Pte 31137 Vincent John Francis Tyndall

• Age: 24
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 10th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Vincent John Francis Tyndall was born in Liverpool in July 1892 and baptised in St. George's Church, Everton on 17^th August 1892.  His parents were married in Forfar in 1891 and were living at 77 Northumberland Terrace at the time of his baptism, his father’s occupation is shown to be a grocer. His parents James Fife Tyndall and Annie Smith were both born in Scotland, his father in Glamis, Forfar, and his mother in Marykirk, Kincardineshire.  Vincent was the first born of four children. He had younger siblings Kate, Grace, and David.  His father had been married previously to Ellen Baillie, who died in 1887, having borne him 3 surviving children, Alice (1878), James (1880) and Claude (1886) as Vincent grew up with older half siblings Alice and Claude (who was deaf).

In 1901, the family is living at 62 Westbourne Street, Everton. His father, James F.,  aged 49 is a confectioner, mother Annie is 42. They have five children declared in the household;  Alice M. L. 23 a confectioner’s clerk born in Ireland,  Vincent J. F.  is 8 , Jessie B. K. aged 7, Grace I. F. is 5 , David W. A.  is 4 all born in Liverpool. 

In 1911 they are at 62 Thirlmere Road, Everton, where they remain for many years. Father James 60 is a greengrocer, mother Annie Tyndall 52 (married 19 years 4 children), children Alice 33 a commercial clerk, Claude 25 a trade sculptor, Vincent 18 a commercial clerk, Kate 17 a book binder, Grace 15 a book binder, David 14 a commercial clerk.

As his service record has not survived, the details and dates of Vincent’s service are unknown. We do know that Vincent enlisted in Liverpool in the 4^th battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment, as Private 31137. At some point he was transferred to the 17^th Bn K.L.R. 

In July 1916 the battalion is in trenches at Maricourt, on the Somme line. Vincent survives the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1^st July, when the 17^th achieved its objective at Montauban. On 9^th July the battalion moves to the original British trenches north of Maricourt and on 10^th July is involved in attacks on Trones Wood; their part in this ferocious fighting lasted for three days. The battalion war diary gives casualties as 3 Officers killed and 5 wounded, 19 Other Ranks killed, 79 wounded, 28 missing.  Vincent’s body was never found; his death was presumed as on or since 10-12/7/1916.

The murderous fighting that went on inside Trones Wood rendered it impossible to put specific dates on some of the casualties which is why many of the 17^th Battalion losses have been bracketed as killed in action between 10^th – 12th July 1916 aged 24 years. The conditions are best described in the following passage from Everard Wyrall’s book The History of The King’s Regiment (Liverpool) Volume II; 

The remembrance of Trones Wood in July 1916 to those who passed through it is of a noisome, horrible place, of a tangled mass of trees and undergrowth which had been tossed and flung about in frightful confusion by the shells of both sides. Of the ghastly dead which lay about in all directions, and of DEATH, lurking in every hole and corner with greedy hands ready to snatch the lives of the unwary. The place was Death trap, and although the attacks were made with great determination,   the presence of snipers who could not be detected and often fired into the backs of our men made the clearing of the wood impossible.

Private Vincent J.F. Tyndall is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing.

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.”

He was posted as Missing in the Liverpool Echo on 07^th August 1916:

“Mr. James Tyndall, of 62 Thirlmere Road, Liverpool, has received information from the War Office that his son, Private Vincent J. Tyndall, of the King’s Liverpool Regiment, is reported missing.” 

His family were finally, officially informed of Vincent’s death and placed a notice in the Liverpool Evening Express on 09th May 1917: 

TYNDALL - Previously reported missing now officially presumed killed on July 10th, 1916, Vincent, the dearly loved son of Mr and Mrs Tyndall, 62 Thirlmere Road. (Never forgotten by his father, mother, sisters, and brothers.)  

Where sleep he, earth ? By no proud stone 

His narrow cell of rest is known;  

He sleeps in secret, but his sod, 

Unknown to man, is marked by God. . 

Soldiers Effects to his father James and pension to Annie Tyndall and James. 

In the Liverpool Echo, two years after his death, on 12^th July 1918: 

“In loving memory of Vincent Francis John Tyndall, 17^th K.L.R. (Pals), killed in action, Trones Wood, July 12 1916. (He made the supreme sacrifice for right and humanity against might and evil.)  Mourned by Father, Mother, Sisters, and Brothers, 62 Thirlmere Road, Everton, Liverpool.”

From his sister Alice: 

“In loving memory of Vincent Tyndall (Pals), presumed killed July 10-12 1916 – Always remembered by his Sister and Brother-in-law, Alice and Bob Holehouse, 27 Ivernia Road.”

And from a Pal an In Memoriam notice, Liverpool Echo, 10^th July 1918: 

“Tyndall – Vin, my pal. (Never forgotten.) – Stan and May, 2 Hunt Street.”

Vincent is commemorated on the Memorial at St. Augustine’s C of E Church, Everton. 

His younger brother David later married and had a son whom he named Vincent.

We currently have no further information on Vincent John Francis Tyndall, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.