Pte 17680 Thomas Herbert Parry

• Age: 23
• From: Carrog, Denbigh
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 12th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Thomas Herbert Parry was born in 1893 in Carrog, Denbigh, the son of Lewis James Parry and his wife Elizabeth Ellen (nee Palgrave) who were married in February 1890 in the church at Llandrillo-Yn-Rhos. Lewis was born in Amlwch, Anglesey, his marriage certificate shows that he was working as a private school master and was the son of a clerk in Holy Orders. Elizabeth was born in Bangor, North Wales where her father was a solicitor.

At the time of the 1901 census the family were living at 12 Hertford Drive, Liscard. Lewis was 47, and Elizabeth was 36. They are recorded as living on their own means. The couple had five children – John Palgrave aged 10, James Roose 9, both born in Llanfairfechan, Thomas Herbert 8 born in Carrog, Kathleen 6 born in Kew, Surrey and 4 year old Mabel who was born in Carrog.

Thomas’s father Lewis died in the December quarter of 1906, aged 53.

The 1911 Census shows his widowed mother, Elizabeth Ellen, aged 46, living at 9 Ormonde Street, Liscard, Birkenhead with her four youngest children. James Roose aged 19, who was a railway clerk, Thomas Herbert aged 18, is a book-keeper for a salt manufacturer, Kathleen aged 16, is at home and Mabel aged 14, is at school. 

Thomas enlisted in Liverpool on the 31st August 1914 at the age of 21, and served in the 19th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 17680. His enlistment papers show that he was aged 21 years and 7 months, occupation clerk. He was described as being 5ft 6 inches tall, weighed 112 lbs, and had a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion as C. of E. 

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.

Thomas was killed in action on the 12th October 1916 during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

It had rained incessantly at the beginning of October 1916 and the ground was full of mud. In his book ‘The Liverpool Pals’ Graham Maddocks describes the day of the 12th of October 1916.

It was obvious that the Germans knew an attack was coming and from which direction it would be mounted. On the evening of the 11th the 20th Battalion moved up the line and dug two deep assembly trenches behind the 17th Battalion’s position for the attack the next day. The 19th Battalion also moved into its reserve positions known as Flers Trench. Although the rain has stopped, the ground was like a morass, with all the natural vegetation destroyed, it was difficult to tell exactly where the objectives lay. On the afternoon of the 12th at exactly 2.05pm, the attack began along the whole Corps line, covered by the local batteries of the Royal Field Artillery which still had line of sight. As the whistles blew, the 17th Battalion left its trenches to move forwards, at the same time No.1 and 2 Companies of the 20th Battalion moved forward and occupied the trenches vacated by the 17th. As they too went over the top, No.3 and 4 Companies took their place and waited in their turn to follow. No.2 and 3 Companies of the 19th Battalion moved up to occupy the assembly trenches dug the previous night by the 20th.

As soon as the attacking waves left their trenches the enemy artillery began to register on them and at the same time the defending infantry commenced a murderous rain of fire. Those German regiments were trained and experienced soldiers, well dug in on high ground, and for the most part, looking out on uncut wire. As such it was virtually impossible for them to miss the City Battalion men struggling to advance in the mud towards them.

Brigadier-General F.C.Stanley wrote that the Battalions were also suffering casualties due to the short shooting of the British heavy artillery fire. “I know from practical experience that they were our own guns which were shooting, and which were causing us quite a considerable number of casualties. The fault lay at that time from the fact that the heavy gunners would not send their FOO’s (Forward Observation Officers) far enough forward, but were content to observe us from right back”

Some ground was gained that day, about 150 yards, the 20th Battalion were not relieved until 24 hours later causing the men to endure another day and night in the front line trench.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on 30th October 1916: 

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, France.

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.”

His death was also reported in the Wallasey News

Killed While Repairing Telephone Lines

Another Wallasey soldier has given his life for his country in Private Thomas Herbert Parry, who was killed by a shell on October 12th whilst engaged in mending the telephone wires in the trenches during an attack on the German lines. The deceased soldier was 23 years of age, and was the second surviving son of Mrs. Parry, 14, Leominster Road, Liscard. Another son is also serving in the Army.

During the early weeks of the war the late Private Parry left the service of the Salt Union Ltd., to join the Army as a member of the King's Liverpool Regiment, and went through his training at Knowsley, Salisbury Plain, and Grantham. Thence he was drafted to last November and took part in the great advance of this summer. He escaped unhurt until called upon to make the supreme sacrifice, his death being mercifully instantaneous.

His loss will be keenly felt by his friends and comrades, to whom he had endeared himself by his genial and kindly disposition.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Elizabeth, Victoria Rd, Prestatyn. 

Thomas is also commemorated on the Wallasey Civic Memorial and Wallasey Roll of Honour.

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