Sgt 15781 Robert Harold Alderson

• Age: 24
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Saturday 14th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Heilly Station Cem, Mericourt
  Panel Ref: III.C.26

Robert Harold was born on 19 September 1892 presumably at 19 Dacy Road, off Breckfield Road North, Everton, to gas board rent collector Robert Alderson and his wife Elizabeth Grace (nee Bragg). His parents married in 1890 and he was the first born of two children of their marriage, his younger brother Frank Charles was born on 31 May 1895.  

Robert Harold was baptized at St. Saviour's, Everton on the 04th December 1892 where Frank was also later baptized.

A few weeks later on the 02nd August 1911 his younger brother Frank attested in Everton into the 5th Battalion of the King's Liverpool Regiment, claiming to be 17 years and 3 months old when really he was 16 years 2 months old.

On the 31st August 1914 Robert Harold attested at St George's Hall in Liverpool joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Pte. 15781. he was aged 21 years and 344 days. He is described as being 5 foot 9 inches in height, weighed 116 lbs,  had a 35 inch chest, with brown hair, and grey eyes. He had a scar on his right knee and his religion is stated as Church of England. He also claimed he had served before as a Sgt.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, 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. 

On 06th October 1914 he was promoted to Corporal and on 23rd November 1914 to Lance Serjeant. On 24th February 1915 he was promoted again to Serjeant.

On 15th March 1916 he sailed from Folkestone on board "S.S. Invicta" arriving at Etaples on 16th March 1916. He was sick in hospital for 8 days before rejoining the Battalion on 24th March 1916

On the 12th October 1916  Robert Harold was involved in the Battle of Le Transloy. The battalion diary records:

"The 17th King's were accommodated in Gird Trench and Gird Support which they had relieved a Battalion of the 123rd Brigade on the night of 10/11th October 1916.
At Zero hour 2.5 p.m on the 12th October the whole line went forward to the attack...........
On the Extreme left the 17th found the Enemy's wire uncut ......
The Losses in crossing No Mans Land were in consequence very heavy !"

Several Officers and 225 other ranks were among the wounded.

Robert Harold had received Gun shot wounds to his hip and abdomen and was taken to a Field Hospital, where 2 days later on 14th October 1916 he died from his wounds aged 24

He now rests at Heilly Station Cemetery on the Somme at Picardie, France.

The 36th Casualty Clearing Station was at Heilly from April 1916. It was joined in May by the 38th, and in July by the 2/2nd London, but these hospitals had all moved on by early June 1917. The cemetery was begun in May 1916 and was used by the three medical units until April 1917. From March to May 1918, it was used by Australian units, and in the early autumn for further hospital burials when the 20th Casualty Clearing Station was there briefly in August and September 1918. The last burial was made in May 1919. There are now 2,890 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. Only 12 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 21 casualties whose graves in the cemetery could not be exactly located. The cemetery also contains 83 German graves. The burials in this cemetery were carried out under extreme pressure and many of the graves are either too close together to be marked individually, or they contain multiple burials. Some headstones carry as many as three sets of casualty details, and in these cases, regimental badges have had to be omitted. Instead, these badges, 117 in all, have been carved on a cloister wall on the north side of the cemetery. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Robert's death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 19th October 1917

DIED OF WOUNDS

ALDERSON - October 13, died of wounds received in action October 12, Sgt Robert Harold Alderson K.L.R., the dearly beloved elder son of Robert and Elizabeth Grace Alderson, 52 Moscow Drive, Stoneycroft.

His belongings, medals and pay owing of 4 Shillings, were sent to his father Robert in February 1917. These included: wrist watch and strap, medallion, disc, three note books, letters, photos, small wallet, prayer book, knife, cigarette case, pipe, pencil case, steel mirror, flask. His medals and pay owing of 4 shillings were sent to his father on 04th September 1917.

There are 2 Soldiers effects records, one shows the £12 gratuity was paid.

Robert is commemorated on the following Memorials

Hall of Remembrance in Liverpool Town Hall at Panel 16 Right

St Anne's Church, Stanley (unified with St Paul's)

His Probate showed he left £284:7s:10d to his father Robert.

His younger brother Frank survived the war, and married Phyllis Busby in 1921.

His father died in the March quarter of 1939, aged 75.

His mother died in the December quarter of 1947, aged 82

His brother Frank passed away in 1966, aged 71.

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