L/Sgt 17487 James Thomas Topping

• Age: 38
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Friday 22nd March 1918
• Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
  Panel Ref: P21-23

James Thomas Topping was born on 19th July 1879 in Liverpool the son of John Thomas Topping and his wife Mary (nee Halliwell) who married in 1863. He was baptised on 24th August 1879 at St Peter's Church. His father was shown as an engineer and the family were living in the Toxteth Park area of Liverpool.

The 1881 Census shows the family living at 264 Smithdown Lane, Liverpool.

His father is shown as an engine fitter, born in Lower Darwen, Lancashire in 1841 whilst his mother was born in Todmorden in 1841 and is shown as a Confectioner. James is showing as a 1 year old. He has a brother John W born in Liverpool in 1867 and 3 sisters; Mary W born in Liverpool in 1870. Two other sisters were born in Blackburn; Margaret A. b.1873 and Ann b.1878.  

The 1891 Census shows that the family remain at Smithdown Lane.

Both parents are present as are James now 11 years old and his siblings Mary W, Margaret A and Ann. A niece is also present Mary A Davies. 

The 1901 Census shows both parents at home at Smithdown and James is now aged 21 and a Cotton Broker's clerk. His sister Mary is present in the household, she is now married and her husband John E Stratters is also in the household. 

The mother Mary died in June 1906 aged 65

On the 1911 census the family are still living at 264 Smithdown Lane.

The father John Thomas a widower now aged 70 (entry struck out - married 47 years, 5 children, 4 still alive), son James Thomas cotton merchants clerk, married daughter Mary Walmsley Statters 41 confectioner, John Edward Statters 49 house painter, and their son William Leslie 7 at school. A niece of John Thomas is also present, Maud aged 10 at school. 

The father John Thomas died December 1913 aged 72

James enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 03rd September 1914 joining the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 17487. He gave his age as 24 years and 46 days, and his occupation as  a clerk. He was ht 5' 2", wt. 142lbs, 36" chest, fresh complexion, blue eyes, brown hair and gave his religion as Church of England. His next of kin sister Mary Walmsley Statters.

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th 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.

16.1.15 - absent from Tattoo, 2 days CB

7.5.15 - appointed unpaid L/Cpl

1.6.15 - appointed paid L/Cpl

9.9.15 - drunk, severely reprimanded

8.7.16 - promoted Cpl

4.8.16 - to Lewis Gun School at Le Torquet

20.9.16 - appointed A/Sgt

12-21.11.16 - granted leave to UK

18.2.17 - promoted Sgt

19.6.17 - granted class II proficiency pay

28.6.17 - tried for drunkeness and reduced to the ranks, later mitigated to Cpl

8.11.17 - granted 14 days leave to UK

13.11.17 - appointed paid L/Sgt

He was serving as Lance-Sergeant 17487 when he was killed in action on the 22nd March 1918 aged 38 during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary provides an insight into the events of the day: 

22^nd  GERMAINE – HAM- MOYENCOURT

The battalion moved up accordingly being in position at 6:30 a.m. About 3pm the enemy attacked the left of our position and advanced on our left flank towards FLUQUIERES. At 4:30 pm an attack was launched on our front and the enemy forced his way through on our right. The remainder of the Battalion was forced to retire to south of FLUQUIERES. During this engagement the Battalion lost 11 Officers and About 21 O.R. The order was given to retire to the defences at HAM. The Battalion by this time was very weak, and passing through the 20^th Division took up positions in HAM, as ordered, getting into position at 2am.

James has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial.

The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.

The cemetery and memorial were designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, with sculpture by Laurence A. Turner. The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930.

An informative article appeared in the Liverpool Echo Bee’s Sports Notes on 8th May 1918: 

“Walter Thompson writes from France: -  I heard last night from one of the same regiment (which trained at Knowsley) of the deaths in action of Sergeants “Jimmy” Topping and Billie Barnes, both of the Windsor Wesleyan football and cricket clubs, the former being also a well-known player of the Wavertree Cricket Club.  Topping was of small stature, with fair hair, and played centre-half for the Windsor club for many seasons, and was well known to all members of the I Zingari League. He was a first class “bat” and his fielding at “slip” is well known to all local cricketers. He would not follow George Chadwick and J. S. Stubbs to the Sefton Club, preferring to remain with the club that made him; but he finally threw in his lot with the Wavertree Club.  With the cue also he could play a good game.  For generosity I have yet to meet his equal.  Billie Barnes was a fine outside right and a good sprinter, and I have often converted his fine centres.  Over here, whilst out for “greater game”, he had won a Military Medal and had gained a bar to it.  He was also a fair cricketer and could play a good game at billiards.  Kindly let Ted Hilditch know about Topping, as Ted kept goal for the Windsor Club for a few years and was a great friend of his in the old days.[…]”

CWGC incorrectly records his age as 39. 

Soldiers Effects to sisters Mary W. Statters, Margaret Monteith and Annie Welch, no Pension record found. 

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