Pte 22020 David Boggild

• Age: 23
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

22020 Private David BOGGILD, 20^th Battalion KLR.

David Boggild was born in Paddington, Liverpool on 11th June 1893 and baptised in the Parish Church of St Peter on 13th July 1893, the third son of David Boggild and his wife Jane (nee George). They were married on the 31^st July 1883 at St Peter's Church, Liverpool. David was a 19 years old stevedore of Upper Milk Street, father William a mariner, whilst Jane was aged 17 of Soho Street, father James. 

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 47 Wavertree Road, Edge Hill, Liverpool. David is 6 years of age and lives with his parents and five siblings. His father is a 36 year old butcher's shop manager born in Liverpool, whilst his mother is 34 years old and was also born in Liverpool. All five siblings were born in Liverpool and are listed as; Ethel aged 12, William aged 9, Mabel aged 5, Florrie aged 4 and Clara aged 2. 

David attended St. Mary's School, Edge Hill. Upon leaving school he took up a position with Eastman's butchers at their Birkenhead depot. This was the same firm that his father worked for as a manager. 

The 1911 Census shows that the family are still living at 47 Wavertree Road. David is now 17 years of age and working as a clerk at Eastman's Ltd. Both parents are in the household and declare that they have been married for 29 years and have had 13 children of whom three have sadly died. David has eight siblings in the household; Ethel now 22 and a chemist's assistant for Evan's Ltd, William is 19 and a butcher for Mr. Outram of St Helens, Mabel is 16 and a boot assistant for Haylock Ltd, Florence aged 14 is an apprentice for the Lang Pen Company, Clara is 12  Adelaide 10, James 6 and Albert 4.

David enlisted on 07th November 1914 in Liverpool joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 22020. He gave his age as 21 years 155 days, his occupation as clerk with Eastman’s the Butcher’s and his next of kin as his father, living at 2 Hawkins Street, Liverpool. He was described as being 5'4" in height, weighed 119lbs, 35" chest, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair. He stated that his religion was Church of England.

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 20th 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. David sailed to France on the 7^th November 1915.

He was listed as killed in action during the attack on Montauban on the 01st July 1916.

20^th Battalion Diary

Maricourt

Zero Hour 7.30am. After 65 minutes intensive bombardment the Battalion advanced to the attack of the German trenches. The Battalion advanced in four lines each of the two leading Companies on a frontage of 2 platoons – No’s 1 & 2 Companies (in that order from the right) leading. No.3 Company in the 3^rd wave. No.4 Company in the 4^th wave. There being a distance of about 100 yards between each line. The lines advanced through the enemy’s artillery fire as though on parade in quick time. The leading waves went on without a pause to Alt Trench and Casement Trench which were secured at (time not stated) am. The casualties up to this being small. Our barrage lifting Dublin Trench (the 1^st Objective) was captured and consolidation immediately proceeded with. Captain Whiting with the 3^rd wave entrenching about 150 yards in the rear. Captain Robinson was wounded and No.2 Company was commanded during the day by Lt C P Moore. Casualties up to now were killed 2 officers – 1 wounded and 49 other ranks casualties killed and wounded. At 11.50 am orders were received for the assault of the Briqueterie. The Battalion operation orders for this were issued from NW of Germans Wood. Our barrage lifted at 12,30 pm and No. 4 Company under Captain E C Orford assisted by a section of bombers under 2^nd Lt Baker who went up Nord Alley and Chimney Trench to secure his left flank, who had got right forward under cover of the fire of our guns rushed it almost without opposition. On the far side a party of the enemy were found in deep dug-outs. They brough a machine gun into action and some close fighting ensued in which Lt Gooch and Lt Williams were wounded. Opposition was however speedily overcome and the garrison consisting of the H.Q. of a Regt, one Colonel and 4 other officers – 40 rank and file, 2 machine guns together with maps, orders, documents and material fell into our hands. Steps were immediately taken for consolidating the ground won, which however owing to the destruction wrought by our “heavies” was a matter of great difficulty, what had been trenches being almost unrecognisable as such and the earth so pulverised that cover could only be made by aid of sandbags. The garrison was heavily shelled through the afternoon and most of the night and casualties were many. Battalion H.Q. were at the junction of Glatz Alley and Casement Trench north west of Germans Wood and this together with Dublin Trench received considerable attention from enemy guns. Casualties during the day 2 officers killed (2^nd Lts F Barnes and JC Laughlin) and 3 wounded (Captain H H Robinson, Lt S Gooch and 2^nd Lt F J Williams). 75 other ranks killed and wounded.                     

David's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as his name 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.”

St Philip and St David Church, Sheil Road, Newsham Park, 

Christ Church, Kensington, now preserved in Kensington Library 

St Nathaniel’s Church, Windsor Street (now housed in St Bride & St Saviour, Percy Street, Liverpool).

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