Pte 22304 William Henry Aitken

• Age: 28
• From: Wavertree, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 26th June 1916
• Commemorated at: Cerisy-gailly Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.L.23

William Henry Aitken was born 13th October 1887 at Liverpool and was baptised 26th October 1887 at St Peter's Church, Liverpool. He was was the only son of three children born to William, a Liverpool police constable, and his wife Agnes (nee Smith), a registered midwife. Prior to enlisting he had been employed by the Liverpool Gas Company.

The 1891 Census shows the family living at 48 Rathbone Street, Liverpool. His father, William, is a 34 year old Police Constable born in Liverpool, his mother is 37 years old and was also born in Liverpool as were their three children; Frances is aged 5, William H. is aged 3 and his sister Emily is aged 1. They have two boarders recorded in the household.

The 1901 Census shows the family now living at 11 Long Lane, Walton, by which time his father is 43 years old and is a superannuated police constable, his mother Agnes, is now shown as a 45 year old midwife. They have three children in the household; Frances A. is 15, William H is 13 and Emily is 11. They also have a 5 week old boarder, Sydney Andrews. 

The 1911 Census shows his parents and his younger sister, Emily, aged 21 and descried as helping with household duties are living at 124 Longmoor Lane, where his mother, aged 56, is still a registered midwife and his father is a 53 year old police pensioner. They advise that they have been married for 25 years and have had three children. His elder sister, Frances Agnes, is a staff nurse resident at Lodge Moor Fever Hospital, Sheffield but there is no trace of William Henry junior. 

On 11^th November 1914, he enlisted at Liverpool, joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment giving his age as 27 years 1 month, and his occupation as a gas assistant. He was described as being five feet six inches tall, weighed 138lbs, with a sallow complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England. He gave his father as his next of kin of 124 Longmoor Lane.

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 20th 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. 

William served in France from 07^th November 1915, earning all three medals.

He was killed in action on 26^th June 1916, aged 28.

Graham Maddocks describes how during that evening the 20^th Battalion relieving the 2^nd Bedfords in the front line near Maricourt was subject to a severe German bombardment which killed nine other ranks, fatally wounded 2^nd Lieutenant William Hall Jowett who died 2 days later, and wounded 3 other officers and 47 men.  William Aitken was amongst the 9 men of the 20th Battalion killed, the others being Privates J. Askew, M. Bennett, W. Bowden, J. Colligan, F. Davis, A. Howell, P. Prince and P. Simmons. 

All of these men now rest at Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery.

Gailly was the site of the 39th and 13th Casualty Clearing Stations during the early part of 1917, and of the 41st Stationary Hospital from May 1917 to March 1918. The villages were then captured by the Germans, but were retaken by the Australian Corps in August 1918. Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery (originally called the New French Military Cemetery) was begun in February 1917 and used by medical units until March 1918. After the recapture of the village it was used by Australian units. The cemetery was increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of the Somme.

It was begun by French troops in December, 1914, and was known to the French by the name of Ferme Caudron. It was taken over by British troops in August, 1915, and used until July, 1916. It contained the graves of 887 French soldiers, 260 from the United Kingdom and six German. 

The cemetery now contains 745 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 114 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate five casualties buried at Maricourt and Ste. Helene whose graves could not be found. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

William's death was reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on 12th July 1916:

Private W.Aitken,20th Batt.(4th "Pals") King's (Liverpool Regiment), only son of Mr.and Mrs.Aitken,of 124,Longmoor-lane,Fazakerley, who was killed on June 27th.He was formerly in the employ of the Liverpool Gas Company.

Soldiers effects this father William and mother Agnes. Pension to his mother.

William is also commemorated on the following Memorials 

Liverpool Gas Company memorial

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 16 Right.

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