Pte 16342 William Owen Thomas

• Age: 25
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 23rd April 1917
• Commemorated at: Heninel Cc Ext
  Panel Ref: B.6

William Owen Thomas was born in July 1891 at Liverpool and was the son of Jenkin and Margaret Thomas, of 15 Bradfield St., Edge Lane, Liverpool.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 15, Bradfield Street, Liverpool. His father, Jenkin, is aged 40, born in Cardiganshire, Wales in 1861 is a joiner, his mother, Margaret is aged 41, born in 1860, also in Cardiganshire, and has no occupation listed. They have four children at the time of the Census, William Owen aged 9, born 1892, Benjamin aged 7, born 1894, Reece James aged 5, born 1896 and Sarah aged 1, born 1900. Their children were all born in Liverpool.  

The 1911 Census shows the family still living at 15, Bradfield Street, Liverpool. His father, Jenkin, is now aged 50 and is still employed as a joiner, his mother, Margaret, is aged 51 and has no occupation listed. They have been married for twenty years and have had four children. All four children are declared on the Census; William Owen aged 19, is a junior clerk, Benjamin aged 17, is an apprentice tailor, Reece James aged 15, is an apprentice joiner and Sarah aged 11 is at school. 

William enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 2nd September 1914 and gave his age as 23 years and 23 days, and his occupation as a clerk. He was five feet six inches tall, weighed 114 lbs, 35" chest, fresh complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. His next of kin was his father Jenkin Thomas of 23 Bradfield St, Edge Lane, Liverpool.

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 arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

He was serving in the 18th Battalion as Private 16342 when he was killed in action on 23rd April 1917, aged 25.

On that day the Battalion had occupied old German Trenches at Henniel on the Arras sector of the front. In the evening, it moved to a sunken road to support an attack by the 18th and 19th Battalion’s of the Manchester Regiment. Elements of the Pals were to provide mopping up parties for both the Manchester Battalions, who were to move forward at 18.00pm. However, as the orders were not received until 17.45pm,it proved impossible to join the Manchester’s in time for their attack and the mopping up parties followed from where they presumed that the assaulting waves had left.

By this time, the German retaliatory barrage had begun, and the British Front Line was so heavily shelled, that the Battalion took up position in the shell holes in front. As the situation was chaotic, some troops on the right flank had begun to pullback, it was decided to withdraw to the British front line under cover of darkness to consolidate. Eventually, by morning the position became clearer, and the Battalion was able to move forward to occupy the old front line which had been vacated by the Germans, who had retired over the next crest.

Altogether the Battalion’s losses were four officers and one hundred and one other ranks, killed, wounded or missing.

He now rests at Heninel Communal Cemetery Extension where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“THE MEMORY OF THE JUST IS BLESSED”

Heninel village was captured in a snowstorm on 12 April 1917 by the 56th (London) and 21st Division and the 50th (Northumbrian) Division, advancing from Heninel on the two following days, captured Wancourt Tower. The extension was begun by the 50th Division Burial Officer in April 1917 and was used by fighting units until the following November. Heninel Communal Cemetery Extension contains 140 burials of the First World War, seven of them unidentified.

Soldiers Effects to his father Jenkin, and pension to Jenkin and his mother Margaret.

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