Pte 23831 Percival Alfred Slater

• Age: 18
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

In 1891 his mother Maud was aged 21 and living with her parents at 164 Station Street, Burton, whilst his father Francis was a 26 year old brewers labourer living with his parents at 115 Uxbridge St, Burton. 

The 1911 Census shows the family are still living at 30 Dacy Road, Everton, Liverpool. His father, Francis is aged 45, born 1866 in Burton on Trent, his occupation is recorded as a bottler in bottling stores in a brewery, whilst his mother. Maud Matilda is aged 40, born 1871 also in Burton on Trent has no occupation listed. They advise that they have been married for fifteen years and have had three children. The children are all still in the household and are listed as; Francis William aged 14, born 1897, Percival Alfred aged 13, born 1898 and Gladys Evelyn aged 9, born 1902, they are all at school. They also have a domestic servant named Alice Osborne aged 19, born 1892 in Liverpool living at the address. 

He enlisted in November 1914, underage (age 17), in Liverpool and was serving in the 20^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 23831. He was alongside his brother when he enlisted as his brother Francis William Slater had the service number 23830. 

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th 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 07^th November 1915. 

Percy was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 18, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

The 20^th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20^th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 Other Ranks

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th 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 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July. 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th 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.

Percy'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 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.”

His Army pay of £4 1s 1d and a War Gratuity of £7-10s went to his mother, who was awarded a pension of two shillings a week from May 1917, later increased by varying amounts.

His family placed an In Memoriam notice in the Liverpool Echo on 17th August 1916:

SLATER - July 30, killed in action, Percival Alfred (Percy), "Pals" the dearly loved youngest son of Maud and the late Francis Slater, 30 Dacy-road, Anfield.     

His father was remembered by his family in the Liverpool Echo on Monday 02 July 1917: 

Percy's family paid tribute to him, 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 loving memory of Percival (Percy), the dearly-loved youngest son of Mrs. Slater and the late Francis Slater, 70 Dacy Road, killed in action, July 30, 1916. (Fondly remembered by Mother, Sister, and Brother, in France.) Safe in the arms of Jesus.” 

His brother Francis William referred to as in France in the Echo tribute was also in the 20th Battalion. He undoubtedly enlisted alongside his brother, Percy, as his service number was consecutive to Percy's. He served as Corporal 23830. He was later posted to the 19th Battalion, likely when the 20th was disbanded in February 1918. His name appeared in the list of Wounded in the Weekly Casualty List on 30th April 1918. Francis survived the war and died in 1970.

Percy is remembered on the following Memorials:

St Cuthbert’s, Church, Burleigh Road South, Everton, until the church was demolished in the late 1960’s. It has now been accepted into St George’s Church, Everton.

Liverpool Town Hall in the Liverpool Hall of Remembrance, Panel 42.

In 1939 his mother, aged 70, was still living at 30 Dacy Street. She died in 1950 at the age of 81.

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