Pte 16992 Thomas Frederick Rench

• Age: 28
• From: Aigburth
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 18th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Thomas Frederick (Fred) Rench was born on the 31^st August, 1888 in Aigburth, Liverpool, the son of Richard Rench (a Policeman) and his wife Mary Ann (nee Stevens) who married in 1877 at St Anne's Church, Stanley. He was baptised on the 5th October, 1888 at St Peter's, Church Of England Church, Liverpool.  

The 1891 Census shows the family living at George Terrace, Garston, Liverpool.His father Richard is aged 41, born 1850 and is a Policeman and his wife Mary Ann is aged 39, born 1852 and has no occupation listed. They have five children living at the address, William aged 11, born 1880, Richard aged 9 and Sarah Ann aged 7 are all scholars, Thomas Frederick aged 3 and Alice born 1891.  

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 19, Scott Street, Bootle cum Linacre, Liverpool. His father, Richard is  shown as aged 53, born 1848  and is a hall porter,  his mother, Mary Ann, is aged 48, (showing born in 1853) and has no occupation listed. They have five children living at the address, Richard aged 19 , is a railway porter, Sarah Ann aged 16, Thomas Frederick aged 13, Alice aged 9 and George aged 6, born 1895.

His mother died in 1908, aged 55.  

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 19 Chantrey Street, Edge Hill, Liverpool. His father, Richard is now showing as a widower, aged 64, born 1847 and is a retired Policeman who was born in Leamington, Warwickshire.  He has four children living at the address and the eldest son also called Richard born 1883, who is a serving Police Constable no longer living at the family home, all the children being born in Liverpool. Sarah Ann aged 24, born 1887 occupation Housekeeper, Thomas Frederick aged 22, born 1889 occupation Messenger as his younger brother George Alexander aged 16, born 1895 and Alice aged 20, born 1891 is a Dressmaker.

Fred married Catherine Gelanos on the 13th July 1912 at St Joseph’s, Grosvenor Street. Both giving their address as 92 Victoria Square, Scotland Road. Catherine was born in Birkenhead in 1879, the daughter of Greek seafarer John, and Anne (nee Murphy) Gelanos who married in 1875. 

Fred and Catherine had one child Mary Catherine born 24th June, 1912.  

He enlisted on the 01^st September, 1914 at St George's Hall in Liverpool joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. He was aged 26 years and 32 days. He was described as being five foot nine inches tall, weighed 121lbs, with a 37" chest and was of sallow complexion, with hazel eyes and dark brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England and his next of kin was his wife Catherine, of 40 Webster Road, Edge Hill. .

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

07.11.15: Embarked for France with his Battalion.

29.05.16: Attached Army Infantry School.

He was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 16992 in No.4 Coy, when he was killed in action on the 18th October 1916, aged 28, during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

18^th Bn Diary

18^th October 1916

Attacked German trenches commencing 3.40 am. Relieved by 19^th Manchester Regt. Took up position in support Bn trenches W. of Goose Alley.

Graham Maddocks in his book Liverpool Pals gives an overview of the events of the day:

“At 3.40 am the whistles blew, and the Battalion left its assembly trenches, in three waves, approximately fifty yards apart, and began to cross No Man’s Land. Almost immediately, the German Barrage fell on the first wave and halted its advance, so that the second wave soon caught up with it. This was not a great problem at first, and the two combined waves were able to advance together for about 300 yards, whereupon they encountered the German Grid Trench system. On the right of the advance, it was found that the wire was largely intact, apart from a few gaps, and the Germans bombed and machine gunned these gaps, which prevented any further progress. Elsewhere along the trench, however, the wire was cut and there did not seem to be any serious opposition. Nevertheless, the men hesitated to jump down into the German trenches, and instead, began to filter back across to the safety of their own lines.

By this time the third wave had caught up, as had a fourth wave, which had been detailed to mop up any opposition once the trenches had fallen, and all four waves became intermingled which added to the confusion. No less than three attempts were made to try to get the men to go forward again, but each attempt became markedly less successful than its predecessor, and eventually the attack came to a standstill. Although the British assembly trenches had received the attention of the German guns, the attackers in No Mans Land had not come under any great intensity of fire up until this point.

However, once it became obvious to the Germans that the attack was disorganised and faltering, they began to fire into the massed men from the flanks. It was probably this that finally settled the issue and convinced the Pals that they could no longer gain the enemy trenches, and all four waves, now merged into one, began to retreat to their own lines. The whole attack had been an abysmal failure, and no ground had been gained at all”.               

Fred was originally reported as Missing in the Liverpool Echo on 22nd November 1916: 

MISSING MEN - NEWS WANTED 

RENCH - Private T. F. Rench K.L.R. His wife and child reside at 40 Webster Road, Edge Hill. 

He was also listed amongst the Missing in the Liverpool Daily Post on Wednesday 29 November 1916: 

Missing. 

King’s Liverpool Regiment - Broady, 17046, W. T. (Egremont); Cadwell, 29492 J. J. (Southport); Cromwell, 16706, Corpl. T. L.; Fitzroy, 32741, F; Golothan, 32690, Corpl. W. P. (Chester); Griffiths, 32795, J. W.; Hilditch, 17057, A. J.; Leadsom, 39054, S.; Leighton, 16975, H. N. (Seaforth); Narracott, 17080, F. V.; Orrett, 16984, Sergt. J. S. (Prescot); Poole, 33265, F. (Shrewsbury); Powell, 23167, J.; Rench, 16992, T. F.; Ronson, 16054, G. R.; Speed, 26587, R.; Taylor, 23841, A. 

It was until January 1917 that he was reported as killed in the Liverpool Echo on 11th January 1917: 

Killed in Action. 

Private Thomas Frederick French (29), the King's (Liverpool Regiment), previously reported missing, now reported killed. He enlisted in September 1914, and had been twelve months at the front. His wife and child reside at 40 Webster Road, Edge Hill. 

The Liverpool Echo on 12th January 1917, also reported Fred's death: 

RENCH - October 18, killed in action, Thomas Frederick (Fred) Rench (29), King's (Liverpool Regiment), the dearly beloved husband of Catherine Rench, 40 Webster Road, Edge Hill.

Could I have raised his dying head

Or heard his last farewell

The blow would not have been so great

To one who loved him well.

Sleep on, dear husband, in a foreign grave,

Your life for your country you nobly gave.

From his sorrowing Wife and Child.

His wife received his effects which were one letter and two photos. She also received a pension of 18/9 for herself and daughter payable from 18th June 1917.

Fred's 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.”

Fred was remembered in the Liverpool Daily Post close to the first anniversary of his death on 19 October 1917: 

RENCH - In loving memory of my dear husband, Thomas Frederick (Fred) Rench, King's (Liverpool Regiment), who was killed in action October 18 1916. 

I cannot forget you, I loved you too dearly 

For your memory to fade from my life like a dream; 

Lips need not speak when the heart mourns sincerely, 

And thoughts often dwell where seldom they are seen.  

His loving wife and child, 45 Rydal Street. 

RENCH - In affectionate remembrance of Thomas Frederick (Fred) Rench King's (Liverpool Regiment), who was killed in action October 18 1916.  (Ever remembered by all at 45 Rydal Street.)

RENCH - In loving memory of Private Thomas Frederick Rench, K.L.R., who was killed in action October 18 1916. (Ever remembered by Lizzy, Jenny, and Will.)

He was remembered by his wife on his birthday in the Liverpool Echo on 31st July 1918: 

RENCH - In sad but loving birthday remembrance of my dear husband, Thomas Frederick (Fred) Rench, 2nd Pals, who was killed in action October 18 1916. (One of the best.) 

Nobly he answered the country's call, he gave his life, his best, his all. - Ever remembered by his loving wife and child, 45 Rydal Street, Everton.

He was remembered by his wife and family on the second anniversary of his death in the Liverpool Echo on 18th October 1918: 

In Memoriam. 

RENCH - In affectionate remembrance of Thomas Frederick (Fred) Rench King's (Liverpool Regiment), who was killed in action October 18 1916.  (Ever remembered by all at 45 Rydal Street.) 

RENCH - In loving memory of my dear husband, Thomas Frederick (Fred) Rench, King's (Liverpool Regiment), who was killed in action October 18 1916. 

Torn from my heart, oh, how I miss you,  

My husband kind and true; 

In all my pain and suffering  

God alone can help me through. 

 - Ever remembered by his devoted Wife and darling child, Maisie. - 45 Rydal Street. 

RENCH - In loving memory of Private Thomas Frederick Rench, K.L.R., who was killed in action October 18 1916. (Ever remembered by Lizzy, Jenny, and Will.)

On the 1919 Relative Declaration his brother George was in Australia, and William in New Zealand. 

On the 1921 census his father is living at 19 Chantrey St, Edge Hill with daughter Sarah Ann, and married daughter Alice Barrett. 

His father died in 1922, aged 75. 

His widow, Catherine, (date of birth 31/12/1879) and daughter Mary C. Sayle (dob 24/06/1912) appear on the 1939 register at 39 Rydal Street, Everton. 

Catherine, never remarried and died, aged 79, in 1960. She was buried at Anfield Cemetery on 07th May 1960. 

Thomas Frederick Rench is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

St Cyprian’s C. of E. Church, Edge-Hill

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 45 

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