Sgt 17076 Duncan Malcolm

• Age: 22
• From: Bootle, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 22nd September 1917
• Commemorated at: Torreken Farm
  Panel Ref: B.15

Duncan Malcolm was born in Bootle in 1895, the son of  David Findlay Malcolm and his wife Ann Jane (nee Hesketh) who were married at St Bede's Church, Toxteth Park, Liverpool on 26th December 1894. David was 34 years of age and a clerk, his home address was 1 Cedar Grove, Ann was 24 years of age, her address was 34 Croxteth Grove.

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 181 Worcester Road, Bootle. His father is 40 years of age and is a timber measurer, his mother is 30 years of age, both were born in Liverpool. They have two children in the household, Duncan aged 6 and born in Bootle, and Jessie aged 3, born in Litherland. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 39 Leicester Road, Bootle. His father David Findlay aged 51, born 1860 is a timber measurer who was born in Bootle. His wife Ann is aged 41, born 1870 in Liverpool. They have been married for seventeen years and have had three children, Duncan aged 16, born 1895 is a clerk, Jessie aged 13, born 1898 and Ronald aged 9, born 1902 are both at school.

Duncan enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 31st August 1914  joining the 18^th Battalion (No 4 Company) of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 17076.

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 arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

His father died at his home address at 39 Leicester Road, Bootle on the 24th March 1917.

Duncan had attained the reached the rank of Sergeant when he was killed in action on the 22^nd September 1917, aged 22, during the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele).

18^th Battalion War Diary for 22nd September 1917

Enemy shelled intermittently.  Found working parties to Front Line, Wiring and Digging.

Casualties. Killed

17076 Sergt D Malcolm

203094 Pte G Fearon

57694 Pte B Brearley

202830 Pte J Conway

57784 Pte W Elliott

203179 Pte N. Williams

Duncan's death was reported in the Bootle Times on 05th October 1917 under the header: 

BOOTLE SERGEANT.

"A GOOD COMRADE AND A BRAVE MAN."

Sergeant Duncan Malcolm, 18th King's Liverpool Regiment, was killed in action September 22nd. He was 22 years of age and the eldest son of Mrs. Annie Findlay Malcolm and the late Mr. David Findlay Malcolm, of 39, Leicester-road, Bootle. Prior to enlisting he was in the service of the Cunard Steamship Company. An "old boy" of Christ Church School, his death is keenly felt by all who knew him.

 Letters of sympathy have been received by his mother from the Chaplain, Lieutenant, and a comrade, speaking of the young soldier in the highest terms. His officer says: "I cannot tell you how exceedingly sorry I am for his loss, which is felt not only by myself, but the officers of my company and other companies in which he has served. His recent promotion to the rank of sergeant was entirely due to his efficiency as a non-commissioned officer and his devotion to duty . . . . . The loss of a good comrade and a brave man is felt by officers and men alike, and all unite in tendering you their deepest sympathy in your great and sad bereavement." 

Duncan now rests at Torreken Farm Cemetery No 1, Belgium where the inscription on his headstone reads:

“HE ROSE TO ANSWER HIS COUNTRYS CALL HE GAVE HIS LIFE HIS ALL”

Wytschaete was taken by the Germans early in November 1914, and was recovered by Commonwealth forces during the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917, but fell into German hands once more on 16 April 1918. The village was retaken for the last time on 28 September.  The cemetery, begun by the 5th Dorset Regiment in June 1917 and used as a front line cemetery until April 1918, contains 90 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 14 German war graves.

He is also commemorated on the family headstone in Bootle Cemetery and on the following Memorials;

Bootle Civic Memorial

Christ Church C.of E. School, Bootle

Cunard Steam Ship Co Roll of Honour and Plaques.

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