Pte 25066 David Mylchreest

• Age: 21
• From: Braddan, Isle of Man
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

David Mylchreest was born in Braddan in 1894 the son of Henry and Eliza Catherine Mylchreest. He was baptised on 02nd December 1894.

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at Trammon Cottage, 3 Union Mills, Braddan, Isle of Man. David is 6 years of age. His father, Henry, is the head of the household, born on the Isle of Man in 1843, he is an agricultural abourer .His mother was also born on the Isle of Man in 1854. He has 4 siblings listed, all born on the Isle of Man; Horace b. 1887 an apprentice organ builder, Margaret E. b. 1888, Irene C. b.1890, Joseph E. b.1893.

By 1911 the family have moved to Cronk Road, Union Mills. Both parents are in the household, David is now 16 and a railway clerk. His siblings still at home are listed as; Irene, a laundry maid and Joseph a railway clerk,      

He enlisted in Douglas, Isle of Man and was serving in the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 25066 when he was killed in action on the 31st July 1917 during the Third Battle of Ypres.

20^th Battalion

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

The Battalion moved into assembly positions east of Maple Copse between 05.00 and 05.20am, they were heavily shelled and suffered many casualties. At 07.50 they began to advance with the 17^th Battalion on the left, and the 20^th on the right, the whole time under heavy shell fire. On reaching their position which was the Blue Line , troops of both the 21^st and 90^th Brigades were still pinned down  and thus any attempt at further progress were futile.

At this point a message was sent to Brigade HQ advising that Companies were digging in on and consolidating a line running south from Stirling Castle.

He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

His death was reported in the Mona Herald on 22nd August 1917:

MYLCHREEST- Mrs Mylchreest of Union Mills, has received word that her son L/Cpl David Mylchreest, 21 King's Liverpool Regiment was killed in action on 31st July 1017, his brother Captain Horace Mylchreest is at present in France, as chaplain to the forces.

David is also commemorated on the following memorials;

Kirk Braddan, Union Mills Isle Of Man

The Manx National Memorial, St John's, Isle of Man

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