Pte 16404 Thomas Henshaw Trevitt

Thomas was born in Liverpool on the 28th July 1895 the son of Thomas Butler Trevitt and his wife Margaret Ada (nee Henshaw) who were married in Toxteth Park in 1891. Both parents were born in Liverpool. Thomas was baptised in St. John the Divine Church, Fairfield on the 09^th October 1895. His parents were then living at 49 Freehold Street, and his father’s occupation is given as master plumber.

Neither the civil registration of his birth nor the baptism record gives a middle name, it appears that he has adopted his mother’s maiden name as a middle name.

Thomas was the second of four children, all boys; his brothers were Ernest, Arthur, and Kenneth.

In 1901 the family is living at 10 Clifton Road, Fairfield, Liverpool.

His father is a 37 year old plumber and painter, his mother is aged 30 and has no occupation listed. Ernest H. is aged 8, Thomas is 5, and Arthur is aged 1. There is a domestic servant in the household, Elizabeth J Webster aged 24.

In 1911 the family have moved and are living at 26 Laurel Road, Fairfield, Liverpool.

His father is now aged 47 and employed as a plumber, his mother is aged 40.  They advise that they have been married for 19 years and have had four children. All of their children are in the household; Ernest H. is an 18 year old apprentice plumber, Thomas is 15, at school as is Arthur aged 11, Kenneth H. is aged 3.

Thomas enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool. Joining the 18^th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16404 on 01^st September 1914. He gave his age as 20 years and 45 days ( when he was actually aged 19) and his occupation as clerk. He was described as being 5’7” tall, weighing 133 lbs, with grey eyes and brown hair.  He gave his next of kin, as his father, at 26 Laurel Road, Fairfield, 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 with his battalion on 07th November 1915.

Thomas would have passed his 21^st birthday in July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme.

His father wrote to the “officer of record” on 5/11/1916: “Dear Sir, Thanks very much for your information re my son. I trust they will see their way to letting him home for a time. Kindly note the change of address.” (His parents were then living at 122 Thomas Lane, Broad Green, Liverpool.) It is not known to what his father is referring; there is no mention in his service record of Thomas being wounded.

Thmas was killed in action on 23/04/1917

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.

Thomas now rests at Heninel Communal Cemetery Extension in France.

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.

His parents placed a notice in the Liverpool Echo on 07^th May 1917:

 “April 23, killed in action, Thomas H., the dearly-loved son of T. B. and M. A. Trevitt, Broadgreen.”

Just over a year later, his father died, age 55.

His older brother Ernest had emigrated to Canada in 1912, and served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. 

His mother signed for his personal effects on 14/11/1919: 1 Note Case, letters, photographs, 1 cotton bag; and for his medals on 5^th June 1920 and 22^nd September 1921.

Over twenty years later, on 10/12/1937, a firm of Liverpool solicitors wrote to the War Office Records Department urgently requesting the certificate of death of Pte Thomas Henshaw Trevitt, needed to resolve a legal matter.

Thomas is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 36

Liverpool Collegiate School Memorial

St. John the Evangelist church, Knotty Ash.

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