Pte 17911 Morton Neill

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 33 Burns Avenue, Liscard, Cheshire.

His father, Andrew Morton, is aged 49, born in Twickenham, London in 1862 occupation, private means - retired upholsterer, whilst his mother, Christina, is aged 50, born in Longton, Cumberland in 1861. They have been married for twenty five years and have four children, all listed in the Census records: Ethel Mary aged 22, born 1889 a shorthand typist for a rubber merchant, Florence Margaret aged 20, born 1891 a shipping clerk, Charlotte Maud aged 17, born 1894 a milliner and Morton aged 14, born 1897 is at school. The four children were all born in Liverpool. They also have a domestic servant named Beatrice Devey aged 17, born in Birkenhead in 1894.   

He enlisted on 01st September 1914 at St. George's Hall, Liverpool joining the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 17911. He gave his age as 19 years and 60 days and occupation as a clerk. He was five feet seven and six eighths tall, weighed 116lbs, 35” chest, of fresh complexion with grey eyes and dark brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England and next of kin his father Andrew, 33 Burns Ave, Wallasey. (It would appear Morton lied about his age on enlistment giving his year of birth as 1895 and not 1897). 

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. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

His service papers sbow:

14.7.15-22.7.15: Whilst at Belton Park, Grantham admitted to hospital with German Measles.

11.9.15: At Belton Park. Dirty on church parade. Confined to barracks for three days.

07.11.15: Embarked for France with his battalion.

16.01.16: Wounded shrapnel to Field Ambulance.

16.01.16: Admitted to 5. Casualty Clearing Station with gunshot wound right arm.

21.01.16: Admitted to 5 General Hospital at Rouen.

06.2.16: To England on hospital ship St Denis. 

Morton recuperated at V.A.D. Hospital, Perth 

Perthshire Constitutional & Journal - Monday 14 February 1916 

WOUNDED SOLDIERS FOR PERTH.  

MEN DIRECT FROM FRONT.  

Another batch of wounded, numbering 120, reported in our Wednesday's issue, arrived at Perth early on Wednesday morning. The names of the men and regiments represented were:- 

V.A.D. HOSPITAL. 

17911 Pte. M. Neill 19th Liverpool. 

09.3.16-27.4.16: Home in Dunblane Auxillary Hospital with gunshot wound to right upper forearm. (fit for duty from 27.3.16).

01.4.16: Furlough

28.4.16: Embarked on HMT “Victoria” from Folkestone and returned to France.

29.4.16: 30 I.B.D. at Etaples.

14.5.16: Rejoined 19th Battalion.

Morton was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 19, 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 was initially declared Missing and was reported missing in the press on 01st September 1916:- 

Private Morton Neill, the only son of Mr and Mrs A.M. Neill, 33 Burns Ave, Wallasey.  

Liverpool Daily Post - Monday 18 September 1916 

Missing. 

King’s (Liverpool Regiment) - Neill, 17911, M. (Wallasey); 

One of his sisters (Miss M. Neill), of 33 Burns Avenue, contacted the International Red Cross but was notified in a reply dated 25th September 1916 that they held no information on Morton.

His death was later presumed for official purposes as having occurred on or since 30th July 1916.

Morton's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as 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 family headstone at Rake Lane Cemetery, Wirral

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

ALSO THEIR ONLY SON

MORTON

19TH KINGS LIVERPOOL REGIMENT

MISSING AT GUILLEMONT, FRANCE, 30TH JULY 1916

AGED 19 YEARS

He is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Wallasey Village United Reformed Church

Victoria Central Community Hospital

His father received his personal effects which included three books, 1 safety razor in case, one cigarette case, one air pillow, one belt, three handkerchiefs, one scout badge, one writing pad and map.

A War Gratuity of £8-10s went to his father. 

No pension card has been found, suggesting that his parents did not apply for a pension.

His mother died in 1919 aged 58. 

His father died in hospital on the 18th Nov 1937 at the age of 76. 

Probate 1938:- 

NEILL Andrew Morton of 4 Woodland Drive, Wallasey Cheshire died 19 November 1937 at Victoria Central Hospital, Wallasey Probate Liverpool 24 January to William John Barrell solicitor and Charlotte Randolph Brown widow. Effects £14,853 12s 1d. Resworn £15,394 1s 10d. 

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