Pte 23660 Eric Thelwall

Eric Thelwall was born in Tarporley, Cheshire, on 27th November 1892, the eldest son of Joseph Thelwall and his wife Mary (née Jones). He was baptised on New Years Day 1893 in Tarporley. His father, from Cheshire, and his mother, from Shropshire, married in 1891 in Tarporley and had two children.  After Eric was born they lived for some time in Broughton, Preston, where his younger brother Frank was born in 1895. 

 

By 1901 they are back in Cheshire, living at 6 Windsor Street, Birkenhead.  

His father is aged 36 a domestic coachman born in Malpas, whilst his mother is aged 37 and born in Madeley, Salop. Eric is 8 and Frank 6.

 

His brother Frank died in December 1901, at the age of 6.

 

Eric was registered in January 1902 at the Tarporley National School, address High Street, Birkenhead, and left the school in January 1909 when he was 16 to begin work in a solicitor’s office.

 

By 1911 the family have returned to Tarporley, living at 114 High Street.

 

His father, now aged 46, is a coachman, his mother is 47.  Eric is 18, a solicitor’s clerk.  They have a boarder, a 20 year old elementary school teacher. His parents advise that they have been married for 20 years and one of their two children have survived. 

Eric volunteered, enlisting in Liverpool and joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 23660.  He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory and 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. 

Eric crossed to France with his Battalion on 07th November 1915.

He was killed in action on the 01st July 1916 during the attack at Montauban, but his death was originally recorded by 17th Battalion as being between 01-02/7/1916.

17^th Battalion Diary

3.30 am the Battalion in position in assembly trenches -Battalion frontage from Maricourt – Briqueterie Rd to 100 yards west of Maricourt – Montauban Rd – 1^st wave, 2 platoons of A Company on the right and 2 platoons of B company on the left. 2^nd wave remaining platoons of these companies. 3^rd wave C Company and 4^th wave D Company in parallel trenches at about 100 yards distance. 3^rd Battalion 153^rd French Infantry on our right and 20 KLR on our left. The Battalion’s objective was Dublin Trench from Dublin Redoubt exclusive to a point 400 yards west.

7.30 am – “Zero Hour”. The assault commenced, some shelling but very slight infantry resistance and little machine gun fire encountered, the work of our artillery having been very effective on the German trenches.

8.30 am – the objective was taken at 08.30 am the French on our right gaining their’s at the same hour. Lieutenant-Colonel B C Fairfax and Commandant Le Petit commanding 3^rd Battalion 153^rd Regiment arrived together in Dublin Trench. A and B Companies dug in almost 100 yards south of Dublin Trench which the Germans shelled intermittently all day hardly touching the new trench. Casualties up to 12 noon, Captain E C Torrey commanding C Company, Lt D H Scott commanding A Company and 2^nd Lieutenant P L Wright wounded 100 other ranks. Later in the day the 90^th Brigade took Montauban and the 20^th KLR captured the Briqueterie. Lt Scott died of wounds in a French hospital at Cerisy where Captain Mirascou commanding the left Company of the French also lay wounded. Perfect liaison existed between the French and ourselves the above two officers commanding respectively our right Company and the French left Company being in constant touch. Shortly after the attack commenced the Battalion Headquarters moved to a German dugout in Favieres Support under Briqueterie Road where Commandant Le Petit also established his H.Q. During the remainder of the day there was intermittent bombardment of Dublin and Casement and  Favieres Support trenches. Rations were brought up safely at night. Disposition of the Battalion – 2 Companies in Dublin and 2 in Casement.

Chester Chronicle 29th July 1916 

CHESHIRE ROLL OF HONOUR. 

TARPORLEY BOYS KILLED. 

Official news has been received of the death in action of Pte Eric Thelwall of the King’s Liverpool Pals. Pte Thelwall joined the Pal's on the 14th December 1914 and went to front on the 7th November 1915. After receiving some weeks of instruction in France he was made a bomber. Prior to joining the colours he was a clerk in the employ of Mr E. Cawley, solicitor, Tarporley. For many years he was patrol leader in the Boy Scouts, a church bellringer, and assistant librarian. 

 

Eric 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.”

     

 

A memorial service was held in St. Helen’s Church, reported in the Chester Chronicle on 5th August 1916:

“On Sunday evening a service was held in the church to the memory of Pte. Eric Thelwall, another of the Tarporley boys who have fallen.  Pte. E. Thelwall had been a member of the church choir, bellringer, scout patrol leader and assistant librarian.  He was a young man full of promise.  Shortly after the war broke out he came forward and joined the ranks and now lies somewhere in France.  Canon Hughes conducted the service and spoke of the deceased soldier’s work and help in the parish and of his spiritual and exemplary character.  There was a large congregation who met to pay their last tribute to his memory, and to show sympathy with his bereaved relatives. At the close of the service Mr. W. E. Garner (organist) played the “Dead March”.  A muffled peal was rung before the evening service.”

A report in the Parish Magazine paid a handsome tribute to Eric and records details of his life both in the church but also of his duties as a Scout Patrol leader with the Tarporley Troop:

The Roll of Highest Honour

Amongst those who have given their lives for us since July 1st is ERIC THELWALL of the "Liverpool Pals". Eric was a chorister for nine years. His sweet voice and sweet character were a great help in the choir. Those who have charge of the choir training bear witness to the splendid effect his behaviour had on the other boys. Eric had plenty of fun and boyish mischief but he kept both for the right places. During his preparation for Confirmation his reverent devotion set its mark on the whole class. As a scout he was keen, with a great sense of the good a good scout can do; his leaving was a distress to the Scout-Master: he was a Patrol Leader. How many hours he gave to the Library, Mr Garner can tell. The work was tedious and unnoticed, but Eric knew what good the library was doing in the Parish, and that was his reward, he asked for no more. As a ringer he did valuable service to the Church he loved. And now he who gave so much of his life for God, has given all his life for us. Thank God for his life, his friendship, and his example. We shall miss him so much, we know his parents will miss him so much more. He has won his crown and every part of his life is full of sweet memories.  

Eric earned his three medals. His parents received his Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £6-10s and were awarded a pension. 

 

His parents lived long lives.  In 1939 they are living at Fir Tree Cottage, Tiverton.  His father is 75, incapacitated, his mother is 76, her sister Martha Jones, 71, is also incapacitated.  They lived through the Second World War, his father dying in 1944 aged 79, and his mother in 1948 at the age of 84.

 

Eric is commemorated on the following memorials -

Birkenhead War Memorial, Hamilton Square, Birkenhead

Tarporley War Memorial, St. Helen’s Churchyard, High Street

 

Village Green, Tiverton, Cheshire,

He is also remembered on the family gravestone in St. Helen’s Churchyard, Tarporley-