Pte 16952 Humphrey Blinkhorn

• Age: 25
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

16952 Private Humphrey BLINKHORN, 18^th Battalion KLR.

Humphrey was born on 17th December 1890 in Binney Street, Liverpool the son of William and Mary Ann(nee Davies) Blinkhorn who were married on the 25th December 1875 at St Simon, Liverpool. William was a cooper, father Robert, whilst Mary was aged 20, father Thomas. Humphrey was baptised at St. Peter's Church, Liverpool on 31st December 1890.  

The 1891 Census finds the family living at 15-17 Binney Street, Liverpool. 

His father William is 38 years of age, born in Liverpool and is a dock porter, whilst his mother Mary Ann is 37 years of age and also born in Liverpool. Humphrey's siblings, all born in Liverpool, are listed as; Amelia 15, Robert 13, Elizabeth 8, Mary Jane 6, William 4 and Humphrey is 3 months old. They also have a visitor Wm J. Davis(probably Davies) aged 26, and widowed Aunt Elizabeth Blinkhorn 54.  

Younger brother William died aged 11 in 1899 and was buried on the 10th December at West Derby Cemetery. 

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 23 Doddridge Street, Liverpool.

His father William is 47 years of age, born in Liverpool and is a general porter working on the docks whilst his mother Mary Ann is 44 years of age and also born in Liverpool. Humphrey's siblings, all born in Liverpool, are listed as; Elizabeth 18 years of age, Mary J 15 years of age and a cigarette maker, Humphrey is aged 10, Alice aged 7 and Richard aged 4.

By 1911 the family have moved to 26 Horsley Street, Liverpool.

Humphrey is now 20 years of age and is employed as a bottler in a mineral water factory. His father is now 60 years of age and a widower. He is shown as a general cooper in a rubber works. His elder sister Elizabeth aged 27, is living at home. She has married  Joseph Morri who is also living in the property along with their 7 week old son. Also present is brother Richard now aged 14.     

Humphrey enlisted on 2^nd September 1914 in Liverpool joining the 18th Battalion as Private 16952, giving his age as 23 years 270 days, his occupation as a clerk with London and North West Railway Company and his next of kin as his father of 7 Holt Road, Liverpool. He was described as being 5'6 inches tall, weighed 132lbs, chest 36”,  with a sallow complexion, brown eyes, brown hair and he gave his religion as Church of England. 

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 7^th April 1915 prior to leaving Liverpool for Belton Park, Humphrey married Florence Walker at Liverpool Registry Office. They set up home at 58 Garnage Street, Rocky Lane, Liverpool.  On 30th April 1915 the 18th 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.

Humphrey sailed with his Battalion on the SS invicta to France on the 7^th November 1915.  Between 10th and 15th May 1916 he spent leave in the UK before returning to France. 

On the 1st July 1916, Humphrey was reportedly struck in the head by shrapnel and killed instantly.

18^th Battalion Diary

At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great spirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks. 

Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:

As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.  

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter  wrote in the conclusion of his account of the days action:

I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:

“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”.    

Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18^th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257. 

Humphrey has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France.

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 01^st 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 death was not reported home instantly and his wife's anguish can be seen in the notice that she placed in the Liverpool Echo on 27th July 1916, under the heading,

“A Wife’s Suspense”:

“Mrs. Blinkhorn of 58, Grange Street, Rocky Lane, Liverpool, has heard from a friend at the front that her husband, Private Blinkhorn, of the “Pals”, was killed on July 1.  She has had no official news and would be grateful for any further information.”

Further indication of this anguish can be seen in his service papers where there is a letter from his wife's sister, written in August 1916, asking for assistance to determine whether or not Humphrey had been killed on 01st July 1916:

"I am writing on behalf of my sister Mrs. H. Blinkhorn 4th Company, 14th Platoon 18th (Service) Battalion King's Liverpool Regiment (2nd Liverpool Pals). She has heard from a friend at the Front that he was killed on July 1st and has received a letter from his Captain confirming it but has received no official intimation. We would be glad if you could let us know if it is true. Also, if it is, my sister wishes to know if his belongings will be forwarded on to her as she says she will not believe it until she has official notice. An answer will greatly oblige."    

There is no intimation of when or if Mrs Blinkhorn received a reply, however, she received a pension of 10 shillings a week.  

Liverpool Echo 14th Nov 1916 – wife Florrie loses her brother-in-law 

ROGERS – Died of wounds, Private G. Rogers, the dear brother of Florrie Blinkhorn and the late Private Blinkhorn, 58 Grange Street. (Gone but never forgotten until we all meet again).[Pte George 15609 L.N.Lancs} 

ROGERS - November 6, died of wounds, Private Rogers, the dearly loved son of Mrs Rogers, Howat Street, Breck Road. 

His heart was good,  

His spirit brave,  

His resting place are soldier’s grave. 

Father William probably died aged 64 in Manchester in 1917 whilst living with his daughter-in-law Florrie. 

Liverpool Echo 2nd July 1917 

BLINKHORN - In loving memory of my dear husband, Private Humphrey Blinkhorn, K.L.R. (Pals), who was killed July 1, 1916.  

It is not the tears at the moment shed  

That tell how beloved is the soul that’s fled,  

But the tears through many a long night wept, 

And the sad remembrance so fondly kept. 

(Sadly missed by his loving wife Florrie.) - 10 Charles Street, Crumpsall, Manchester. 

Soldiers Effects and Pension to widow Florence, 10 Charles Street, Lower Crumpsall. 

Florence remarried to Benjamin Hey in 1926 at St Anne, Stanley. They appear on the 1939 register at 29 Prestwood Rd, Knotty Ash, where Florence, dob 4th Aug 1890, has a son Stanley W. Hey born 1927. She died aged 89 in 1979. 

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