Pte 16428 Henry Nixon

• Age: 21
• From: Hanley Staffs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Saturday 29th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Hanley Cem, Stoke-on-trent
  Panel Ref: 9523

Henry (Harry) Nixon was born in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent in the December quarter of 1894, the son of George Nixon and his wife Sarah Jane (née Griffiths) who were married on the 24th March 1890 at St. George's Church, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. George was a 28 year old decorator of 123 Hope Street, Hanley, father Henry deceased, whilst Sarah was aged 22 of 6 Mount Pleasant, father Edward. At the time of the war they lived at 18 Wood Terrace, Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent. 

Henry was baptised on the 09th January at Holy Trinity Church, Hope, Staffordshire. 

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 23 Hope Street, Hanley. Henry is 6 years of age and is living with his parents and two brothers. His father is a 39 year old potter's guilder born in Tunstall, whilst his mother is a 33 year old born in Hanley. His brothers also born in Hanley are shown as George aged 10 and Edward S. aged 3.

By 1911 the family have moved to 11 Hope Street, Hanley. Henry is resident as a boarder at Lamb Street, Hanley he was 16 years of age and is a drapery apprentice. His parents are living with their three sons, George aged 20 is an elementary school teacher, Edward Stanley is now 13 and youngest brother Frank Leslie is 5. His parents advise that they have been married for 21 years and all four of her children have survived.    

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th 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. 

Henry embarked for France with his Battalion on board the SS Invicta on the 07th November 1915.

During the attack on the 01st July, 1916 he was shot in the knee and shoulder and admitted to 96 Field Ambulance. He was transferred to No 5 Casualty Clearing Station, (Corbie) on the 02nd July and then on to No 2 Stationary Hospital (Abbeville). Once his wounds were stabilised he was evacuated to the UK on board the Hospital Ship Galeka on the 19th July 1916.

Henry developed tetanus and died in Torbay Hospital, Torquay at 02:20am on the 29th July with his parents at his bedside. He was 21 years of age.

The 18th Battalion Diary gives an insight in to the events of the day upon which Henry was wounded:

At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great spirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks.

Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:

As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.  

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter  wrote in the conclusion of his account of the days action:

I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:

“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”.    

Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18^th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257. 

His death was reported in the Staffordshire Sentinel on Monday 31st July 1916 (text clipped on right) 

Harry now rests at Hanley Cemetery. There are 192 First World  and Second World War burials in the Cemetery.

He is also remembered on a plaque inside the entrance to Hanley Town Hall, Albion Street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.

The ship that Harry was evacuated to the UK, the Galeka, was sunk on 28th October 1916, when it  hit a mine laid by the German submarine  UC-26 and although there were no patients on board 19 soldiers of the R.A.M.C. were drowned.

Soldiers Effects, Army pay of £6 8s 3d, £8 10s War Gratuity went to his father George and pension to his mother Sarah Jane.

As of July 1919 his siblings were; George aged 28 and Edward Stanley aged 21. His younger brother Frank Leslie had died in the second quarter of 1912 aged 7. 

His father, George, died aged 58, in 1920.

Grateful thanks are extended to Steve Cooper who took the photograph of Henry's headstone at Hanley Cemetery.

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