Pte 300372 George Daniel Sale

In 1901 the family is living at 4 Tavistock Street, Toxteth Park. 
His father is an auctioneer’s clerk, George is 8.  Henry J. Morris, age 1, the son of his sister Ellen, also lives with them.

 

1911 finds them at 27 Drysdale Street, living in six rooms.  
His father, 65, is an auctioneer’s assistant, his mother is 60, Joseph, 32, is a postman, Emma is 27, no occupation, and Sarah, 20, is a dressmaker.  William, 25, and George, 18, are cotton clerks.  (George is not found on the Cotton Association Memorial.). His father died later that year, in November, aged 66.

 

George enlisted in Liverpool in the 1/st Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry as Private 250722. The amount of the War Gratuity suggests that he served for 32 months, enlisting in about July 1915. In September 1917, the battalion was amalgamated with the K.L.R., and was redesignated the 18th (Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry) Battalion, the King’s (Liverpool) Regiment.  George was given the regimental number 300372.

 

George was initially declared Missing between 21-28 March 1918, but his family was notified of his death within the month. His death was assumed as  28^th March, 1918, he was 25 years of age.

The Battalion Diary gives an insight into the chaotic events of the day

28^th March

At about 6am the enemy commenced to shell heavily the whole of the forward line and brought Trench Mortars and MACHINE Guns into action.

FOLIES was shelled and the area in the rear of the village as far back as LE QUESNEL.

Rations were received at dawn and parties were organised to carry them to the Companies on the right. Owing to the heavy fire, however, it was not possible to get them up.

Heavy fighting was in progress on the right from soon after dawn and at 8am the enemy was reported to be in possession of BOUCHOIR and progressing towards the BEETROOT FACTORY. About 10am  the 59^th Infy Brigade was notified that it was relieved by the French and the Battalions of that Brigade were at once withdrawn in the direction of LE QUESNEL.

At noon the enemy was bombarding the village and vicinity heavily and reports were received that he was in occupation of WARVILLERS on the left and ARVILLERS on the right.

The front line East of FOLIES continued to resist until about 2pm when the order was received from the 89^th Infy Brigade to the effect that the Battalions were relieved by the French and would withdraw at once to MEZIERES, where the men would be fed. Companies withdrew under some shelling and very heavy M.G. and rifle fire from the left , through K10 -K3 – North side LE QUESNEL to the main ROYE road and reorganised about D.29 c. The march from this point was conducted in good order despite the congested roads.

At MEZIERES it was decided to continue a rearward movement and the march was resumed via VILLERS-MOREUIL – MORISEL – ROUVREL, which village was reached about 7pm and the Battalion billeted. The men had marched 13 miles from the left position in good order and with practically no straggling. They were exhausted on arrival at ROUVREL, but in good heart.

Echelon ‘A’ of the Transport joined the Battalion at this village and the men were fed immediately on arrival. The night passed without incident.

He has no known grave  and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial in France. 

The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.

The cemetery and memorial were designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, with sculpture by Laurence A. Turner. The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930.

 

His mother placed a notice in the Liverpool Echo Roll of Honour on 25th April 1918:

“March 21 - 28, aged 25 years, George Daniel Sale, Private, K.L.R., the dearly-loved youngest son of Mrs. E. Sale, 27, Drysdale Street.”

 

His death was published in the Weekly Casualty List on 14th May 1918.

 

His mother Ellen received his Army effects and a War Gratuity of £15.  The pension card, in the name of his mother, at 27 Drysdale Street, shows that a pension was refused. Another card appears to show that a pension was later awarded, but amount not specified.

 

His eldest brother Joseph served in the Royal Navy, then the R.A.F. and was demobbed in 1920. William served in France with the Royal Field Artillery.

 

His mother died in 1930, aged 79.

 

George is commemorated on the following memorials  

Liverpool‘s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 41 Right

St. Cleopas Church and Day School, Toxteth