Pte 16376 George Henry Albert Kirkpatrick

• Age: 21
• From: Bootle
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Thursday 20th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Bootle Cem, Liverpool
  Panel Ref: I.CE.287

George Henry Albert Kirkpatrick was born in Bootle on the 18th October 1894 and was baptised on the 05th November 1894 at St Mary's Kirkdale. He was the son of George Kirkpatrick and his wife Margaret Jane (nee Carter) formerly Leney, formerly Heal. His parents were married on 26th March 1894 at St.Polycarp's C.of E. Church, Everton.  Margaret had been previously married in 1887 to a gentleman by the surname Heal and had a son James. She was then married to George Leney who she married in 1890 at St. Mary’s Walton and with whom she had two children William George and Georgina.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 6 Canal Street, Bootle. George is 6 years of age and is living with his parents, three siblings and one step brother, His father, George Kirkpatrick Snr. is a 35 year old railway porter born in Liverpool, whilst his mother, Margaret Jane is 38 years of age and was also born in Liverpool. His siblings are shown as; William G. (now shown as Kirkpatrick) aged 10, Georgina (now shown as Kirkpatrick) aged 8, Denham Kirkpatrick aged 4 also 13 year old stepbrother Leonard J W Heal and Margaret Carter described as maternal grandmother a 61 year old widow born in Scotland.

By the time of the 1911 Census the family are living at 1 Rutland Street, Bootle - George is now 16 years of age and a messenger for a Book Binders. Both parents are in the household, his father is now a gateman for a railway company. They advise that they have been married for 24 years and five of their eight children have survived. Those listed in the household in 1911 in addition to George are:  William George aged 20 and a printer, Georgina Nancy aged 18 and a worker in a match factory, Denham aged 14 and a bookbinder's office boy. Also listed is Margaret Carter, maternal grandmother, born in Edinburgh and now 76.  

There is a crew record for George in 1912 on the Oriana, aged 17 as a Steward, note saying discharged Liverpool 11th November 1912.

George enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 02nd September 1914, joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16376. His enlistment papers record he gave his age as 19 years and 319 days and he had been employed as a clerk. He was 5 ‘ 4” inches tall, weighed 115 lbs, and had a 34 inch chest with a fresh complexion, grey eyes, brown hair and gave his religion as Church of England.

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th 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 crossed to France with his Battalion on board the SS Invicta on the 07th November 1915.

During the attack on the 01st July 1916, George who was with No1 Company was hit in the head by enemy fire which resulted in a depressed fracture of his skull.

The 18^th Battalion Diary gives an insight into the action when George was wounded:

At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great sirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks.

Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:

As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.  

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter  wrote in the conclusion of his account of the days action:

I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:

“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”.    

Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18^th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257. 

In an interview, conducted in the early 1980s, by Graham Maddocks the author "Liverpool Pals" the former Pal No 16400 Private S Steele related:

"Then I bumped into my pal George Kirkpatrick, he lived in Rutland Street, Bootle, he had a bandage around him and I said "What have you got?" and he replied "I've got a bullet in the head". I said "Ah, get away, you'd be dead if you have a bullet in the head! How did you get that with a helmet?" He said "It went right through the helmet!" The bullet must have hit him square on, they normally glanced off and left a groove, but his went in, into his head. So I helped him down and howled at one of the stretcher bearers , but he said "We're dead beat, if he can walk he'll have to walk" and he had to walk down winding communication trenches , three miles to Bray, to the main dressing station, with a bullet in his head. 

George was admitted to 96 Field ambulance  and later to 21 Casualty Clearing station (Corbie). On the 07th July he was moved to 22 General Hospital (Camiers). Telegraphs from the War Office dated 07th July 1916 show that he was dangerously ill with a GSW head depressed fracture and he may be visited follow usual procedure case at public expense. Reply 09th July 1916 from Mrs Kirkpatrick - Cannot afford please send free warrant. His parents were given the warrant after obtaining a certificate signed by Police Sergeant John W. Scott of Bootle Police which stated that they were unable to afford the cost of a journey to France.

Records on the 09th July 1916 show that his parents were to leave Bootle on Monday to visit Private Kirkpatrick. George was visited by his parents on 10th July and that they returned on 12th July. George was evacuated to the UK on the 12th July on board the Hospital Ship Newhaven and admitted to Edmonton Military Hospital, London.

On 13th July, George's mother wrote a letter to the War Office:-

"Dear Sir, Just a few lines to let you know that my husband and I arrived home safe last night - we got in France on Monday night at half past eight o'clock and then we had to go 17 miles to our journey end and I was very glad to hear that my son was out of danger so I spent all day on Tuesday with him and was so pleased to see him so bright. I expect he will be in England by now as they are moving a lot [of wounded soldiers] about at 11 yesterday morning, we left there at 8 o'clock and I must thank you for your trouble I gave you on Sunday, I feel all the better for the out, I am just waiting to hear where they have brought my son".   

George was treated at Edmonton Military Hospital and sadly died at 04:02am on the 20th July 1916, aged 21 years. A telegram dated the same day reads:

“Regret to report death this morning of 16376 Pte G. Kirkpatrick 18th Kings Liverpool Regt. Relatives notified. War Hospital Edmonton.” 

His report of death gives the time of death as 4.02am and G.S.wound, Com Frac. Skull, Septic Meningitis.

George's body was returned to Liverpool and he now rests at Bootle Cemetery at I.CE.287 where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"THY WILL BE DONE"

There are 199 burials from the First World War in the Cemetery.

Records show a long list of his belongings were returned to family including letters, photos, Testament, wallet and money, matches, pipes and tobacco. 

His living siblings on 12th May 1919 were Denham, and half blood siblings Leonard J Heal, William Leney and Mrs Hughes.(Nee Leney) William Leney was serving with the Canadian 126 Coy in Brandon, Essex.

George's death was reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on 22nd July 1916:

DIED OF WOUNDS. 

KIRKPATRICK – July 20, died of wounds, aged 21 years, the dearly loved son of Mr and Mrs Kirkpatrick, 1 Rutland Street, Bootle. 

His happy face and cheery...? 

Are pleasant to recall; 

He had a kindly word...? 

And died respected by all. 

Also the Liverpool Evening Express on 24th July 1916:

George Kirkpatrick  Kings Liverpool Regiment (Pals)  Died of Wounds 20-Jul-16  Son of Mr and Mrs Kirkpatrick of  Bootle.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to his father George.

He was reported as wounded in the Daily Post on  07th August 1916.

He was remembered by his family on the first anniversary of his death in the Liverpool Evening Express on 21st July 1917: 

KIRKPATRICK – In sad but loving memory of our son George, (2nd Pals), aged 21 years, who died July 20 from wounds received in action July 1, 1916.(Never forgotten by his sorrowing Mother, Father, Denham and two brothers in France. - 1 Rutland Street, Bootle). 

His King and country called him.  

That call was not in vain;  

In Britain's role of honour  

You will find our hero’s name. 

KIRKPATRICK - In sad but loving memory of my dear brother, George (Pal's) who died July 20 from wounds received an action July 1,1916. Never forgotten by his sister Daisy, and Charlie in France.  

He nobly rose to his country's call,  

He gave his life, his best, his all. 

KIRKPATRICK - In loving memory of George (2nd Pal's) died from wounds July 20, 1916. Never forgotten by Annie and Syd in France.  

A British hero to the heart,  

His precious life he gave;  

He fell upon the battlefield,  

A noble flag to save. 

George is also remembered on the following memorials:

Bootle-Cum-Linacre Baptist Mission Church, Ash Street.

Bootle Civic Memorial, Stanley Road, Bootle.

His mother died, aged 77, in the March quarter of 1940. 

His father died aged 77 in the March quarter of 1943.

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