Pte 16614 Arthur Leigh (Schwartz)

• Age: 22
• From: Everton, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

16614 Private Arthur LEIGH, 18^th Battalion, KLR.

Arthur Leigh was born Arthur Schwartyes at 7 Pulford Street, Everton, Liverpool on 04th July 1893. He was the son of Arthur Christian Schwartyes and his wife Margaret Alice (nee Kenyon) who were married on the 13th July 1890 at St Mary, Kirkdale. He was baptised on the 13th August 1893 at St Cuthbert’s, Everton. The family simplified the name to Schwartz, however in May 1915, in response to the anti-Germanic fever sweeping the company, Arthur‘s father changed the family name, by deed poll, to Leigh and on the death of his son was insistent that his son should be known and commemorated by this name. 

Prior to the war Arthur had been employed as a clerk with Messrs GW Blundell and Sons, cotton merchants of Old Hall Street, Liverpool. He was a member of the Liverpool Cotton Clerks Society, being well known on the Exchange. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 7 Pulford Street, Everton, Liverpool.

His father, Arthur Schwartyes is aged 35, and employed as a railway clerk born in Liverpool. His mother, Margaret, is aged 30, and was also born in Liverpool. At the time of the Census, they have four children in the household;  Phoebe aged 10, Arthur aged 7, Esther aged 5 and Alice aged 8 months. The children were all born in Liverpool. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 23 Cowley Road, Walton, Liverpool.

His father, Arthur, is aged 45, and still employed as a railway clerk and his mother Margaret is aged 40 with no occupation listed. They have been married for thirty years and have six children, all of whom have survived. Phoebe now aged 20 is a dressmaker, Arthur aged 17 is a cotton merchants clerk, Esther aged 15 is an apprentice dressmaker, Alice aged 10, Hilda aged 8, and Richard aged 6. 

Arthur Leigh alias Schwartz enlisted in Liverpool on the 01st September 1914 and was posted to the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16614. He was aged 21 years 51 days, born Liverpool, occupation clerk and described as being 5' 10" tall, weight 156lbs, 35” chest, being of sallow complexion with hazel eyes and light brown hair. NOK father, 15 Highfield Rd, Aintree and gave his religion as Church of England. He stated that he had previously served for two years with the 5th (Territorial) Battalion King’s (Liverpool) Regiment leaving due to illness.  

He enlisted in Liverpool on the 01st September 1914 and was posted to the 18^th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16614. He was descibed as being 5' 10" tall, weight 156lbs, being of sallow complexion with hazel eyes and light brown hair. He stated that he had previously served for two years with the 5^th (Territorial) Battalion King’s (Liverpool) Regiment leaving due to illness. 

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 sailed to France on 7th November 1915 with his Battalion on board the SS Invicta.

He was killed in action on the 1^st July 1916 and 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.”

18^th Battalion Diary

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 spirit 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 day’s 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. 

Liverpool Daily Post 15th July 1916 

Private Arthur Leigh, formerly with Messrs. G. W. Blundell, cotton merchants, of Liverpool, reported killed in action. The Cotton Exchange flag was hoisted half-mast. 

His death was reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on 18th July 1916:
 
Private A. Leigh, of the Pals,who was killed whilst endeavouring to get a sniper. He was formerly in the employ of Messrs. G.W. Blundell and Sons, cotton merchants, Oldhall-street, and he was a member of the Liverpool Cotton Clerks Society, being well known on Change. His home was at 15, Highfield-road, Walton. 

Liverpool Echo 1st August 1916 

A COMRADE'S TRIBUTE.  

Private Arthur Leigh, of the “Pals,” who was killed action in France, was 23 years of age, and resided with his parents at, 15, Highfield-road, Walton, Liverpool. Before the war he was employed by G. W. Blundell and Sons, Old Hall-street, Liverpool. A friend of Private Leigh wrote to his parents: “Arthur was killed instantly by the bursting of a shell, which struck him in the heart, and he died a hero.” 

Arthur is also remembered on the Liverpool Cotton Association Ltd, 620 Cotton Exchange Building, Edmund Street, Liverpool.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Margaret. 

As of May 1919 his siblings were; Phoebe aged 28, Esther aged 23, Alice aged 18, Hilda aged 16 and Richard aged 14, 

Parents appear on the 1939 register at 44 Liverpool Road South, Maghull. Arthur C. Leigh, dob 15th May 1865, and Margaret A., dob 10th March 1871. 

Father died aged 89 on the 10th Sept 1954. 

Probate 1954:- 

LEIGH Arthur Christian of 54 Liverpool Road, South Maghull Lancashire died 10th September 1954 Administration (with Will) Liverpool 20 October to the Reverend Richard Kenyon Leigh clerk. Effects £226 0s 8d. 

Mother died aged 83 in 1955. 

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