Pte 22214 William Penketh

• Age: 18
• From: Bootle, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

William Penketh was born in Bootle in the March quarter of 1898, in Bootle, Liverpool and was the son of John Penketh and his wife Sarah Elizabeth (née Hitchcock) who were married in 1892 at Christ Church, Bootle. 

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 62 Park Street, Bootle. William is three years of age and is living with his parents and older sister Mona. His father John is a 30 year old beef checker (docks) born in Raby, Cheshire, whilst his mother Sarah Elizabeth is 30 years of age, born in Flint, Wales. His sister Mona is 7 years of age, born in Bootle in 1894.  

His mother sadly died, aged 39, in the December quarter of 1909. 

The 1911 Census shows the family are still living at 62 Park Street, Bootle, Liverpool. His father, John is a widower aged 40, occupation listed as forwarding foreman for a meat importer. At the time of the Census, he has three children living with him, Mona aged 17, born 1894, no occupation, William aged 13, born 1898 is at school and Albert aged 6, born 1905. His children were all born in Bootle. 

His father remarried in 1913 to Ellen Heys and they had as son John in 1916.   

William enlisted in Liverpool joining the 20^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 22214. Private 22200 Owens attested on the 05th November 1914). It would appear William lied about his age to enlist as he was under age, probably 16, and exaggerated his age in order to be able to serve overseas. 

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built 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 07^th November 1915. 

William was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 18, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive. 

His body was not recovered from the battlefiled or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. 

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.”

The 20^th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20^th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 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. 

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.     

His family paid tribute to William on the first anniversary of his death in the Liverpool Echo on 30th July 1917, under the heading, “Lost At The Battle Of Guillemont”:

“In loving memory of Private William Penketh, K.L.R. (Pals), reported killed in France, July 30, 1916, aged 18 years. – 90 Cambridge Road, Seaforth.”

The same message was posted on the second anniversary in 1918.

His army pay of £1 11. 1d, war gratuity of £7 10s and Pension to father John. 

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