Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 48088 Thomas Kirby

Age: 38
From: Liverpool
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
K.I.A Sunday 18th February 1917
Commemorated at: Agny New Military Cem
Panel Ref: E.17

Thomas was born in Liverpool on 02nd November 1879, and was baptised as a Roman Catholic on 12th April 1881 at All Souls Church, Liverpool. He was the son of Richard Kirby and his wife Alice (nee Sunderland). Richard married Alice Sunderland in 1871.

The 1881 Census shows the family living at 74 Hankin Street, Liverpool. Thomas is 3 years of age and lives with his parents and two siblings. His father is a 30 year old pipe layer born in Formby, whilst his mother is 28 years of age and was born in Liverpool. His siblings are listed as; Ellen aged 6 and Charley aged 1. Also present is Thomas Wainwright described as father. He is a 55 year old carter born in Ince Blundell.

The 1891 census shows the family living at 86 Smeaton Street, Kirkdale. Thomas is now aged 13 and is a scholar. His father Richard is now 42 years of age and is a carter, his mother Alice is 39, and his siblings are shown as; Alice 17, Robert 15, Thomas aged 13 is a scholar, Gilbert 10, Isabella 7, Samuel 6, Lizabeth 4, Herbert 1 and Liza 3wks. There is also a lodger declared in the household.

On the 1901 Census ,Thomas is now a 24 year old blacksmiths labourer living at 77 Foley St, Kirkdale with his parents and five siblings. His father, Richard, is now aged 49 and a carter, whilst his mother is recorded as being 46. His siblings are shown as; Gilbert 20 printers office, Samuel 16 bag maker, Elizabeth 14, Herbert 12, Margaret 8.

When he was 22, Thomas married Margaret Owen on 28th May 1902 in St. Peter’s, Everton. His wife was also 22, born in Everton. Thomas gave his address as 51 Anthony Street, and occupation as seaman. His father is named as Richard Kirby on the wedding certificate.

Their son Thomas was born on 30th September 1903, parents’ residence 61 Anthony Street, father’s occupation ship’s cook, baptised in St. Peter Everton. Their next son, William, was born on 29th September 1905, parents then living at 135 Arkwright Street, father ship’s cook, baptised in St. Polycarp, Everton. A third son, Francis Henry, was born in 1908 and baptised in St. Peter’s, Everton, but sadly died at 11 months old. A daughter, Catherine, was born on 26th September 1910 and baptised in St. Athanasius, Kirkdale.

Thomas appears on crew lists from 1902 - 1908, as sculler or assistant cook.

1894 - Port Liverpool, Lancashire, Ship - Dalgonar (Maybe his first ship) (15 years old)

21 Jan 1902 - Port Liverpool, Lancashire, Ship - Saxonia (Cunarder Liverpool to Boston)

19 Oct 1903 - Port Liverpool, Lancashire, England Ship - Cedric (brand new White Star liner on Liverpool to NY)

12 Oct 1907 - Port Liverpool, Lancashire, Ship - Saxonia

1908 - Port Liverpool, Lancashire, Ship - Saxonia

In 1911 Margaret, 31, is living at 27 Leyden Street, with Thomas, 7, William, 5, and Catherine, 6 months. Her husband is apparently away at sea. Meanwhile, also in 1911 his parents recorded that they had been married for 41 years, and had eleven children, seven of whom had survived buit sadly four had died

Another daughter, Annie, was born to Thomas and Margaret on 3rd June 1916. (Two other Kirby/Owen births are registered, Maurice in Kirkdale in 1912, and Francis in Toxteth Park in 1914, but cannot be confirmed, as the deaths occurred in hospital so the home address cannot be verified.)

Based on the amount of the War Gratuity, Thomas enlisted, or was conscripted, shortly after Annie’s birth, in the summer of 1916. He joined the 18th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment, was subsequently transferred, and was serving in the 19th Bn of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 48088 when he was killed in action on 18th February 1917.

He now rests at Agny New Military Cemetery in France.

Agny New Military Cemetery was begun by French troops, and used by Commonwealth units and field ambulances from March 1916 to June 1917. Two further burials were made in April 1918, and in 1923-24, 137 graves were brought in from the battlefields east of Arras. The 40 French graves have been removed. Agny Military Cemetery contains 408 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 118 of them unidentified, and five German graves. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Thomas was reported killed in the Liverpool Daily Post 21st March 1917

CWGC shows him in the 19th Bn, but gives his regimental number as 21/48088 (i.e., 21st Reserve Bn).

His Mercantile Medal Card shows his award of a Mercantile Marine medal only. It also shows him as having served in the Army, and being KIA, also his next of kin as Mrs M Kirby living at 21 Princes Street Liverpool. It also records a date of birth as 1880.

His children were 13, 11, 6, and 8 months old when Thomas was killed. His widow Margaret, living at 21a Prince William Street, Toxteth, received Thomas’ Army effects, and a War Gratuity of £3, as well as a pension of £1-8s-9d a week for herself and four children, Thomas, William, Catherine and Annie.

Soldiers Effects to widow Margaret

Thomas is commemorated in Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance:

Panel 67, 19th Battalion

Panel 65 Left, 21st Battalion.

We currently have no further information on Thomas Kirby. 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 Neil Grace (Ancestry) for permission to use Thomas' photograph on the site.

Killed On This Day.

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
L/Cpl 29203 Valentine Alexander
26 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 27948 Joseph Atherton
26 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 51896 Richard Edward Banks
34 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 46630 Watson Bell
38 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Lieut Roland Henry Brewerton
27 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 51708 Charles Norman Dod
21 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
L/Cpl 94246 Frank Emison
24 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 23056 John William Jones
27 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 49572 John Henry Leadbeater (MM)
27 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Sgt 22462 James Lowe (MID)
25 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 51712 Edgar Domenico Murray
21 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 269899 Harry Pitts
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A total of 14 Pals were killed on this day. View All