L/Cpl 23097 William Thomas Harris Macklin

• Age: 29
• From: Festiniog, Merioneth
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

William Thomas Harris Macklin was born in about October 1887 in Ffestiniog and resided in Birkenhead. He was baptised the 25th December 1887 at Ffestiniog, his parents then living in Station Road, and his father’s occupation given as railway inspector.  

Henry Macklin and Fanny Harris married in Droitwich on the 08th October 1882(family tree). Their first child James Harris was born in 1885 in Bala, after which the family moved to Ffestiniog, where William was born in 1887, Henry Percival 1889, Amy Phillis 1891, and Osmond Harris in 1893.  By 1896 they had moved to Birkenhead, where Loveda Letitia was born in 1896. 

At the time of the 1891 census the family is found at 12 Station Road, Ffestiniog. His father is aged 36, a railway inspector for GWR, born in Allensmore, Hereford, his mother is aged 29, born in Droitwich. The three sons are James 5, born in Bala, William 3, and Percival 1, both born in Ffestiniog.   

In 1901 they are living at 5 Simpson Street, Birkenhead, with six children. His father, 46, is now employed as a railway platelayer, his mother is 38, James, 15, is working as a railway clerk, and William is 13.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 20 Cleveland Street, Birkenhead. His father, Henry, is aged 56, born 1855 in Hereford, occupation, railway platelayer, whilst his mother, Fanny, is aged 49, born in Droitwich, Worcester in 1862 no occupation is listed. They have been married for twenty nine years and have had six children. Those listed in the property are; William aged 23, born 1888 and Henry aged 21, born 1890 in Ffestiniog are both emigration clerks, Osmond aged 18, born 1893 is a general butcher also born in Ffestiniog and Loveda is aged 14, born 1897 in Birkenhead. Also at the address at the time of the Census are his daughter Amy Pointon aged 19, born 1892 with her husband Ernest aged 26, born 1885 who is a picture frame maker from Burslem, Staffordshire and their son Norman born 1911. There are a further three visitors, Sydney Haywood aged 20, born 1891 an apprentice engineer from Accrington, Herbert Darby aged 39, born 1872 in Maidstone, Kent who is an R.S.P.C.A. Inspector and his wife Florence aged 29, born 1882 no occupation who was born in Amberley, Sussex. 

Prior to the war William was employed in the Passenger Department of the Allan Line, James Street, Liverpool.  

His father died at home on the 11th September 1914, aged 59. 

William enlisted in Liverpool on 11th November 1914 joining the 20^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment. He gave his age as 27 years and one month, and his occupation as clerk.  He was described as being 5’ 3 and a half inches tall, weighing 133 lbs, 38” chest, with a sallow complexion, brown eyes and black hair. He gives as next of kin his mother Fanny at 20 Cleveland Street and states his religion as C of E.

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 19th 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 arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.   

He served in No.4 Company and was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 05th May 1916 and further appointed paid L/Cpl on 27th June 1916. William was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 29, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

30th July 1916

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.

The Birkenhead News of 19th August 1916 reported William's death:  

"Lance-Corporal William Macklin, son of Mrs. Mackin, of 20, Cleveland-street, was killed in France on July 30th. The deceased was a general favourite, and made friends wherever he went. He joined the "Pals" in November,1914, and proceeded to France 12 months later, since when he has passed through some heavy fighting. All his letters to his mother have been bright and cheery, and full of the assurance that he was "well and happy, and there was no need to worry about him." Before joining the forces he was in the passenger department of the Allan Line, James-street, Liverpool, where he had been for 16 years. From the manager of her son's department Mrs.Macklin has received a letter expressing the personal loss the whole staff have suffered in the death of their colleague. Concluding, the writer says:-"We trust you will be able to bear the loss bravely, knowing your son fell on the battlefield fighting the cause of our Empire for liberty against the brutality of the associated Hun enemies. We all feel he died in a noble cause." The late Lance-Corporal Macklin was a single man 29 years of age. He was very well known in steamship passenger circles, as well as in political circles in Birkenhead". 

His death was also reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Saturday 09 September 1916: 

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.”

William earned his three medals, which his mother signed for. She was notified in November 1916 that there were no personal effects to be sent.  

His mother received his Army effects and a War Gratuity of £7-10s, and was awarded a pension of 10/- a week from March 1917. 

William's family and his fiancée paid tribute to him in the Liverpool Echo on 30th July 1917, under the heading,

“Lost At The Battle Of Guillemont”:

“In loving memory of our dear Willie, remembered by his Mother and Brothers and Sisters, 20, Cleveland Street, Birkenhead.” 

“In loving memory of Lance-corporal W. Macklin (Pals), who was killed in action July 30, 1916. Never forgotten by his fiancée Maggie and all at 128 Leopold Road.)”

In 1919 his mother provided information on William’s living relatives:  Osmond, 26, and Loveda, 23, are living at home with their mother;  James, 33, is living in Conway Street;  Percy, 29, in Fearnley Street;  and Amy, 27, is in Stoke on Trent. 

His mother Fanny diedat home on the 17th May 1923(family tree), aged 60. 

William is commemorated twice in Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance:

As Private on Panel 18 and as Lance Corporal on Panel 17.

He is also commemorated on the Men of Birkenhead Memorial.

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