Pte 29120 Robert Eric Hayes Tunna

• Age: 19
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Robert Eric Hayes Tunna was born in Liverpool on 01st October 1896, the son of George Thomas Tunna and his wife Mary (nee Hayes), both from Liverpool, who were married on the 04th October 1882 at St Thomas' Church, Park Lane. George was a 21 year old drysalter of 32 Burleigh Road, father Edward deceased, whilst Mary was aged 21 of 23 Westminster Road, father Robert a tallow chandler. Robert was the seventh of ten children, but sadly the first two children, George and William, died in infancy. 

His father George died, aged 51, in 1912 and some time after that the family moved to Oakdene Road in Anfield.

Robert enlisted in Liverpool as Private 29120, 19^th (Pals) Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment. He trained locally, then at Belton Park Camp in Lincolnshire, and finally at Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain before being sent to the front.  Robert arrived in France on 29^th December 1915, seven weeks later than the rest of the battalion. 

In the new year the battalion takes up position in the south of the Somme line near Carnoy.  Robert survives the deadly early days of July 1916 on the Somme, until the 30^th July, when three Pals battalions are involved in taking the village of Guillemont. The attack fails and the casualties suffered, 500 dead of all ranks, makes this the deadliest day of the war for the Pals and the City of Liverpool. Private Robert Tunna was one of the many casualties that day, he was killed in action, aged 19.

19^th Battalion Diary 30^th July 1916

MALTZ HORN FARM

BATTLE begun. ZERO hour 4:45 am. The Battalion reached its objective, but suffered heavy losses, and had to evacuate its position owing to no reinforcements.

Everard Wyrall gives details of the attack in his book The History of The King’s Regiment; 

"The 2nd Attack on Guillemont- 29th July 1916 the 89th Brigade the 20th King's were to attack on the right and the 19th on the left. During the evening of the 29th the night was dark and foggy when the Battalions moved off and the 19th with Lt Col G Rollo commanding, when passing the South east of the Briqueterie they were heavily shelled first with H E and then with a new kind of asphyxiating Gas shell which had curious results, at first it had no nasty effect but about 8 hrs later men began to fall sick with violent headaches and pains in the stomach. All ranks had to wear gas masks which in the darkness and mist made the going terribly difficult. It was indeed wonderful that they were able to reach their Assembly point at all. But they did and by 2.45 a.m. on the 30th July 1916 the Btn was assembled having suffered about 30 Casualties on the way up ready for the Zero hour at 4.45 a.m.

It is known that the two left Companies of the 19th under Capt. Dodd and Capt. Nicholson advanced in touch with the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on their left although they suffered many casualties from Machine gun Fire did not encounter many Germans and reached their final objective about the time allocated, beginning at once to dig in south of the orchard on the South east corner of Guillemont.  

On the left of the 19th the Scots Fusiliers most gallantly forced their way through Guillemont to the eastern side of the village but were soon overwhelmed by the enemy and few returned. 

At 8 a.m. finding that the village was not held the two left Companies of the 19th received no word from the rear or either flank believed themselves to be totally isolated so were forced to fall back and dig in, their position being untenable.

At midday the effective fighting strength of the 19th Btn was just 7 Officers and 43 other ranks" 

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July.

Casualties in the 19^th Battalion were 11 Officers and 435 Other Ranks 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.   

His death was announced in the Liverpool Echo on 23^rd August 1916: 

“Private Robert Hayes Tunna, “Pals”, was 20 years of age, and resided at 23 Oakdene Road, Anfield, Liverpool.  He was employed by Messrs. G. Lowe and Sons, Devon Street.”

“July 31, killed in action, aged 20 years, R. H. (Bob) Tunna, sixth beloved son of the late George and Mrs. Tunna, 23 Oakdene Road, Anfield.  (Deeply mourned by his sorrowing family, also by dear Maggie, his fiancée.  Some day we will understand.)” 

Robert's body was never recovered from the battlefield and he 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.”

On the anniversary one year later, in the Liverpool Echo on 30^th July 1917, listed under ‘Lost at Battle of Guillemont’:  

“In loving memory of Robert Hayes Tunna, sixth beloved son of Mary and the late George Tunna, and grandson of the late Robert Hayes, killed in action, July 30, 1916.

Not now, but in the coming years,

  It may be in the better land,

We’ll read the meaning of our tears,

  And there some time we’ll understand.”

And on what would have been his 21^st birthday, in the Liverpool Echo, 1st October 1917:

“Tunna - In loving 21^st birthday remembrance of Private Robert Hayes, killed in action in France July 31, 1916. 

And in the morn those angel faces smile

Which we have loved long since, but lost awhile.”

There was evidently some confusion about Robert’s date of death, not surprisingly, given the number of casualties and the conditions on the battlefield. 

Robert earned his three medals; however his 1914-15 Star was returned to be amended, as it was issued in error under the name Turner.

His eldest brother John enlisted in the 22^nd Reserve Battalion, KLR, was transferred to 1^st Garrison Bn Manchester Regiment, and served in India and Singapore from 1915 to 1920.

Robert’s effects went to his mother Mary and brother Arthur.  

Robert is also commemorated on Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 36.

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