1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
Pte 51747 Donald Frederick Treacy
- Age: 20
- From: Ditton,Widnes
- Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
- K.I.A Thursday 28th March 1918
- Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
Panel Ref: P21-23
Donald Frederick was born in the summer of 1897 in Ditton, Widnes, the son of John Treacy and his wife Margaret Elizabeth (nee Walker). His father was from Queens County, Ireland, and his mother from Widnes. They married on the 08th December 1891 at St Mary's Church, Widnes, John was a 26 year old book keeper of 143 Mersey Rd, father William, whilst Margaret was aged 23 of 141 Mersey Rd, father Alexander. Donald had older siblings Hilda Constance and Eric Henry and a younger sister Nora Margaret. Geoffrey John was born in 1906 but sadly died in infancy.
In 1901 the family is living in Liverpool Road, Ditton, with three children Hilda C. 7 b.Gt Sankey and Eric H. 6 b.Ditton. His father 35 is a commercial clerk, mother is 33, Donald is 3. Also in the household are his widowed grandmother Mary Ann Treacy, 70, and his uncle William Walker, 31.
By 1911 they have moved to 128 Derby Road, Farnworth. His father is 45, a commercial clerk for an oil merchant born Tonlegee, Queens Co. Ireland, his mother is 43. They advise that they have been married for 19 years and have had 5 children, 4 of whom have survived. All four children, Hilda E., 17, Eric H., 16, Donald, 13, and Nora M., 7, are at school.
He enlisted in Widnes as Rifleman 5167 joining the 6th Battalion of The King's Liverpoool Regiment (Liverpool Rifles). He embarked from Folkestone-Boulogne on 27th July 1916, reaching the 24th Infantry Base Depot on 29th July. He proceeded to the 17 Battalion K.L.R. on 06th August and was posted from 05th September 1916 to the 20th Battalion K.L.R. as Private No 51747.
He had transferred to the 18th Battalion of K.L.R., (following the disbandment of the 20th Battalion in February 1918), when he was killed in action on the 28th March 1918, aged 20, during the German Spring Offensive.
The Battalion Diary gives an insight into the chaotic events of the day
28th March
At about 6am the enemy commenced to shell heavily the whole of the forward line and brought Trench Mortars and MACHINE Guns into action.
FOLIES was shelled and the area in the rear of the village as far back as LE QUESNEL.
Rations were received at dawn and parties were organised to carry them to the Companies on the right. Owing to the heavy fire, however, it was not possible to get them up.
Heavy fighting was in progress on the right from soon after dawn and at 8am the enemy was reported to be in possession of BOUCHOIR and progressing towards the BEETROOT FACTORY. About 10am the 59th Infy Brigade was notified that it was relieved by the French and the Battalions of that Brigade were at once withdrawn in the direction of LE QUESNEL.
At noon the enemy was bombarding the village and vicinity heavily and reports were received that he was in occupation of WARVILLERS on the left and ARVILLERS on the right.
The front line East of FOLIES continued to resist until about 2pm when the order was received from the 89th Infy Brigade to the effect that the Battalions were relieved by the French and would withdraw at once to MEZIERES, where the men would be fed. Companies withdrew under some shelling and very heavy M.G. and rifle fire from the left , through K10 -K3 – North side LE QUESNEL to the main ROYE road and reorganised about D.29 c. The march from this point was conducted in good order despite the congested roads.
At MEZIERES it was decided to continue a rearward movement and the march was resumed via VILLERS-MOREUIL – MORISEL – ROUVREL, which village was reached about 7pm and the Battalion billeted. The men had marched 13 miles from the left position in good order and with practically no straggling. They were exhausted on arrival at ROUVREL, but in good heart.
Echelon ‘A’ of the Transport joined the Battalion at this village and the men were fed immediately on arrival. The night passed without incident.
“Mr. and Mrs. John Treacy, of Farnworth, Widnes, have word that their second son, Donald, serving as a private in the K.L.R., is seriously wounded and missing, presumed prisoner. It is a little over a year since their eldest son, Lieut. Eric. H. Treacy, was killed in the Somme offensive.”
“Mr. and Mrs. John Treacy, of “Mayville”, Peel House Lane, Widnes, will be glad to receive any information of their son, Private Donald Treacy, of the King’s Liverpool, who was reported wounded and missing (presumed prisoner) between dates March 21-28.”
After the Armistice, when soldiers and POWs were returning home, his family published an appeal for information in the national newspaper the Daily Mirror on 20th February 1919, in a column headed “Missing Soldiers”, which gives some indication of the torment suffered by families of the missing:
“Can any returned prisoner of war, stretcher-bearer, or comrade supply any information respecting Pte. Donald F. Treacy, No. 51747, 2 Coy, 6 Platoon, 18th Batt., King’s Liverpool Regiment, reported missing March 21-28, 1918. Last heard of at Stephen Redoubt, near Savy, west of St. Quentin, severely wounded machine gun bullet, and, if alive, fell into enemy hands. Any further information will be thankfully received by his parents at “Mayville”, off Peel House Lane, Farnworth, Widnes.”
Donald's body was not recovered and as such he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial in France.
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.
His elder brother Eric Henry, a Second Lieutenant served with the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment 12th (Pioneer) Battalion and was killed in action on the 14th December, 1916, aged 22, and he is buried in Mailly Wood Cemetery, France.
St. Luke’s Church, Farnworth
His elder brother Eric Henry, a Second Lieutenant served with the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment 12th (Pioneer) Battalion and was killed in action on the 14th December, 1916, aged 22, and he is buried in Mailly Wood Cemetery, France.
Runcorn Weekly News 22nd Dec 1916
WIDNES AND RUNCORN CASUALTIES.
DEATH OF SECOND:LIEUTENANT TREACY.
The many friends of Mr. and Mrs. John Treacy and family, of "Mayville," Farnworth, heard on Sunday with profound sorrow of the loss of their eldest son, Second-Lieutenant Eric H. Treacy, who was killed in France on December 14th. The painful news was conveyed to the family on Sunday. Deceased, a true type of British youth, was in his 22nd year. His early education was spent at Hough Green High School. From there he passed to the Widnes Municipal Secondary School, where he passed through the full course with great credit as a boy, entering the school in September, 1906. He spent five complete years in secondary work, passing the Oxford Junior Local with third class honours in 1909, the Oxford Senior in 1910, and the matriculation examination in 1911. He was also a student subsequently of the Evening Technical School in engineering courses, and had thus had a long and satisfactory connection with the municipal schools, where he was a frequent visitor as an old boy. He adopted engineering as his profession, and in this sphere of work he gave much promise. The sterner commands of his country fell on his ears, and in the early stages of the war be enlisted in the 6th Battalion King's Liverpool Regiment as a rifleman. He rapidly made himself proficient and went to France in August, 1913. Receiving his commission he returned to England. In February, this year, he was gazetted to the 1/12 Pioneer Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. His stay in this country was very brief, and he crossed to France with his regiment in August. Strenuous work on the battle front fell to his lot, and it was whilst discharging this onerous work that he died a true son of his country. In a long letter to his parents, his Major, after expressing his regrets of losing a capable a young officer, writes:—" He was in charge of a party of men who were constructing a light railway line. A shell burst amongst the party and your son was hit. This was noticed by his sergeant and the gallant fellow ran to his assistance. Whilst rendering first aid another shell burst and severely insured his would-be rescuer. Both were hurried to the dressing station, but your son never regained consciousness. Your son's death is deeply deplored. He proved himself a very popular officer, and he was always ready for any job that came along. He died in the execution of his duty, and he passed quickly into death without pain. He is to be buried to-morrow, and the funeral will be attended by his comrades and an escort of his men." Mr. C. R. Lewis, acting principal, the Widnes Secondary School, in a communication to the parents, expresses on behalf of the Governors, staff and past and present scholars regretful sympathy in the loss they have sustained. He writes:- "I think there can be fewer better examples of devotion to Country and duty than that offered by your good son. He succeeded in the ranks and met a glorious death as a commissioned officer of His Majesty's Army. You can rest satisfied that he now belongs to our finest school traditions."
Grateful thanks are extended to Kevin Shannon the author of the book The Liverpool Rifles for providing details of Donald's service with the 6th Rifles.
We currently have no further information on Donald Frederick Treacy if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.
Killed On This Day.
(108 Years this day)Tuesday 30th April 1918.
L/Cpl 29203 Valentine Alexander
26 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 27948 Joseph Atherton
26 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 51896 Richard Edward Banks
34 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 46630 Watson Bell
38 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Lieut Roland Henry Brewerton
27 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 51708 Charles Norman Dod
21 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
L/Cpl 94246 Frank Emison
24 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 23056 John William Jones
27 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 49572 John Henry Leadbeater (MM)
27 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Sgt 22462 James Lowe (MID)
25 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 51712 Edgar Domenico Murray
21 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 269899 Harry Pitts
21 years old
A total of 14 Pals were killed on this day. View All