Pte 22760 Charles Little

On Friday, August 8th, at 10, Victoria-place, Margaret Ann, the beloved wife of Charles H. Little, aged 21 years. 

 

Manx Sun, Saturday, September 06, 1884 

Deaths. 

On Friday, August 29th, at 1 Great George's Street, Margaret Ann, infant daughter of Charles Henry Little, steward, aged one month. 

 

In 1901 Jennie, 34, and the twins, age 8, are living at 2 Summer Hill Place, Douglas.  His father is found as a steward on the S.S. Ellen Vannin, a coaster docked at Ramsey, Isle of Man.

 

Unfortunately, Charles has not been found on any later census or crew list.

 

By 1911 his parents and Harry are living at 7 York Road, Douglas. His father, 48, is a ship’s steward, his mother is 45, Harry, 18, is a marine engineer apprentice with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co.  Before the war his mother let holiday apartments at “Hilberry House”,  7 York Road. 

Charles came from America in 1914 to enlist. He joined the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 22760 on the 10th November 1914 at Liverpool. He gave his age as 21 years and 219 days, and occupation as seaman.  He was described as being five feet four inches tall, weighed 125lbs, 38" chest, with a sallow complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England. The name and address of his next of kin is illegible, but the address was later changed to 57 Albemarle Road, Liscard, Cheshire.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th 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 embarked for France with his battalion on 07th November 1915, disembarking at Boulogne.

Charles was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 23, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

The 20^th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20^th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 Other Ranks

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July. 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.

Charles was initially declared Missing on 30th July 1916.  

In the Isle of Man Examiner on the 09th September 1916:

“Mr. and Mrs. Little, 7 York Road, Douglas, have been officially informed that their son, Private Charles Little, King’s Liverpool Regiment, has been missing since an engagement on 30th July.  Pte. Little was working in America when  hostilities broke out, but came home and enlisted last year [sic].”

 

His name appeared in the list of K.L.R. Missing published in the Liverpool Post & Mercury on 14th September 1916:

 

King’s (Liverpools) - Little, 22760, C. (Douglas); 

His death was officially accepted, about nine months later, as having occurred on or since 30th July 1916.

He 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.”

Charles earned his three medals, which his father signed for. He also received Charles’ Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £7-10.  The pension card in the name of his mother Jennie, at 7 York Road, shows that she was awarded a pension of 14/- a week from May 1917. The card indicates that she died in Australia in 1938.  

 

In 1919 his twin brother Harry was living at home in Douglas with their parents.

 

 

His parents are found on a passenger list to Australia in 1929, possibly to join son Harry.

 

His father died, aged 67, in 1930 and was buried on the 20th April at Onchan. 

 

Charles is commemorated on the following memorials - 

The Manx National Memorial, St. John’s, Isle of Man

St. Ninian’s Parishioners, Douglas

Douglas Memorial

Douglas Roll of Honour.

 

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