Pte 17044 Charles Arthur Boosey

• Age: 20
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 9th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Peronne Rd Cem Maricourt
  Panel Ref: IV.C.35

Charles Arthur (Charlie) was born in Kirkdale, Liverpool in August 1895 the son of Zachariah Boosey and his wife Susan (nee Westwood) who were married at St John's Church, Liverpool on 07th August 1894. He had younger siblings William Westwood, Winifred Maria, Elsie May, Doris Eveline, and Edward Alexander (birth registered in 1906 and baptised in St. Aidan, Kirkdale, but not found on any subsequent records).

The 1901 Census shows the family living at Fire Salvage Station, 7 Vauxhall Road, Liverpool. There is no sign of Winifred, who would have been 2 years old on the Census, but his parents are present along with his brother William aged 4, born in 1897. 

Charles Boozey (sic) age 5, born in Liverpool, is found in Commercial Road, Whitechapel, London (Salvage Corps), listed as nephew to Elizabeth Boozey (wife of his paternal uncle Charles) aged 31, with daughters Winifred 6, and Florence 3.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 46D, Derby Road, Kirkdale with five of their six children. Charles is 16 years of age and a clerk in a steamship company. His father is shown as a 43 year old fire salvage officer born in Standon, Hertfordshire, whilst his mother is 38 years of age and was born in Liverpool. His parents state that they have been married for 17 years and all six of their children have survived. Charles' siblings are shown as: William aged 14 and a boy in stores with a steamship company, Winifred aged 12, Elsie, 10, and Doris, 8..    

When war broke out Charles was working as a clerk in the Engineering Department of the Cunard Steamship Company.

On 31 August, 1914 he enlisted at St George's Hall, Liverpool as Private 17044 joining the 18th Battalion King's (Liverpool Regt). It is likely that he accompanied Ivor Owen, Arthur Seanor and George Barlow (team mates at Orrell FC) to enlist as all signed up on the same day into the ranks of the Liverpool Pals. At enlistment Charles gave his age as 19 years and 21 days, his employment as a clerk and his address as 46 Derby Rd, Kirkdale. He was described as being 5’ 7" tall, weighed 136lbs with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. He stated that his religion was Church of England.

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th 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 reached France on 07th November 1915 with his Battalion.

He was admitted to 98 Field Ambulance on 16 January 1916 suffering from a ‘poisoned’ arm and that he was released to duty two days later.

He was wounded in action on 08th July 1916 and died the next day, in 28 Field Ambulance, from the effects of his injuries. The injuries were sustained when he was hit by a shell which killed Lt Col Trotter and 2nd Lieutenant Barnard of the 18th Battalion and Lt Col William Alfred Smith of the Manchester Regiment who had formerly served in the 20th Battalion.  

The Battalion diary records the actions of the Battalion during 8/9 July thus: 

On the 8 July, the Battalion was ordered up to Train Alley, to provide carrying parties for the rest of the Brigade. This was because there were insufficient numbers left after the losses of 1 July, for the Battalion to man the line. Trotter went ahead of the unit, and reached the Headquarters of the 21st Brigade, in Train Alley. At about 5.30 pm the Germans shelled the trench, and a shell landed on the position killing Trotter, and Second-Lieutenant N A S Barnard. The Commanding Officer of the 18th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel William Alfred Smith, formerly Second in Command of the 20th Battalion, The King's (Liverpool Regiment) was fatally wounded by the same shell.

Charles was buried close to where he fell but after the war when graves were concentrated, his body was removed and reburied at  Peronne Road Cemetery, Maricourt at IV. C. 35 where his headstone states that he was 20 years of age. It does not feature a Cross but bears the epitaph:

"HE LIVETH FOR EVERMORE" 

Maricourt was, at the beginning of the Battles of the Somme 1916, the point of junction of the British and French forces, and within a very short distance of the front line; it was lost in the German advance of March 1918, and recaptured at the end of the following August.

The Cemetery, originally known as Maricourt Military Cemetery No.3, was begun by fighting units and Field Ambulances in the Battles of the Somme 1916, and used until August 1917; a few graves were added later in the War, and at the Armistice it consisted of 175 graves which now form almost the whole of Plot I. It was completed after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from the battlefields in the immediate neighbourhood and from certain smaller burial grounds.

There are now 1348, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, 366 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 26 soldiers from the United Kingdom known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of three soldiers from the United Kingdom, buried in other cemeteries, whose graves could not be found.

The cemetery covers an area of 3,787 square metres and is enclosed on three sides by a low red brick wall.

Charlie earned his three medals.

Notice of his death was featured in the Liverpool Echo on Tuesday 18 July 1916

Charles Boosey of the "Pals", who was killed in action on July 8, in his 21st year. He was the son of Mr and Mrs Boosey 46, Derby Rd.

His outstanding Army pay and a War Gratuity of £8-10s and a pension went to his mother Susan.  

His mother received his personal effects which consisted of the following: Diary, Notebook, 2 coins, cigarette case, wallet, photographs and two letters.

In his book "Montauban", Graham Maddocks featured an exchange of letters following an incident on the Somme on 01st July 1916 that perfectly sums up the character of Charlie:

His father wrote to Captain J H Worthington of the Manchester Regiment on 18/01/1917 as follows:

Dear Sir,

Would you please inform me if you are the Captain Worthington wounded in the Somme Battle July 1st who gave his glasses and an ox tongue to a Private of the King's Liverpool Regiment. If so I would like to write further to you.

Yours most faithfully

Z Boosey 

Hubert Worthington replied to say that he was the man referred to. Thus, Zacariah Boosey wrote a more informative letter to him:

Dear Sir,

to make you understand everything I think it best to make a general statement. My son was killed on the Somme, July 8th last. In due course we received from the War Office a wallet containing photo's and a small diary. An entry in the diary reads thus: "Captn Worthington of the Manchesters gave me an ox tongue and his glasses". The item aroused my curiousity and I wrote to his pal to see if he could enlighten me on it.  

He wrote me to this effect; "Charlie came across Captn Worthington badly wounded and in a very exhausted condition. He dressed his wounds and made him as comfortable as circumstances would allow, this was under very heavy shellfire and as a mark of esteem he gave him his glasses." 

Now Sir, as a parent the statement greatly impressed me as it was a tribute to his young manhood and the last action I heard of him doing in this world. I have endeavoured to get those glasses without success, not for the value of them, since my object in writing to you was to find out if they had any distinguishing marks on them. I wasn't aware at the time you prized the glasses and nothing would give me greater happiness now, than to be able to forward them to you, which I most assuredly will do, if I am fortunate enough to trace them.

I hope I have made everything quite plain to you Sir, also would you like me to continue my enquiries for them.

Yours Most Faithfully

Z Boosey

Captain Worthing replied in the affirmative but heard nothing until a letter arrived written to him on 26th July 1918;

Dear Sir,

The field galsses you gave to my son on the battle field in July 1916 came into my posession yesterday, having been forwarded by the Adjt of 18th King's Liverpool. It would give me great pleasure to forward them on hearing from you. I had despaired of ever getting them, but am more than satisfied, now that the enquiries made have produced such a good result.

Yours faithfully 

Z Boosey

Eventually Captain Worthington received his glasses which became a much treasured family possession thereafter.   

In 1939 his parents were living in St. Nicholas Road, Wallasey. His father 71, was a retired fire salvage officer, his mother was 65, with daughter Winifred, 41, a school attendance officer.

His parents celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1944.

His mother, Susan died in the March quarter of 1955 aged 81.  

His father Zachariah died in the second quarter of 1959 aged 91. According to the 1881 Census he had as a 13 year old been described as a pauper living in the Ware Union Workhouse, Hertfordshire. 

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