Pte 31005 William John Phillips

• Age: 23
• From: 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 and his sister Margaret were enrolled in St. Lawrence’s C of E School in Kirkdale in September 1897, the family address at the time 50 Smeaton Street.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 103, Herbert Street, Liverpool. The head of the household is William's mother, Margaret Barbara, a widow aged 37, born 1864 in Scotland, her occupation is listed as a char woman. She has three children living at home; Janet aged 11, born 1890 in Birkenhead, William John aged 7, born 1894 and George aged 4, born 1897. His sister Margaret may have been raised by relatives or another family as she is not found on the census.

His mother remarried in the September quarter of 1910 to William Buckley at West Derby Register Office. William was born in Bootle around 1866, the son of William and Margaret Buckley. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 18 Sandon Road, Walton, Liverpool. The head of the household is William Buckley aged 43, born 1868 occupation, joiner who was born in Liverpool. His wife Margaret is aged 47, born 1864 occupation at home, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland. They have four children in the household; Jeanette aged 21, born 1890, William aged 18, born 1893 is a laundry carter, George aged 14, born 1897 is a shop boy and David aged 9, born 1902 is still at school.

His sister Margaret, 20, is a wardsmaid in the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Fazakerley.

William enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 20^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 31005 when he was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 23, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

30th July 1916

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.

A local newspaper reported his death.

WALTON FOOTBALLER

It is now officially stated, that Pte. William Phillips, K.L.R., who was reported missing 30th July, was killed on that day in action. The deceased, who was only 23, joined the army some ten months ago, being previously employed by the Cunard Co. He resided with his mother at 18 Sandon Road, Rice Lane, Walton. He was particularly well known in local football circles, playing amongst other teams for the Waterloo Juniors, and he was the possessor of a Combination medal.    

William's body was not recovered from the battlefield 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.” 

Soldiers effects of £2 2s 5d, War Gratuity of £3 10s,  and pension to his mother Margaret Barbara.

His step-father died, aged 62, in 1930. 

In 1939 his mother, 75 and again widowed, is still at 18 Sandon Road, living next door to widowed daughter Margaret Tunstall, 48, and her two sons, William and Richard. 

His mother died in 1947, aged 82.

William’s name is not listed on the Cunard Roll of Honour, nor has he been found on any local memorial.

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