bombay.

His father died on the 4th Dec 1924 aged 69, leaving over £8,000 to executors William and Ernest Bird, solicitors. His address of 6 Redford Street is that of a Harold and Annie Jones, he was probably a lodger.  

Probate 1925:- 

JOHNSTON John Dickson of 6 Redford Street, Lower Breck Road Liverpool died 4 December 1924 Probate Liverpool 8 January to William Joseph Bird and Ernest William Bird solicitors. Effects £8380 9s 1d. 

His brothers Arthur, Robert, and John lived the rest of their lives in and died in Canada.

Sadly, Sidney has not been found on any local memorial.

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