Pte 21348 William Shyman

• Age: 22
• From: Manchester
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 28th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

William Shyman was born in October 1895 in Manchester and was the son of Solomon Eli shyman and his wife Emma (nee Rosenberg).  His parents were both born in Russian Poland in about 1860. Their twelve children were all born in Manchester (Prestwich district). William had 11 siblings: Barney, Hyman, Harry,Louis, Morris, Abraham, Rachel, Esther, Bella, Jack and Israil. The first six children were registered under the last name Shaman; then the spelling of the surname went through a period of transition (Shiman, Schiman, Simon), until the last three children were registered as Shyman.

In 1901 the family is living at 89 Moreton Street, Cheetham (they were also at this address in 1891).  His father is a cabinet maker.  They have ten children, William is 5.

At the time of the 1911 census they are found at 19 Tenerife Street, Lower Broughton, Salford. His parents are both 50 years old. His father and five oldest brothers are all cabinet makers. Abraham is a tailoring machinist. William is 15, an apprentice cabinet maker.  

He was a cabinet maker prior to the outbreak of the war and was a member of the Jewish Lads Brigade.

He enlisted in Manchester on the 11th November 1914 joining the King's Liverpool Regiment Depot and giving his age as 19 years and one month, and his occupation as cabinet maker.  He is described as being 5’ 6” tall, weighing 117 lbs, with good physical development. He gives as next of kin his father Solomon, at 19 Tenerife Street. 

He was posted to the 13th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment  on 18th November 1914.

On 03rd February 1915 at Winton for insubordination to an NCO on parade, he was awarded 24 hours field punishment no.2.

(Under the Alien Restrictions Act which was introduced at the outbreak of war, all aliens over the age of 16 had to register at their local police station and be issued with an Alien Registration Card, which had to be checked and stamped periodically at the police station.  In late August 1915 his mother (“Emma Shyman, a Russian”) was charged with entering a prohibited area. She told the court that two of her sons were in the British Army. She was released and told to register.)

At Aldershot on 19th September 1915, for overstaying his pass two days, he was confined to barracks for seven days and forfeited three days’ pay.

William shipped to France on 25th September 1915.

On 26th November 1915 he was attached to the 8th Brigade as a carpenter, and returned to duty with his ban on 12th January 1916.

On 15th June 1916 in the field he was awarded 14 days field punishment no.2 for being absent from roll call and resisting police when ordered to the Guard Room.

On 14th July 1916 he was wounded in action with a GSW to the right thigh, and evacuated to England on 17th July 1916 per Hospital Ship Marama. He was admitted to the Convalescent Hospital, Epsom on 09th October 1916, and discharged to duty on 02nd November.

He returned to France on 04th January 1917, embarking at Folkestone for Boulogne, joined IBD Etaples, and was posted to 19th Battalion The King's Liverpool Regiment on 25th January 1917, joining the battalion in the field on the 27th as Private No 21348.

He suffered a GSW to the left hand on 09th April 1917, and was admitted to No.6 General Hospital, Rouen.  

26th April 1917 to No.2 Convalescent Depot

17th June 1917 24th IBD Etaples

03rd July 1917 admitted No.24 General Hospital, Etaples, hypertrophic rhinitis

31st July 1917 to 24th IBD

23rd August 1917 rejoined unit in the field

20th January 1918 granted leave to the U.K.

06th February 1918 rejoined from leave.

14th March 1918 to 97 CP Field Ambulance, ICT/abrasion right foot

24th March 1918 to No.3 General Hospital, Le Tréport

11th April 1918 rejoined unit in the field. 

He was serving in the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 21348 when he was killed in action on the 28^th April 1918, aged 22, during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary entry for the day gives an insight into the events of the day.  

28^th April 1918

VOORMEZEELE SECTOR

The Battalion held the position taken up the previous night. The enemy artillery was very quiet but aeroplane activity on both sides was great.   

William's body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

In November 1918 his personal belongings were sent to his mother:  2 Religious books, Photographs, Purse, Cap badge, 1 Identity disc.

William earned his three medals, which his mother signed for.

His Army effects and a War Gratuity of £16 went to his mother Emma.  The amount of pension awarded is not clear from the card.

In 1919 his mother provided information on William’s living relatives: his parents were still at 19 Tenerife Street with two brothers. No information is provided on his numerous other siblings.

William is commemorated in the British Jewry Roll of Honour .

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