Pte 17422 Frederick Moxley

• Age: Unknown.
• From: Birkenhead, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 23rd April 1917
• Commemorated at: Arras Memorial
  Panel Ref: Bay 3

Frederick Moxley was born in Birkenhead in 1894 the son of Edward Moxley and his wife Mary. He had 4 brothers; Edward, Wilmot, Samuel and Alfred Septimus.

1901 Census -  8 Grosvenor Street, Tranmere  -  parents Edward and Mary with children Edward, Wilmot, Frederick and Samuel 

1911 Census  -  35 Craven Street, Birkenhead  -  widowed father Edward with Frederick and his siblings living with John Smith and Elizabeth (Brother in law and Uncle)

He enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 31st August 1914 joining the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 17422. He gave his age as 19 years 250 days and his occupation as a Clerk. He is described as being 5'5 and three quater inches tall, and weighed 113lbs, being of dark complexion with hazel eyes and dark hair. He gave his next of kin as his father and his mother is noted as deceased.  

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to 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. 

At Larkhill Camp on 15/10/1915 he was absent from fatigues and was punished with 4 days company fatigues. 

His papers show he served in France from 07/11/1915 - 01/08/1916. He was wounded (GSW Left Leg) at Guillemont on 30/07/1916 and returned to the UK whereupon he was admitted to the County of Middlesex War Hospital at Napsbury near St Albans on 02/08/1916. He remained in hospital until 20/12/1916. He was then posted to the 3rd Battalion KLR on 29/12/1916. He returned to France via Folkestone on 21/03/1917, arriving at Boulogne. He was posted to the 1st Battalion on arrival at Etaples on 21/03/1917. He was subsequently posted to the 18th Battalion on 12/04/1917. 

Frederick was killed in action with the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment on 23/04/1917, aged 22.

On that day the Battalion had occupied old German Trenches at Henniel on the Arras sector of the front. In the evening, it moved to a sunken road to support an attack by the 18th and 19th Battalion’s of the Manchester Regiment. Elements of the Pals were to provide mopping up parties for both the Manchester Battalions, who were to move forward at 18.00pm. However, as the orders were not received until 17.45pm,it proved impossible to join the Manchester’s in time for their attack and the mopping up parties followed from where they presumed that the assaulting waves had left.

By this time, the German retaliatory barrage had begun, and the British Front Line was so heavily shelled, that the Battalion took up position in the shell holes in front. As the situation was chaotic, some troops on the right flank had begun to pullback, it was decided to withdraw to the British front line under cover of darkness to consolidate. Eventually, by morning the position became clearer, and the Battalion was able to move forward to occupy the old front line which had been vacated by the Germans, who had retired over the next crest.

Altogether the Battalion’s losses were four officers and one hundred and one other ranks, killed, wounded or missing.

It wasn't until the 05th May 1917 that it was confirmed that he had been killed on 23rd April.

His body was not recovered from the battlefield and his name is recorded on the Arras Memorial in France.

The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Both cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on the 31 July 1932 (originally it had been scheduled for 15 May, but due to the sudden death of French President Doumer, as a mark of respect, the ceremony was postponed until July).

His personal effects were sent to his father at 35 Craven Street, Birkenhead on 11th September 1917 and included, a notebook, wallet, photo's and cards and various papers. His father also recieved Frederick's medals.     

Frederick is commemorated on the Birkenhead War Memorial at Hamilton Square.

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