Pte 15880 Wilfred Henry Lenthall

• Age: 23
• From: Litherland, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 10th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Wilfred Henry Lenthall was born on 22nd May 1893 in Litherland, and was the son of Henry Lenthall and Annie Elizabeth (nee Preston) of 24 Cedar Grove, Waterloo. Henry and Annie had married in the December quarter of 1890.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 8 David Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. His father, Henry, is aged 39 and is a railway traffic inspector who was born in Welbeck, Notts, his mother Annie Elizabeth is aged 45 and was born in Retford, Notts. They have two children Arthur Richard aged 9 who was born in Liverpool and Wilfred Henry 7 born in Litherland.

The 1911 Census shows the family have moved to 5 Chetwynd Street, Liverpool. His father Henry is shown as aged 50, and is still employed as a railway traffic inspector,  his mother Annie Elizabeth is aged 55,with no occupation listed. They have been married for twenty years and have had two children, Arthur Richard 19 a boy clerk with H.M.Customs, and Wilfred Henry aged 17 an Insurance Clerk.  

Wilfred’s service records show that he enlisted into the 17th Battalion (D Company) of the Kings Liverpool Regiment on 31st August 1914 at St George's Hall Liverpool. He gave his age as 21 years and 120 days, place of birth as Litherland and his employment as a clerk, apprenticed with London Lancs Insurance, for over 4 years. He was described as being  5' 5 1/2 tall and weighed 134 lbs, with a 36" chest , fair complexion, grey eyes and sandy hair. He stated his religion as Church of England.  He gave his father as next of kin at 5 Chetwynd Street.

On the 31st Dec 1915 he was admitted to 96 and then 98 F.A. with influenza, returning to duty 07th January 1916.

Wilfred's date of death is recorded on CWGC and in the official records as between 10-12/07/1916. 

The murderous fighting that went on inside Trones Wood rendered it impossible to put specific dates on some of the casualties which is why many of the 17^th Battalion losses have been bracketed as killed in action between 10^th – 12th July 1916. The conditions are best described in the following passage from Everard Wyrall’s book The History of The King’s Regiment (Liverpool) Volume II. 

The remembrance of Trones Wood in July 1916 to those who passed through it is of a noisome, horrible place, of a tangled mass of trees and undergrowth which had been tossed and flung about in frightful confusion by the shells of both sides. Of the ghastly dead which lay about in all directions, and of DEATH, lurking in every hole and corner with greedy hands ready to snatch the lives of the unwary. The place was a Death trap, and although the attacks were made with great determination,   the presence of snipers who could not be detected and often fired into the backs of our men made the clearing of the wood impossible.

His death was reported with a notice in the Liverpool Echo on 23^rd August 1916:

LENTHALL – July 12^th, Previously missing, now reported killed and buried on the battlefield age 23 years Private Wilfred Henry, dearly beloved and youngest son of Mr & Mrs H Lenthall, 5 Chetwynd Street, St Michaels Hamlet. 

The notice in the newspaper refers to Wilfred being buried on the battlefield. However, his remains must have been subsequently lost as his name is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial.

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.”

His family paid tribute to Wilfred in the Liverpool Echo on the first anniversary of his death on 12th July 1917

LENTHALL - In loving memory of Private Wilfred Henry Lenthall (1st Pals), killed in action, July 12, 1916, aged 23 years. - From Father, Mother and Brother Arthur (on active service in France.)

Soldiers Effects to father Henry, and pension to mother Ann Elizabeth. 

Probate records dated 03rd February, 1919 show – Admin (with will) to Henry Lenthall – Railway Inspector – Effects £182.6.10d

Wilfrred is also commemorated on the following Memorials;

Liverpool Institute School

St Michael in the Hamlet, C. of E. Church and school. 

Hall of Remembrance in Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 65 Right. 

His mother Ann Elizabeth died in 1947 aged 91, and his father Henry died in 1952 aged 90.

His brother Arthur Richard served overseas as Cpl T4/253016 Army Service Corps
 

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