Pte 23656 Charles Joseph Kain

• Age: 19
• From: Rock Ferry, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 11th May 1916
• Commemorated at: Cerisy-gailly Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.D.19

Born in 1896 in Rock Ferry, Charles was the only son of Charles Kain and his wife Ellen (nee Murphy), who were married in Birkenhead in 1896. His father Charles, born 1861, appears on the 1871 census at 3 Victoria Cottages, Leith North, Edinburgh. Ellen, aged 38, born Wicklow, children Margaret M. 15, Rose E. 14, Charles aged 9, at school, born Wicklow, John 8, Elizabeth J. 3, and Kate. His grandfather, also Charles Kain but not present, was in the Royal Navy.

His father, Charles, joined the Merchant Navy when aged 16 and went on to gain his First Mate certificate in 1889, his address 450 New Chester Road, Rock Ferry. 

In 1901, his mother, Ellen, a dressmaker born in Liverpool, is shown living with her 4 year old son Charles, born in Rock ferry, with her older sister, Alice Murphy, a younger brother James, aged 29 years and two younger sisters at 29, Buxton Road, Rock Ferry. 

In 1911 she is still with her older brother, James, at 84 Highfield Grove South, Rock Ferry, her two younger sisters and her son, Charles, now 14 and at school. Ellen is said to be married for 16 years with only one child, and is a housekeeper. There is no trace of a husband in either of the two Censuses but CWGC states that Charles was the son of Ellen, 77 Browning Avenue, Rock Ferry and the late Charles Kain.

His father possibly died in October 1911, as a “deaths at sea” record exists for a C. Kain. 

Charles enlisted in Liverpool joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 23656. 

The 17th Battalion was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, they trained 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. 

Charles served in France from 07^th November 1915, earning his three medals, and was killed in action on 11th May 1916 aged 19.

In May 1916 the battalion were in front line trenches near Maricourt on the Somme.  The 17^th Battalion relieved the 19^th at 5:40 p.m on 11th May 1916.  At 7:45 p.m. the enemy started shelling the front line trenches.

From the Battalion War Diary:

“Enemy shelled front line trenches 17/1, 17/2, 17/3, and 17/4 for about ¾ hr fairly heavily with 4.5, 5.9, and minenwerfer shells came from North.  Support and Communication trenches were also shelled.  Our artillery replied with 4.5 and 18 pounders.  5 OR killed and 1 wounded.” 

The other ranks killed, including Charles were: Lance Corporal Donald Evans, Privates George Henry Cole, Charles Holland, and Albert James Moore. 

Charles now rests in Cerisy Gailly Cemetery, Grave II D 19.  Buried in the same row are Private Albert James Moore in II.D.2, Private Charles Holland in II.D.3,  George Cole in II.D.4 and Lance Corporal Donald Evans in II.D.5. 

Gailly was the site of the 39th and 13th Casualty Clearing Stations during the early part of 1917, and of the 41st Stationary Hospital from May 1917 to March 1918. The villages were then captured by the Germans, but were retaken by the Australian Corps in August 1918. Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery (originally called the New French Military Cemetery) was begun in February 1917 and used by medical units until March 1918. After the recapture of the village it was used by Australian units. The cemetery was increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of the Somme. The cemetery now contains 745 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 114 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate five casualties buried at Maricourt and Ste. Helene whose graves could not be found. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

His death was among those reported in the Birkenhead News on 20th May 1916 under the header:

South End's Roll Of Honour

Further Added To This Week

We regret to record the death at the front of three more South End men, Pte Charles Kain, the only child of Mrs Ellie Kain of 84 Spencer Ave, Rock Ferry, was killed in action on the 11th inst, and on the same day Pte Noel Hodgson, second son of Mr R. C. Hodgson of New Ferry, died from wounds in France in his 21st year. We have been unable, we regret, to obtain further particulars or portraits of these two men.

His death was also reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Thursday 01 June 1916:

Killed.

King’s (Liverpools) - Kain, 23656, C. J. (Rock Ferry); 

Soldiers Effects, army pay £7 3s 8d, War Gratuity of £5-10s, and Pension of 12/6 pw to mother Ellen. His mother Ellen, date of birth  09th July 1869, appears on the 1939 Register at 54 Blackmoor Drive, West Derby. She is living with brother James Murphy and sisters Annie and Jane Murphy.

She died aged 89 in 1959.  

Charles is commemorated on the Catholic Institute Memorial now situated in St Edwards College West Derby.

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