Pte 23111 Charles McNiven

Charles McNiven was born on the 02nd September 1895 at Kirkdale, Liverpool and was baptised 05th September 1895 at St Alphonsus' Roman Catholic Church, Liverpool. He was the son of Charles McNiven and his wife Agnes McNiven (nee Miller) who were married on the 17th May 1882 at St Anthony's Church, Scotland Road, Liverpool. Charles was of 10 Court, House 4, St Martins Street, father Charles, whilst Agnes was of 27 Wright Street, father John.  

His father was born in Dundee, Scotland and his mother in Liverpool. They had eleven children, three of whom died young (Agnes 1884-86, Charles 1886-88, and Francis 1893). Charles had older siblings Mary Ada and John Joseph, and younger siblings William, Harry, Florence, Donald, and Francis. 

 

His father is found on the crew list of the Liverpool registered SS “Liguria” in 1882 where he is aged 22, born in Dundee, and a trimmer. 

A Charles McNiven died in Liverpool in 1908, but the stated age, of 40, does not match his father’s.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 2 Doon Street, Kirkdale, Liverpool. His mother Agnes is a widow aged 47, born 1864 in Liverpool with no occupation listed. Her children, all born in Liverpool are recorded as:  Ada aged 21, born 1890 is a catering waitress, Joseph aged 20, born 1891 is a carter, Charles aged 15, is a barman’s assistant, William aged 14, born 1897 is a messenger boy, Henry aged 12, born 1899, Florence aged 9, born 1902, Donald aged 7, born 1904 and Francis aged 5, born 1906 are all at school.   

Prior to enlisting in November 1914, Charles had been employed by Messrs Cain and Sons as a barman. 
 

He enlisted in Liverpool on 11th November 1914, joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 23111. He gave his age as 20 years and 60 days, and his occupation as barman. He was described as being 5’ 5 and a half inches tall, weighing 122 lbs, 37" chest,with a sallow complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair. He gave as next of kin, his mother Agnes, at 18 Wilkin Street, Kirkdale and stated his religion as Roman Catholic. 

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. 

 

Whilst training at Knowsley on 07th March 1915, Charles was confined to barracks for one day and forfeited two days’ pay for being absent. Then whilst at Belton Park, Lincolnshire, on 06th September 1915 he was confined to barracks for four days for disobeying an order. After final infantry training on Salisbury Plain, Charles shipped to France with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 07th November 1915.

 

His service record survives and shows that he served in No.4 Company as a stretcher bearer.

 

16/3/1916 to 98 Field Ambulance, admitted bronchitis

17/3/1916 to 96 Field Ambulance 

20/3/1916 rejoined unit in the field

Charles was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 20, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive. Although, like many others lost that day, he was initially declared Missing in Action.

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 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.”

An Army telegram dated 26th August 1916 addressed to his mother at Wilkin Street was undeliverable, “gone away”.  It was delivered a few days later to Fonthill Road. 

 

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

 

 

His death was later assumed, for official purposes, in May 1917, as having occurred on or since 30th July 1916.

The Liverpool Evening Express of 30th June 1917 recorded the receipt of the information containing Charles' death:

Private Charles McNiven,K.L.R.,age 21, who joined the forces in November,1914, and was reported missing July 30th, 1916, is now offically reported killed. He was employed at Messrs. Cain and Sons, as a barman, and resided with his mother at 17, Fonthill-road,Kirkdale. 

His CWGC certificate incorrectly shows his age as 23, likely based on information provided by his stepfather. 

 

Charles earned his three medals, which his brother Joseph McNiven signed for, living at 32 Bousfield Street, Kirkdale.

 

The pension card in the name of his mother, at 17 Fonthill Road, appears to show a refusal, but later awarded from 07th July 1917.

His Army effects went to his mother, who died on the 14th March 1919, aged 50, from bronchopneumonia. The War Gratuity of £7-10s went to his stepfather Charles Roper.

 

In 1919 his siblings Florence, 18, Donald 15, and Francis 14, were living at home with their stepfather.

 

His younger brother Harry enlisted in February 1917, when he was 18 years old, in the 26th Bn K.L.R. and was transferred to the Lancs Fusiliers. His medical record shows that he admitted to life-long nervousness and hand tremor, but these were exacerbated by an explosion in the lines in February 1918. He was evacuated to England and hospitalised in November 1918 in Moss Side, Maghull for neurasthenia (shell shock). Harry was awarded an interim disability pension of 8/- a week.

 

Sadly, Charles has not been found on any local memorials.

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