Pte 29135 Frederick Gordon Schofield

• Age: 29
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 3rd July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Frederick Gordon Schofield was born in Toxteth Park, Liverpool in late 1886  to Thomas Edwin Schofield and Mary Ellen (nee Peers or Pears, records vary) who were married in Liverpool in 1869.  Thomas was from Huddersfield, and Mary Ellen from Liverpool. Frederick (known as Fred) was the eighth of eleven children, three of whom died young. His siblings were Sarah, George, Thomas, John, Henry, Martha, and William. Frederick was baptised on  10^th October 1886 in Holy Trinity, Toxteth Park; his parents were living at 33 Dombey Street; his father’s occupation is engine driver.  

The census of 1891 finds the family at 310 Mill Street, Toxteth Park. His father, Thomas, is a 51 year old chandler, his mother Mary Ellen is 42. They have nine children listed; Sarah Ellen 20, Emma 18, George 14, Thomas, 11, John 9, Henry 7, Frederick 4, Martha 2, William 3 months. Also declared is niece Esther McGlure who is 5  and at school.

The census of 1901 finds the family still living at 310 Mill Street. His father Thomas, is aged 61 and is now a dock labourer, his mother Mary Ellen is 52. They have seven children declared at home; Sarah Ellen 30, George 24 pawnbrokers assistant, John 18 blockwork labourer, Henry 17 blockwork labourer, Frederick 14 office boy, Martha A. 12, William 10.

In 1911 they are living at 48 Wellington Road, Dingle, Liverpool. His father Thomas is shown as 69 and is a fish hawker, mother Mary Ellen is 62. They advise that they have been married for 42 years, and have had 11 children, eight of whom have survived. There are five children living at home; Sarah Ellen 39, Henry 26 steel block maker, Frederick 24 steel block maker, Martha Manville 22 married fruit and provisions packer, William 20 palm kernel presser.

The details of Frederick’s military service are not known as his service record has not survived, but he served as Private 29135, 20^th Battalion (Pals) of The King’s Liverpool Regiment.  

After training in the UK he shipped to the front, and by July 1916 was in the front line trenches at Maricourt on the Somme. The Battle of the Somme began on 1^st July 1916.  On this, the bloodiest day in British military history, nearly 20,000 British soldiers were killed, or were missing and later declared killed in action. The 20^th Battalion achieved its objectives but at a cost. 

Fighting continued on the following days. Frederick was killed in action on 03rd July 1916.

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.  

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.”

Frederick’s official date of death is 03^rd July, but Soldiers’ Effects shows 1^st July, and his parents were evidently informed also -

In the Liverpool Echo on 18^th July 1916: 

 “July 1 killed in action in his 29^th year, Fred Schofield (“Pals”) beloved son of Mr. and Mrs. Schofield, 48 Wellington Road.  – From all at home.”

Frederick’s effects went to his mother Mary.

Frederick's death was not the only loss that the family had to endure as his brother William, Lance Corporal 17480, originally of the 19th Battalion (Pals) transferred to the 4^th Battalion K.L.R., died 25^th September 1917, age 26, and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing, Ypres.

Frederick’s father died in 1924 aged 83, and his mother in 1935, aged 86, still living in Wellington Street.

They lost two sons who both have no known grave and are commemorated on Memorials to the Missing in both France (Thiepval Memorial) and Belgium (Tyne Cot Memorial) having given their lives in two of the Great War's most famous battles; The Somme and Passchendaele. 

Frederick’s effects went to his mother Mary, the pensions of Frederick and William went to father Thomas, mother Mary, and sister Sarah Ellen. 

Frederick is commemorated in Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 39.

William is commemorated on the following Memorials:

St. Cleopas C of E School, Toxteth,

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 39.

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