Pte 15001 Cyril Henry Von Schwartz

• Age: 27
• From: Southport, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 27th June 1916
• Commemorated at: Cerisy-gailly Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.K.19

Cyril Henry was born in Southport on 21st November 1888 the youngest child born to Hilmar von Schwartz, a cotton broker’s agent, born in Hamburg, Germany but a naturalised British subject since 1869, and his wife Marian Alice (nee Barlow), who married in Manchester in 1871. They had six children:  Hilmar, born in 1872, Ferdinand in 1873 (who lived only hours), Arthur Neville 1874 (died at age 1), and Hilda Marguerite in 1879, all born in Seaforth/Litherland, after which the family moved to Southport, where Stella was born in 1882 and Cyril in 1888.

Cyril Henry was baptised in St. Luke’s Church, Southport, on 18th January 1889, his parents’ residence given as 31 Hartwood Road, and his father’s occupation listed as cotton broker. 

Both Hilmar and his brother Friedrich had settled in Litherland by 1871, when Hilmar was 22 and already a cotton broker. His father was admitted as a partner with H. Forman & Co., cotton brokers, in 1881. 

In 1881 Hilmar & Marian, with young Hilmar, lived at 11 Alexandra Road, North Meols and Hilmar senior was shown in Kelly’s Directory as a cotton broker, possibly with Messrs R. H. Forman and Company.

In 1891 and the 1895 Kelly’s Directory, they are shown at 31 Hartwood Road, North Meols.

Cyril's brother Hilmar died in 1897, at the age of 25.

The family are still living at 31 Hartwood Road in 1901 and Hilmar senior is shown as a cotton broker and an employer.

In 1911, Hilmar, Marian, and their daughter Hilda live at 20 Irton Road, Southport. Cyril’s name appears on the Southport Electoral Roll for 1911, as a renter paying 5 shillings a week for a furnished back bedroom in his parents’ home, his father Hilmar Von Schwartz listed as landlord. His name remained on the Electoral Roll from 1913 to 1915, at the same address, paying £12 per annum for one unfurnished first floor room. 

Cyril enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 31st August 1914 joining the 17^th Battalion of the King's Liverpool Regiment with his service number 15001 being just the second number allotted to the men of the 17^th Battalion.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. Cyril was still training locally at Knowsley with his battalion when his father died on 9th April 1915, aged 66. On 30th April 1915 the 17th 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. His battalion arrived in France on 07^th November 1915 although his own medal card shows that Cyril arrived overseas on 17th November 1915. This would appear to be a clerical error.

He was killed on 27^th June 1916, aged 27, as a result of heavy shelling from the German artillery.

The British bombardment of the German lines, in preparation for the ‘Big Push’, began on 24th June 1916. On the 26th the German counter-barrage begins and inflicts quite serious losses on the 17th and 20th battalions. The 17th Bn War Diary for 26th/27th June shows “heavy enemy bombardment of front line trenches.  Casualties: Killed O.R. 17, Wounded O.R. 57”

Cyril was buried close to where he fell in Maricourt Military Cemetery and his grave marked with a cross.  The cemetery was at the south-east corner of the village, on the road to Clery. It was begun by French troops in December, 1914, and was known to the French by the name of Ferme Caudron.  It was taken over by British troops in August, 1915, and used until July 1916.  After the war when graves were concentrated his body was removed and reinterred in Cerisy-Gailly Cemetery where he now rests.

His headstone bears the epitaph:

"MAY HE REST IN PEACE AND MAY LIGHT PERPETUAL SHINE UPON HIM" 

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 12th July 1916:

“Von Schwartz - June 27, killed in action, aged 27 years, Cyril Henry (private, King’s Liverpool Regiment), fourth son of the late Hilmar Von Schwartz of Liverpool and Southport.” 

His death was also reported in the Southport Visitor:

PRIVATE C. HENRY VON SCHWARTZ KILLED

Private Cyril Henry Von Scwartz, son of the late Hilman von Schwartz, of Liverpool and Southport has been killed in action, he belonged to The King's Liverpool Regiment and was 27 years of age. 

Cyril earned his three medals. His sister Hilda returned his 1914-1915 Star for amendment, reissued in November 1920. Hilda also received Cyril’s Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £8. She was also granted Probate, giving his address as 20 Irton Road, in the amount of £4,199-8s-1d.

His mother died in 1927, aged 75, and his sister Hilda in 1940, in Southport.

Cyril is commemorated on the  following Memorials:

Liverpool Cotton Association

Hesketh Golf Club 

St. Luke’s, Southport 

Liverpool’s Hall Of Remembrance, Panel 38 Left .

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