Pte 16330 Sydney Ronald Potter

• Age: 22
• From: Old Swan, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

16330 Private Sydney Ronald POTTER, 18^th Battalion KLR.

Sydney Ronald Potter was born in Old Swan, Liverpool in 1893, and was baptised on the 02nd March 1899 in St Anne’s Church, Stanley, Liverpool. Sydney was the son of Arthur Albert George Potter, a native of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, an accountant with the Mersey Dock and Harbour Board, and his wife Cecilia (Celia) Malone who was born in Liverpool.  They were married in 1882 in Liverpool,  and who at the time of the war lived at 8 Kinglake Road, Egremont,and later at 4 Thorburn Road, New Ferry, Birkenhead.

The 1901 Census shows "Sidney" as a 7 year old boy living with his parents and six siblings at 15 Brookland Road, Liverpool. His father is a 42 year old commercial clerk, whilst his mother is 37 years of age. His siblings are shown as; Arthur G. aged 18 and a forwarding agent's clerk, Florence D aged 16 and a wholesale chemist's clerk, Harold P. aged 14 a paint merchant's office boy, Reginald P. aged 12, Dorothy aged 9 and Gerald L. aged 1.   Also present is Sarah Dodson aged 67 a widowed grandmother.   

He took up an apprenticeship, as a draughtsman with the Liverpool firm of J. H. Lowry, Architects which he completed in 1910. 

The 1911 Census shows Sydney now aged 17 and an architecture student living with his parents and five siblings. His father, Arthur, is aged 50, an accountant for the Dock board, mother Cecilia is aged 47, and they have been married for 29 years and all seven of their children have survived. Those still in the household are listed as: Arthur George now 28 and the foreign correspondent for an India rubber merchant, Florence Dora Beeching 26 an insurance clerk, Reginald Cecil 22 a chartered accountant, Dorothy Cecilia 19 and Gerald Leslie 11. Also present is Sarah Dodson now 77.  

Prior to enlisting Sydney was employed as a draughtsman with Anselm, Olding and Sons of Vauxhall Road, Liverpol. He was also a member of Wallasey Rowing Club.

Sydney enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 02nd September 1914, joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16330. He gave his age as 20 years 290 days, his occupation as a draughtsman with Anslem, Olding and Sons of Liverpool. He was described as being 5' 6" tall, weighed 120lbs, 35" chest, with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. His religion was stated as Church of England and his next of kin was recorded as his father Arthur, of 8 Kinglake Road, Egremont. 

From the 23rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03rd 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. 

He arrived in France on 7th November 1915 with 3 Platoon, 1 Company of his Battalion on board the SS Invicta having specialised in grenade throwing.

In May 1916 was attached to 30th Division Grenade School before rejoining his unit on 20th May.

He was with the 1st Platoon 3rd Company when killed in action, at Montauban, on 01st July 1916 aged 22.

18th Battalion Diary

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 18th 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.

Sydney's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave being commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

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.”

On 20th July 1916 his father writes from 8 Kinglake Road, Egremont seeking information about his son.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 05th August 1916: 

POTTER – July 1, killed in action, aged 22 years, fourth son of Mr and Mrs A. A. G. Potter, 8 Kinglake Road, Egremont. 

Also in the Wallasey News under the header:

Killed By A Bomb
 
As was briefly reported in our last issue, Mr and Mrs A.A.G. Potter, 8 Kinglake Road, Egremont, have received notification from the War Office, that their fourth son, Private Sydney R. Potter (21) of the King’s Liverpool Regiment, fell in action on July 1st. He was killed by the explosion of a bomb. A former member of the Victoria Rowing Club, Private Potter “joined up” at the outset, as did two of his brothers. As a boy he was a member of the St. Nicholas Church (Liverpool) choir. 

His effects (8 photographs and a letter) were sent to his father.

His father, made a sworn declaration dated 22nd July 1919  which shows that Sydney was survived by his parents, his 3 brothers (Arthur, Reginald and Gerald) and 2 sisters (Florence Clements and Cecilia D. Potter).

Sydney earned his three medals which were received by his father in 1920.

He is also remembered on the following Memorials:

Wallasey Roll of Honour, located in Wallasey Library, Earlston Road

Wallasey War Memorial which is located in the hospital on Mill Lane, Wallasey

St John’s Church, Liscard Road, Egremont, Wallasey

St Mary and St Columba Church, Withens Lane, Liscard. 

Soldiers Effects and Pension to father Arthur. 

His father died, aged 68, on the 11th October 1927. 

Probate:- 

POTTER Arthur Albert George of 4 Thorburn Road, New Ferry Birkenhead died 11 October 1927 Administration Liverpool 16 December to Reginald Cecil Potter insurance manager. Effects £193 9s 4d. 

His mother died, aged 85, in 1949  

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