Cpl 22928 Harold Billington

• Age: 20
• From: Northwich, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Wednesday 25th April 1917
• Commemorated at: London Cem, Neuville-vitasse
  Panel Ref: No.2.Mem.P2

Harold was born on 21^st August 1896 in Northwich, Cheshire, the son of Samuel Billington and his wife Sarah Jane (nee Hollinshead). He was baptised on 1^st October 1896 in the parish of Witton. His parents’ place of residence at the time was 36 Ash Street, Witton-cum-Twambrooks, Cheshire. 

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 8 Manora Place, Northwich. His father, Samuel, is a 46 year old chemical labourer, born in Wybunbury, Cheshire, whilst his mother Sarah Jane is 44 years old, has no occupation listed and was also born in Wybunbury. Harold is 4 years old and has four siblings in the household; Samuel is a 24 year old hairdresser born in Wybunbury, Annie is 19 years of age born in Northwich, Joseph H. is 16,  a hairdresser's assistant born in Northwich and Alfred E. is 11 years of age also born in Northwich.

The 1911 Census finds the family now living at 62 Station Road, Northwich. His father is now aged 56 and still a chemical labourer, his mother is 54 years old. They advise that they have been married for 34 years and have had 9 children, 7 of whom have survived. Harold is 14 years of age and is a lather boy at a hairdressers, he has 4 siblings still at home; Samuel is a 34 year old hairdresser, Joseph Henry is 26 years old and also a hairdresser, Alfred Ernest is 21 and a tinsmith, Herbert is 7 years of age and is at school. Also declared is a nephew, Harry Billington aged 16 and an office boy, born in Liverpool.     

Harold enlisted on the 09^th November 1914 in Liverpool, as Private 22928 joining the 20^th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment, giving his age as 19 years and 3 months (he was actually 18), and his occupation as hairdresser. He was described as being 5’6” tall, weighing 112lbs, with brown eyes and dark brown hair. He gives his next of kin as his father Samuel Billington, of 62 Station Road, Northwich.

On two occasions, Harold was confined to barracks for being absent without leave, on 15^th August 1915 (3 days) and 02^nd October 1915 (6 days).

He arrived in France with his battalion on 07th November 1915.

He was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 30th July 1916, appointed paid Lance Corporal on 12th October 1916, and Acting Corporal on 25th March 1917.

On 25^th April 1917, at 96 Field Ambulance, Harold died of wounds received in action. He was 20 years of age.

He was buried at Wancourt Road Cemetery No.2 but this Cemetery was destroyed by shell fire.

Neuville-Vitasse was attacked by the 56th (London) Division on 7 April 1917 and captured by the same Division on 9 April. The village was almost entirely lost at the end of March 1918 but regained at the end of the following August. It was later "adopted" by the Metropolitan Borough of Paddington. The London Cemetery was made by the 56th Division in April 1917 and greatly extended after the Armistice when graves were brought in from other burial grounds and from the battlefields between Arras, Vis-en-Artois and Croisilles. London Cemetery contains 747 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 318 of the burials are unidentified and on a screen wall are panels bearing the names of casualties buried in the following four cemeteries, whose graves were destroyed by shell fire:- WANCOURT ROAD CEMETERY No.2, just East of NEUVILLE-VITASSE; NEUVILLE0-VITASSE MILL CEMETERY, close to a German strong point on the road to Mercatel; BEAURAINS ROAD CEMETERY No.2, just North-West of NEUVILLE-VITASSE; BEAURAINS GERMAN CEMETERY; and ERCHIN GERMAN CEMETERY (Nord). The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

His name is therefore recorded on a Screen Wall which contains the names of those whose graves were destroyed by shell fire:-

 WANCOURT ROAD CEMETERY No.2, just East of Neuville-Vitasse. 

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