Pte 22879 Joseph Waring

• Age: 24
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Joseph Waring was born in Liverpool on 09th July 1895, the son of James Charles Waring and his wife Catherine (née Duffy), both born in Liverpool, who married who were married on the 09th October 1887 at St Vincent de Paul, Liverpool. James was of 46 Jordan Street, father James, whilst Catherine was of 48 Jordan Street, father Anthony.

Joseph was baptised in St. Patrick’s Church, Liverpool, on 18th July (godmother Maria Anna Kelly). His parents had five children; sadly, their first two children died young:  Ethel, born in 1888 died at 18 months; and Charles Henry, born in 1890, died at age 6 in 1896. He had an older brother James Joseph, born in 1892.  A younger sister, Sarah Ann, was born in 1898 but died at age 1. 

At the time of the 1901 census his parents, with James, 8, and Joseph, 5, are visiting Robert and Louisa Dixon at 120 Gordon Street, Everton. His father is aged 35, employed as a striker in a smithy, mother Catherine is 35

His mother Catherine died in August 1908, aged 37, and his father remarried a few months later, on the 10th November, to Mary Walls at St Malachy´s Church, Beaufort St. James was of 51 South Chester Street, whilst Mary was of 84 Warwick Street, father Bernard Ferns. At some point James and Joseph went to live with their maternal aunt, Annie Kelly. 

The 1911 Census shows Joseph living with his aunt at 51 South Chester Street, Toxteth, Liverpool. His aunt ,Annie Kelly, is a widow aged 47, born in Liverpool in 1864 occupation charwoman. She has two sons living with her Joseph aged 17, born 1894 occupation Cain’s Brewery bottler and Vincent aged 15, born 1896 a messenger for a printer, both were born in Liverpool. She has two nephews James and Joseph Waring living with her, James aged 18, born 1893 is an office junior clerk with a cotton broker and Joseph aged 15, born 1896 is a shop boy in a bread shop. William Collins boarder aged 40, born 1871 and occupation dock labourer from Ireland is also at the address. 

His father, 46, still working as a blacksmith’s striker, is living at 148 New Henderson Street with second wife Mary.

Joseph enlisted on 12th November 1914 at Liverpool, joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 22879. He gave his age as nineteen years and four months and his occupation as barman. He was described as being five feet three inches tall, weighed 112lbs,34” chest, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and black hair. He stated his religion as Roman Catholic and as next of kin his father, James, of 84 Warwick Street, later 56 Windsor Street. 

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th 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 service papers show that Joseph did not ship overseas with his battalion but was posted the next day, 08.11.1915, to the 22nd (Reserve) Bn K.L.R. 

19.08.15: Absent without leave 10.15pm until 8.40am 20.08.15. Admonished and forfeited two days pay.

15.01.16: Absent without leave 12pm until 8.00am 17.01.16. Confined to barracks for two days and forfeited two days pay.
 
15.02.16 posted to the 20th Battalion K.L.R. and crossed to France. 

He was serving in the 20^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment when he was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916 at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

30th July 1916

The 20^th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20^th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 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. 

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. 

Joseph was declared Missing on 30th July 1916, and his name published in the list of K.L.R. Missing in the Liverpool Daily Post on 14th September 1916.  

King’s (Liverpool Regt) - Waring, 22879, J.;

His death was later assumed, for official purposes, as having occurred on 30th July 1916 at Guillemont.

His body was not found or his grave was subsequently destroyed as he has no known grave and is commemorated on Thiepval Memorial.  

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.”

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 01^st 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.”

His Army effects of £3 7s 10d and a War Gratuity of £7-10s went to his aunt Annie Kelly of 51 South Chester Street, Toxteth, Liverpool. 

In 1919 his aunt provided information on Joseph’s living relatives:  She was living in South Chester Street, his father was at 56 Windsor Street, and his brother James was 26 and lived in Ainsworth Street. 

His father died in 1923, aged 59, and was buried on the 13th July at Ford Cemetery. Mary died, aged 79, in 1944.

Joseph is commemorated in Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 31 (as Wareing).

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