Pte 24849 Fred Scaife

• Age: 23
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Fred Scaife was born on 18th December 1893 in Liverpool and was baptised on the 10th January 1894. He was the son of Robert and Maria Scaife (nee Walker). His birth registration and baptism give his name as simply Fred. He was baptised at St. Matthias' Church, his parents’ abode 72 Dublin Street, and his father’s occupation publican. His parents married on the 17th Nov 1884 at St Peter, Liverpool. Robert was a 28 year old widower(previously married in Bradford in 1878), a publican of Park Lane, father William, whilst Maria was aged 25 also of Park Lane, father Joseph. They had eight children, their first child, William Alexander, was born in Liverpool, then the family was briefly in Yorkshire, where James was born, and the remaining children were all born in Liverpool: Agnes, Ellen, Fred, Lucy, Joseph, and Maud. 

At the time of the 1901 census the family is living at 131 Howe Street, Everton. His father, 45, born in Bradford, is a licensed victualler working on his own account at home, his mother is 43. They have seven children: William 15 an office boy, James 14 an office boy, Agnes 12, Ellen 10, Frederick 7, Lucy 5, and Joseph 2. They also have a domestic servant Martha Cox 14. 

His father died on 22nd July 1904, aged 48. He left to his widow Maria £336 9s and 5d.

His wife placed a notice in the Liverpool Evening Express on Monday 24 July 1905: 

SCAIFE—In loving memory of my dear husband, Robert Scaife, who died July 22, 1904, at 165, Netherfield road North. (Sadly missed by his loving wife and children.)—Mrs. Scaife. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 131 Howe St, Everton, Liverpool. Fred's mother, Maria, is a widow aged 52, born in Liverpool in 1859 occupation, licensed victualler. Seven of her eight children are living at home; James Robert aged 24, born 1887 unemployed clerk who was born in Gomersal, Yorkshire, the remaining children Agnes aged 22, born 1889 and Ellen aged 20, born 1891 no occupation, Fred aged 17, is a junior clerk, Lucy aged 14, born 1897, Joseph aged 12, born 1899 and Maud aged 10, born 1901 are all at school, were all born in Liverpool.

The same 1911 Census shows his brother, William, is married and lives in Evelyn Street with his wife and children. They emigrated to the United States before the war. 

He enlisted in Liverpool joining the 17^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 24849. His regimental number, as well as the amount of the War Gratuity, suggest that he enlisted in about January/February 1915.  

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th 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 with his battalion on 07th November 1915.

Fred was serving in the D Company of the 17th Battalion K.L.R. when he was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 22 at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive. His CWGC record gives his age as 23, but based on his birthdate, Fred would have been 22 years old when he was killed.

17th Battalion Diary 30th July 1916

The Battalion was in support to 19 & 20 Battalions K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.

Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.

Casualties in the 17th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks

Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917

The 17th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions) in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55th Division during the early hours of the 31st July. 

The events of 30th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.

Fred's body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. 

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.”

His family paid tribute to Fred on the first anniversary of his death in the Liverpool Echo on 30th July 1917, under the heading, “Lost At The Battle Of Guillemont”:

“In sad but loving remembrance of our dear boy, Fred (Pals), killed in action July 30, 1916. (Loved by all. Sadly missed by Mother, Lucie, Maude, also Jim and Joe on active service.)” 

“In loving memory of our dear brother Fred (Pals), kill in action July 30, 1916.

God’s will be done, and it is so,

That He should have you in His keeping,

Safe from all tumult, strife and woe.

(Ever remembered by Agnes, Bob, Nell, and Will.)”

He was remembered on the second anniversary of his death in 1918:

"In loving remembrance of our dear boy Fred ("Pals"), killed in action July 30, 1916.  Too dearly loved to be forgotten by his Mother and Sisters Agnes, Nell, Lucy, and Maud, also his Brothers Jim (France) and Joe (Egypt), and his Brothers-in-law Bob and Will."

The two brothers referred to were:

Jim who served in the R.A.M.C. and arrived in France on 08th September 1915. He survived the war and was demobbed in June 1919.

His younger brother Joe was just turned 17 when war was declared. It is not known when he enlisted, but he served in the Cheshire Regiment and subsequently in the Royal Welch Fusiliers. He survived the war but sadly died of disease at Lucknow in India on 24th July 1920, aged 22.  Joe now rests in Lucknow Cantonment Military Cemetery.

Fred earned his three medals.

The pension card in the name of his mother shows her address as 41 Granton Street, Robson Street, Liverpool.  The amount of the pension awarded for both sons is not shown.

Fred’s Army effects went to his mother, and brothers William and James (the latter’s  share to his mother at his request). His mother received the War Gratuity of £6-10s, with a small share to William. 

His brother William in the U.S. had a son born later in 1916 he named after Fred.

His mother died in 1921 aged 62. 

Fred is commemorated in Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 41 Right

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