Pte 17943 William Roughley (MM)

On the 1901 Census the family are living at Westhead Post Office, Lathom. His father, Joseph, is aged 38, a bootmaker, his mother, Jessie, is aged 33, children Tom aged 9, Elizabeth A. 7, William 6, Emma 4 and John 2. All the family were born in Lathom. 

On the 1911 Census the family are still at Westhead. His father, Joseph, is aged 48, a bootmaker, his mother, Jessie, is a postmistress, and is aged 43. They advised that they had been married for 29 years and have had 9 children. Tom aged 19, is a railway clerk, Elizabeth A. 16, is a clerk for West African Merchants, William aged 16, is an office clerk, Emma is aged 14, John is aged 12, at school, Peter is 9, George is 7, Joseph is 3, and Frederick is under 12 months. 

Prior to the outbreak of war he had been employed as a clerk.

William’s service records show that he enlisted at St George's Hall, Liverpool on the 03rd September1914 , joining the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 17973. He advised that he was a clerk, aged 19 years and 6 months. He was described as being 5’4½” tall, weighed 119lbs with a 35”chest, fresh complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. He stated his religion as Church of England and next of kin his father, Joseph, at the Post Office, Westhead.

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th 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 7^th November 1915.

His Service Record shows the following:- 

He was killed in action on the 08th October 1918, aged 23, during the hundred days offensive which ended the First World War (8^th August-11^th November 1918).

His death was also reported in the Ormskirk Advertiser on Thursday 24th October 1918; 

WESTHEAD SOLDIER KILLED. 

News has been received by Mr. Jos. Roughley, of the Post Office, Westhead. that his second son. Pte. W. Roughley, M.M., has been killed in action in France. He was attached to the King's Liverpool Regt. which he joined in the early stages of the war, and he had seen much fighting. He was 23 years of age. Mr. Roughley has three other sons with the Forces. Mr. Roughley's eldest son is serving in France. whilst the third is a prisoner of war in Germany. Deceased. who was the battalion runner, was awarded the Military Modal in April last. "for leading a ration party to an isolated post under heavy machine gun and rifle fire." 

Also in the Ormskirk Advertiser on Thursday 31st October 1918; 

MELLING SOLDIER INJURED. 

Gunner Tom Roughley. R.F.A., of Prescot-road, Melling, and eldest son of Mr. J. Roughley, Post Office, Westhead, has met with an injury while on duty and is now in hospital in France. It is only last week it was reported that Mr. Roughley's second son was killed in action in France. 
 

Pals killed on same day were listed in the Weekly Casualty List (War Office & Air Ministry ) on Tuesday 26 November 1918; 

KING'S (LIVERPOOL REGIMENT). - Blackburn 30297 H. (Liverpool); Blease 47019 C. F. (Liverpool); Brown 93731 P. (Liverpool); Cheetham 30083 T. (Liverpool); Consterdine 41489 F. W. (Manchester); Furnival 24247 L.-Cpl. J. E. (Widnes); Hickling 57045 T. (Liverpool); Holt 25412 F. (Skelmersdale); Irving 39122 R. (Liverpool); Jowett 202164 H. (Liverpool); Leece 84856 W. E. (Peel); McHugh 13516 W. (Liverpool); Roughley 17943 W., Μ.Μ. (Ormskirk); Stafford 18764 G. (Liverpool); Strickland 306287 G. (Blackpool); Thompson 24039 Sjt. S. (Manchester); Tinsley 24250 L.-Cpl. C. (Bootle); Walker 56255 L.-Cpl. R. (Wheatley); Waterworth 56257 L.-Cpl. B. (Malton); Wilcock 84868 T. (Wigan); Wright 21646 L.-Cpl. C. J., M.M. (Chester). 

LATHOM WAR MEMORIALS.  

DEDICATION BY THE BISHOP.  

There was a large congregation present on Sunday morning at the parish church of St. James', Lathom, when the Lord Bishop of Liverpool dedicated two war memorials; one a parochial memorial, and the other a private memorial, and the service throughout was of an impressive character. His Lordship was greeted by a number of ex-servicemen belonging to the Parish, who were lined up outside the church, and a patrol of Boy Scouts, under Patrol-leader Hough, in the absence of the scoutmaster Capt. Eric Rigby-Jones, M.C., through sickness formed a guard of honour, and were lined up on either side of the approach to the Church, as his Lordship passed he spoke a kindly word to each of the scouts.  

The parochial memorial was of a very handsome character, comprising a communion table, reredos, oak rails, oak panelling in the chancel; on the panels each side of the Holy Table were the names of those who had been killed in action, and on the oak panels surrounding the chancel were inscribed the names of all those in the parish who had served in the forces during the war. The names of those killed were as follow:- Sergt. Wm. Farrington, Pte. John Hayton, Pte. James Horner, Pte. John Birchall, Pte. Hy. Orritt, Pte. Wm. Dutton. Pte. Jas. Hornby, Pte. John Whiteside, Lt. Hy. Alty, D.C.M., Pte. Wm. Roughley M.M., Pte. Edward Pye, Gunner Thomas Alty, Pte. James Bradshaw, Driver Harry Johnson, Lt. Daniel Alty, Pte. John Bimson.   

He earned his three medals.

William is commemorated on the family headstone and the following Memorials:

St James Church

Burscough & Lathom Civic Memorial