Pte 21762 William Meadows

• Age: 18
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

William Meadows was born in 1898 in Liverpool and was baptised 05th June 1898 at St Anne's, Church of England, Aigburth, Liverpool. He was the son of James Meadows and his wife Miriam (nee Watson) who were married on the 08th July 1890 at St Michael's Church, Toxteth, James was a 29 year old farmer, his father Isaac, whilst Miriam was aged 20, her father David, both of 4 Alwyn Street.

On the 1901 Census the family are living at 4 ? Cottages, Mersey Road, Aigburth. His father, William, is aged 41, a gardener, born England, mother Miriam aged 30 born Aigburth, children born Aigburth: Alice 9, Winifred 7, James H. 5, William 2, and Reginald 11 months.   

William was educated at St Anne’s School, Aigburth, Liverpool and was employed prior to the war with Liverpool Corporation first at Garston Baths then at the tramways. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 28 Chermside Road, Aigburth, Liverpool. His father James is aged 49 having been born in 1862, his occupation is shown as a dock labourer whilst his mother, Miriam is aged 40, born in Liverpool in 1871. They have been married for twenty one years and have six children, all of whom were born in Liverpool. Those listed as living in the household are; Winifred aged 17, born 1894 is a domestic, James Henry aged 15, born 1896 is a shop boy (bread and flour), William aged 12, Reginald aged 10, born 1901 are at school and John Leslie is aged 3, born 1908. Also listed is Miriam's mother, Margaret Watson a widow aged 68, born 1843 in Liverpool staying with them.

He enlisted on 13th November 1914 at Liverpool and gave his age 19 years and 12 days and his occupation as a steward. He was described as being five feet six inches tall, weighed 117lbs, 35” chest, being of fresh complexion with blue eyes and black hair. He stated his religion as Church of England and his next of kin was his father. (William was aged just 16 when he enlisted) 

He was billeted in the hutted accommodation 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. His service papers show a number of disciplinary problems:

26.01.15: At Knowsley Camp. Absent from Tattoo until 11.00pm 26.1.15. Three days confined to barracks.

22.3.15:At Knowsley. Irregular conduct on night operations. Three days confined to barracks.
Overstaying leave by 30 minutes. Four days confined to barracks. 

27.3.15: At Knowsley i. breaking out of the barracks whilst a defaulter (absent ten hours).
                                ii.Stating a falsehood to Sgt Hall. Ten days confined to barracks and forfeit three days pay. 

11.4.15: At Knowsley Camp. Refusing to do his duty as mess orderly. seven days field punishment No2.

02.10.15: At Larkhill Camp. Absent without leave from 11.53pm until 7.00pm 4/10/15. Confined to barracks for eight days and forfeit three days pay.

07.11.15: Embarked for France with his battalion from Folkestone.

20.3.16: Deprived of seven days pay for "Destroying Service Dress cap."

15.4.16: Awarded ten days Field Punishment No 1 for i. Using obscene language and ii. Not at once complying with an order.

He was serving in the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 21762 when he was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 18, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive. 

19^th Battalion Diary 30^th July 1916

MALTZ HORN FARM

BATTLE begun. ZERO hour 4:45 am. The Battalion reached its objective, but suffered heavy losses, and had to evacuate its position owing to no reinforcements.

Everard Wyrall gives details of the attack in his book The History of The King’s Regiment; 

"The 2nd Attack on Guillemont- 29th July 1916 the 89th Brigade the 20th King's were to attack on the right and the 19th on the left. During the evening of the 29th the night was dark and foggy when the Battalions moved off and the 19th with Lt Col G Rollo commanding, when passing the South east of the Briqueterie they were heavily shelled first with H E and then with a new kind of asphyxiating Gas shell which had curious results, at first it had no nasty effect but about 8 hrs later men began to fall sick with violent headaches and pains in the stomach. All ranks had to wear gas masks which in the darkness and mist made the going terribly difficult. It was indeed wonderful that they were able to reach their Assembly point at all. But they did and by 2.45 a.m. on the 30th July 1916 the Btn was assembled having suffered about 30 Casualties on the way up ready for the Zero hour at 4.45 a.m.

It is known that the two left Companies of the 19th under Capt. Dodd and Capt. Nicholson advanced in touch with the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on their left although they suffered many casualties from Machine gun Fire did not encounter many Germans and reached their final objective about the time allocated, beginning at once to dig in south of the orchard on the South east corner of Guillemont.  

On the left of the 19th the Scots Fusiliers most gallantly forced their way through Guillemont to the eastern side of the village but were soon overwhelmed by the enemy and few returned. 

At 8 a.m. finding that the village was not held the two left Companies of the 19th received no word from the rear or either flank believed themselves to be totally isolated so were forced to fall back and dig in, their position being untenable.

At midday the effective fighting strength of the 19th Btn was just 7 Officers and 43 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.

Casualties in the 19^th Battalion were 11 Officers and 435 Other Ranks 

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.    

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.”

He is also remembered on the St Anne’s Church War Memorial, Aigburth, Liverpool.

William was remembered by his family on the first anniversary of his death in the Liverpool Echo on 30th July 1917, under the heading, “Lost At The Battle Of Guillemont”:

“In loving memory of Private William Meadows, 19th Service Battalion K.L.R. (3rd Pals), killed in action July 30, 1916. (Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.)

Nobly he answered England’s call,

Bravely he fought and fell.

- Always remembered by his loving Mother, Father, Sisters, and Brothers (Jim, in France, and Reggie, H.M. Navy). - 28, Chermside Road, Aigburth.”

He was also remembered on the second anniversary of his death in 1918:

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