Pte 21579 Thomas Herbert Newbould

The 1891 Census shows the family (recorded as Newbold) living at 117 Berry Street, Bootle.

Thomas is 4 years of age and living with his parents and three brothers. His father is 49 years of age, born in Gainsborough in 1851 and whose employment is shown as a riveter, whilst his mother was born in Oxton, Cheshire in 1855. His siblings are shown as Charles F. an iron moulder born 1874 in Rock Ferry, Cheshire, Alfred H. a fitters apprentice born in Bootle in 1876 and Albert W. born Higher Bebington in 1880. 

His brother Alfred died in 1893 at the age of 17 and was buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bootle. 

The 1901 Census shows Thomas aged 14 living with his widowed mother Elizabeth, aged 54, at 8 Bianca Street, Bootle. Also present are his older brothers Charles, 26, now a Dock Labourer and Albert, 23, now a Prison Officer. Both brothers were born in Cheshire whilst the Census advises that Thomas was born in Bootle.  

Charles Newbould aged 62 died in 1902 and was buried on the 21st August in St. Mary’s, Bootle, his address 9 Southey St. 

Although his mother is recorded as a widow, Charles Newbold (sic), age given by the householder as 64, born in Gainsborough, is boarding in Gray Street, Bootle, occupation grain porter.

Charles Newbould aged 62 died in 1902 and was buried in St. Mary’s, Bootle.

A crew list for Thomas H. Newbold (sic) of 61 Viola Street, 20 years old, born in Seaforth, shows him signing on for his first voyage from Liverpool to New York on 04th April 1907 as a steward on the Majestic (White Star Line).  He made another trip in May and is not found on any further crew lists. 

The 1911 Census records Thomas as living with his widowed mother, aged 64, at 61 Viola Street, Bootle. Thomas is 24 years of age and is a dyer by trade and was employed at Messrs Johnson Brothers, Dyers, Bootle, as is the boarder Charles Woods 22.   

His mother died a year later, in March 1912, aged 65. She was also buried on the 26th in St. Mary’s Churchyard, Bootle, her address 36 Somerset Rd. 

A crew list for Thomas H. Newbold (sic) of 61 Viola Street, 20 years old, born in Seaforth, shows him signing on for his first voyage from Liverpool to New York on 04th April 1907 as a steward on the Majestic (White Star Line).  He made another trip in May and is not found on any further crew lists.

He enlisted on the 03rd September 1914 at St George's Hall, Liverpool joining the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 21579 and gave his age as 27 years and 210 days and his occupation as a clerk. He was five feet four and half inches tall, weighed 112lbs, 33” chest, fresh complexion, brown eyes, brown hair and gave his religion as Church of England. He gives as next of kin, his brother, Albert William at 6 Somerset Road, Bootle. CWGC records hold his next of kin details as his widow, Elizabeth Newbould of 6 Leicester Road, Bootle, which was her family home. 

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. 

On 23rd September 1915 Thomas married Elizabeth Jameson at St Matthew's Church Bootle, giving his occupation as a Soldier and his residence as 36 Somerset Road, Bootle which was his brothers address. It is likely that they met at work, as Elizabeth is recorded on the 1911 census as working for a dyers and cleaners.

His service record shows:

07.11.15: Embarked for France with his battalion. 

14.1.16: Attached to R.A.M.C for guard duties at Chiphilly.      

20.2.16: Neglect of duty. 5 days Field Punishment No1. 

09.3.16: Rejoined unit.

03.4.16: Shaving of upper lip contrary to Kings regulations. Forfeiture of four days pay.

Thomas was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 29, 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.      

Thomas' 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.”

CWGC records hold his next of kin details as his widow, Elizabeth Newbould of 6 Leicester Road, Bootle, which was her family home..

The Liverpool Echo. Thursday 24 August 1916 contained a report on his death: 

Private Tom Newbould, of the Liverpool "Pals" has been killed in the fighting at Trones Wood. He was 29 years of age, and was only married in September of last year, his wife residing at 6 Leicester Road, Bootle. In her great loss the young widow will have the sympathy of all who knew her gallant husband. 

Liverpool Daily Post - Wednesday 13 September 1916 

Killed. 

King’s (Liverpool Regiment) - Newbould, 21579, T. (Bootle); 

He earned his three medals (issued in the name of Newbold).

Elizabeth received his Army pay and a War Gratuity of £8-10s, and was awarded a pension of 12/- a week from February 1917.

His wife received his personal effects which included 1 parade service book, letter and post cards, one purse, one cap badge and one wallet.

In the Liverpool Echo, on 30th July 1917 under the heading ‘Lost At The Battle of Guillemont’ Tom's brother and sister in law paid tribute to him:

“In loving memory of Private Tom Newbould, of the K.L.R. (Pals), who fell in action on the Somme, July 30, 1916.

He faced the foe at duty’s call,
And in the front of battle paid the sacrifice of all.

Fondly remembered by his Brother and Sister-in-law, 36 Somerset Road, Bootle.”

In 1919 Elizabeth provided information on Thomas’ living relatives.  She was living at 6 Leicester Road;  Charles, 47, was living at 31 Viola Street; and Albert, 41, was at 36 Somerset Road.

In 1939 Elizabeth is living alone in Hatton Hill Road, Litherland. She is 53, working as an overlooker in a dyers and cleaners.  She appears to have died in 1972 aged 85.

Thomas is also remembered on the Jameson family headstone at Bootle Cemetery with his in-laws, John and Mary Jameson, the headstone also records their son John who was killed in action on 15th December 1917, aged 27  -

ALSO THOMAS H. NEWBOULD {19TH K.L.R.} SON-IN-LAW

     KILLED IN ACTION JULY 30TH 1916, AGED 29 YEARS

John Jameson (Elizabeth's brother) was serving with the 733rd Company of the Labour Corps when he died on 15th December 1917, he now rests at St Julien Dressing Station Cemetery in Belgium.