Pte 30297 Harry Blackburn

The April 1901 Census finds the family at 45 Louis Street, Everton. Harry is shown as a scholar aged 7. Both parents are present in the household. His father is now 41 years of age and his employment is shown as an iron roofer, whilst his mother is 39 years of age. Harry's two brothers John aged 12 and George aged 9 are present as are his cousins Joseph aged 12 and Amy aged 8. 

 

By the time of the April 1911 Census the family have moved to 21 Clarendon Road, Anfield. Harry is living with both parents, his two brothers John and George and also his sister May aged 14. Harry is shown as aged 18 and a saddlers errand boy. 

 

In late January 1913 his mother dies aged 50 and is buried in at West Derby Cemetery.

 

In September 1914, aged 21, Harry enlisted in Liverpool as Private 30297 joining the 14th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. He was later transferred to the 18th (Pals) Battalion K.L.R.

 

In the same month his elder brother John (Jack) enlists as Pte 11160 into the Scots Guards and also that month his younger brother George attempts to enlist as Pte 13034 into 11th Bn K.L.R. but is declared as "not likely to become an effective soldier" and is discharged.

 

Harry spent time on the Salonika front before going to France.

 

During the 100 days offensive (8^th August-11^th November 1918) Harry was killed in action on 10th October 1918.

On 7th October 1918 the 18th Bn arrives at the Hindenburg Line and pursues the retreating German army.  The battalion War Diary records -  

10th October 1918 - At 0230 hours the battalion moved forward to a position near RUEMONT, and attacked towards LE CATEAU at 0510.  Very little opposition was met with at the start but later considerable M.G. fire was encountered. …  Our right company was not in touch with the flank, and the troops on the right appeared to be held up by M.G. fire from the railway embankment … A short length of trench on the high ground immediately E. of LE CATEAU was also reported to be held by the enemy.  At 0848 the Centre Coy reached K.33.b and pushed a platoon into the N. W. outskirts of LE CATEAU.  The right company was temporarily held up by MG and sniper fire, but appeared to be almost in the town itself.  Hostile M.G. fire was reported from the direction of Q.10. … Houses in K.28.a were reported to be strongly held by the Bosche, and a patrol was sent out to investigate and deal with them. … During the advance on LE CATEAU considerable difficulty was experienced, owing to a “whizz bang” battery being able to fire over open sights at the troops as they moved up the rise and along a slight valley.

Total Casualties from 7th to 13th October:

Killed – 2 Officers, 18 O.R.

Wounded – 6 Officers, 111 O.R.

Died of Wounds – 1 O.R.

Wounded and Missing – 1 Officer, 20 O.R.

Harry was one of those casualties referred to, he has no known grave and is commemorated at the Vis -en- Artois Memorial in France.

The Vis en Artois Memorial bears the names of over 9,000 men who fell in the period from 8 August 1918 to the date of the Armistice in the Advance to Victory in Picardy and Artois, between the Somme and Loos, and who have no known grave.

The memorial was designed by J.R. Truelove, with sculpture by Ernest Gillick. It was unveiled by the Rt. Hon. Thomas Shaw on 4 August 1930.

His death was reported in the local press:

KILLED IN ACTION

Official news has been received by Mr Jack Blackburn of the death in action of his youngest brother Harry (K.L.R., late Pals), on October 10th. Before going to France he was in Salonika. Sadly missed by all at 15 Clarendon Road, Cabbage Hall.

Soldier Effects and Pension to father John Edward Blackburn

 

His soldiers pay arrears of £23:2s:1d including a War Gratuity of £18:10s is sent to his father John at 30 Curate Road,  Anfield on 01st May 1919. 

 

His father remarried in the  June quarter of 1918 to Margaret J Jones, together they had a son Alan Hugh born in the March quarter of 1928 and a daughter, Gwendoline, born in June 1929.

 

On 16th November 1918 Harry's elder brother Jack placed a Memoriam notice in the Liverpool Echo to his brother. 

Harry was remembered by his family in the Liverpool Evening Express on 10th October 1919: 

BLACKBURN - In honoured and dear memory of my beloved youngest son, Private Harry Blackburn, 18th K.L.R., killed in France, October 10, 1918. - Sadly missed by his father, and fondly remembered by all at 30 Curate Road.

BLACKBURN - In loving memory of Private H. Blackburn, 14th K.L.R. (late Pals), killed in action, October 10, 1918. - Never forgotten by brother Jack, and all at 15 Clarendon Road, Cabbage Hall. [14th confirmed by Medal Roll] 

His father placed notices in the Liverpool Echo in each of the following years on 11/10/1919, 11/10/1920, 10/10/1921, 10/10/1922 and 10/10/1923.