Pte 17497 William Watling

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• D.O.W Sunday 13th August 1916
• Commemorated at: Kirkdale Cem, Liverpool
  Panel Ref: X.C.E.146

William Watling was born 13th February 1895 in Liverpool and was baptised on the 4^th March, 1895 in Liverpool. He was the son of William John and Kathleen Ellen Watling (nee McCormack), of 19, Higher Lane, Fazakerley, Liverpool.

William was educated at Longmoor Lane Council School.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 23, Greenwich Road, Liverpool. His father William John, is aged 31, born in Liverpool, occupation iron driller and his mother Kathleen Ellen is aged 27, also born in Liverpool, and has no occupation listed. They have four children at the time of the Census, William aged 6, Harold aged 4, Elsie aged 2 and Reginald Charles born 1901.  

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 15 St Judes Place, Liverpool.  His  father William John aged 41, born 1870 is a milling machinist in a railway wagon works, his mother, Kathleen Ellen, is aged aged 37, born 1874. They have been married for 16 years and have had eight children of which one had died. Those children recorded on the Census are; William aged 16, born 1895 is a junior clerk working in a preserve factory (most likely Hartley's), Harold aged 14, born 1897 occupation iron driller in a railway wagon works, Elsie aged 12, born 1899 and Reginald Charles aged 10 born 1901 are both at school, John aged 7, born 1904, May aged 4, born 1907 and Robert Ernest aged 1, born 1910.

He enlisted in Liverpool joining the 19th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 17497.

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th 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 on 7^th November 1915.

He was wounded at Guillemont on 30th July 1916 and evacuated to the UK. He was treated at a hospital in Glasgow but sadly died of wounds on the 13th August, 1916 aged 21.

Details of the action in which William received his wounds:

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.   

William now rests at Kirkdale Cemetery, Liverpool and is commemorated on the family headstone, the inscription on the headstone reads:

OUR DEAR SON

PTE WILLIAM WATLING 19^TH KINGS LIVERPOOL REG (PALS) DIED AUGUST 13^th OF WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION AT THE BATTLE OF GUILLEMONT JULY 30^th 1916 AGED 21 YEARS

IT IS A GREAT THING-TO DIE FOR ENGLAND

There are 519 First World War burials in the Cemetery.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 16th August 1916:

WATLING - August 13, died from wounds at Bellahouston Red Cross Hospital, Glasgow, aged 21 years, Private W. Watling ("Pals"),

the dearly loved eldest son of Mr and Mrs Watling, 19 Higher Lane, Fazakerley. (Deeply mourned) 

Liverpool Echo 19th August 1916

WATLING - Mr and Mrs Watling and family tender deep thanks and gratitude for the many expressions of sympathy and beautiful floral tributes during their sad bereavement - 19 Higher Lane. 

Soldiers Effects to his father William John and pension to his mother Kathleen Ellen.

He was remembered by his family in the Liverpool Echo 15th August 1917 (repeated 13th Aug 1918)

WATLING - In loving memory of our dear son Private WILLIAM WATLING (19th K.L.R.), who died August 13th of wounds received in action July 30 1916, aged 21 years. (Deeply mourned). 

William is also commemorated on the following memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 32 Left

Emmanuel C. of E. Church, Fazakerley

Longmoor Lane Council School

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