Sgt 19404 Anthony Bolton

• Age: 23
• From: Kirkby, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Friday 8th November 1918
• Commemorated at: Dourlers Cc Ext
  Panel Ref: II.C.16

Anthony was born in the first quarter of 1895 at Kirkby, Liverpool, the son of John Bolton and his wife Mary Ann (nee Clegg). His parents married at St Chad's Church, Kirkby in 1894.

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at Rough Lane, Kirkby. Anthony is 6 years of age. His father, John, is a farmer born in Kirkby in 1867, whilst his mother Mary was born in 1870 at Rochdale. Anthony is the  eldest chld listed and has two siblings: Lilian V. b.1897 and Thomas W. b. 1899 both born at Kirkby. 

By 1911 the family are living at Old Rough Lane, Kirkby. Anthony is now 16 years of age and is working as an apprentice engineer. Both parents are still in the household along with 3 siblings; Lilian Victoria aged 14, Thomas Whitworth aged 12 and Dorothy Martha aged 7.    

Anthony enlisted at Seaforth on 07th September 1914 Liverpool joining the 14th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 19404. He gave his age as 19 years and 260 days and his occupation as an apprentice engineer. He is described as being 5' 6and a half inches tall, weighing 110lbs with a ruddy complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. His service papers show that he was posted to the 14th Bn and was promoted to Corporal on 22nd August 1916 and to Acting Sergeant on 24th January 1918. He was in the UK from his enlistment until 03rd September 1915. He was in France from 04th September  to 28th October 1915. He left for the Mediterranen front on 29th October 1915 and remained at that front until 18th June 1918. He saw service in Salonika and Malta. In January 1917 he was diagnosed with Jaundice which then transpired to be Malaria and was treated at a Field Ambulance. He sailed on 19th June 1918 reaching France on 25th June 1918. After leave he was posted to the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Sergeant on 13th August 1918.   

He was killed in action on the 08th November 1918 during the hundred days offensive which ended the First World War (8^th August-11^th November 1918). He was one of the last Liverpool Pals to fall. At the time of his death, warfare had become mobile, with the British Army harrying the Germans, who would retreat to a position, fight, then retreat once more. The day before he was killed the Battalion had just marched from Mariollers to Marbaix in France, when it was ordered to take a position in the line near Marbaix, from the 1/5th Gloucestershire Regiment. On the following day, 08th November an attack was commenced at 07.30am supported by the 100th Battalion Machine Gun Corps and artillery fire. Despite their support, the advancing troops encountered fierce rifle and machine gun fire from the German position’s.

Although the attack was eventually successful, two more officers and thirty six other ranks were to be wounded, and fourteen other ranks Killed, only three days before the Armistice.

Anthony was one of those other ranks referred to who were killed.

He now rests at Dourlers CC Extension Cemetery, France where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"THE LORD PRESERVETH THE FAITHFUL"

Dourlers village was in German hands during almost the whole of the First World War. It was taken on 07th November 1918, after heavy fighting, by the 6th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the 1st K.O.Y.L.I. The communal cemetery was used by the Germans during the war, but in November 1918, a small extension was made by Commonwealth troops at the west end. After the Armistice, the German graves from the communal cemetery and others from the battlefields, together with Commonwealth graves from isolated positions and small cemeteries, were brought into the extension which contains 161 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 14 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to four casualties known or believed to be buried among them. The extension also contains 108 German burials, 62 of which are unidentified.

His death was reported in the Ormskirk Advertiser on 28th November 1918 ( the article contradicts the official line of an 08th November 1918 death, however there were no deaths recorded in the 18th Battalion Diary on 11th November 1918)

KIRKBY'S SERGEANT'S HARD FATE

News has been received that Sgt Antony Bolton, son of Mr John Bolton of Roe Farm, Kirkby, was killed in action in France at nine o'clock in the morning of the 11th inst., (sic) the day the armistice was signed. Sergeant Bolton went through the Salonika campaign, and was afterwards transferred to France, only to meet with his fate at the 11th hour. He was about 24 years of age and was highly respected in the Kirkby District.

Liverpool Echo 29th Nov 1918

BOLTON - In sad but loving memory of Sergeant ANTHONY BOLTON, 18th L.H.Y., the dearly loved eldest son of John and M. A. Bolton of Rough Lane, Kirkby, Liverpool, killed in action France, November 8th 1918, aged 23 years.

Anthony was also reported killed in the Weekly Casualty List 31st December 1918

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Mary Ann.

His mother was sent his personal belongings which included Anthony's identity disc, photographs, notebook, safety razor and strap, leather case containing badge, a voting card, souvenir notes, 

Anthony is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

St Chad’s Church, Old Hall Lane, Kirkby

Kirkby Municipal Memorial

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 15 Right

His younger brother Thomas was a casualty of WW2 whilst serving as an Officer and 2nd Engineer aboard the SS Empire Hudson. On the 10th Sept 1941 he was presumed drowned when his ship was sunk by U-82 northeast of Cape Farewell. Four crew members were lost. The master, 47 crew members, six gunners and nine RAF personnel were picked up by the British merchant fleet.

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