L/Cpl 22294 Peter Weatherspoon

• Age: 22
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Peter Weatherspoon was born on 26th April 1895 in Liverpool, the son of Peter Weatherspoon and his wife Lydia (nee Griffiths) who were married on the 18^th September 1892 in St Nicholas' Church, Liverpool. His father Peter, who was born in Birkenhead, died aged 30 in January 1895 before his son was born. Lydia remarried in 1896 at St Anne, Stanley, her second husband was John Fidler.

The 1901 census shows the five year old Peter living with his mother and stepfather, the couple have had two children together – John aged 3 and Lily aged 1. The family are living at 47 Lind Street, Walton, Liverpool.

By 1911, the family are living at 47 Gwladys Street, Everton. Step-father John is aged 48, a labourer b.Liverpool, Lydia is aged 35 and advised that they had been married for 18 years and have had 6 children, 4 of whom have survived. Peter is 15 and is listed as Peter Fidler, he’s working as a labourer on the overhead railway. His half siblings John 13 and Lily 11 are living at home as well as another child Robert who was 3 years old.

Peter’s mother Lydia died aged 42 in July 1914 and was buried in Kirkdale Cemetery on the 16^th July.

Peter’s service records have survived and show he enlisted in Liverpool on the 10th November 1914 joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private  22294. He gives his age as 19 years and 210 days old and lists his occupation as a Clerk. He is described as being 5 foot 6 inches tall, weighing 130lbs, has a fresh complexion, grey eyes, sandy coloured hair and his religion was Church of England.

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.  On 02nd October 1915 at Lark Hill Camp he was absent from Battalion for three days (02nd- 05th October 1915) and was confined to Barracks for four days from 5th October 1915. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

His service record shows: 

30/07/16: He was appointed paid Lance-Corporal.

Between 19/10/16 and 05/11/16: He was tried for desertion and found guilty. Death sentence confirmed but commuted to 10 years imprisonment, Penal Servitude suspended on 05/11/16.

13/12/16: The sentence of 10 years is permitted in recognition of gallantry in the face of the enemy on December 13th 1916.

31/12/16: Appointed Unpaid Lance-Corporal.

25/03/17: Appointed paid Lance-Corporal.

16/06/17: Confirmed in rank as Acting Corporal.

He was serving in the 20th Battalion (1st Company), The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Lance-Corporal No 22294 when he was killed in action on the 31st July 1917 aged 22 during the Third Battle of Ypres better known as the Battle of Passchendaele.

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

The Battalion moved into assembly positions east of Maple Copse between 05.00 and 05.20am, they were heavily shelled and suffered many casualties. At 07.50 they began to advance with the 17th Battalion on the left, and the 20th on the right, the whole time under heavy shell fire. On reaching their position which was the Blue Line , troops of both the 21st and 90th Brigades were still pinned down and thus any attempt at further progress were futile.

At this point a message was sent to Brigade HQ advising that Companies were digging in on and consolidating a line running south from Stirling Castle.

The 20th Battalion was relieved on the night of 03rd – 04th August. During this time the Battalion lost one officer 2nd Lieutenant G.G. Nickel and 42 men killed or died of wounds with six officers and 149 men wounded.

Peter's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

He was reported killed in the Weekly Casualty List of 18^th September 1917:

King's (Liverpool Regiment) - Weatherspoon 22295 Act. Cpl. P. (Walton);

Soldiers Effects and Pension to step-father John Fidler.

Two notices were posted in the Liverpool Echo on the 31st July 1918, the first anniversary of his death:

Weatherspoon – in sad but loving memory of Corporal Peter Weatherspoon K.L.R. killed in action July 31st 1917,

Just when his hopes were brightest,

Just when his hopes were best,

God saw fit to take him,

To a home of eternal rest

Never once forgotten by Mamie, and all at 27 Becket Street, Kirkdale.

and

Weatherspoon - in loving memory of Corporal Peter Weatherspoon K.L.R. killed in action July 31st 1917,

His cheerful smile and loving ways

Are pleasant to recall;

He had a kindly word for each,

And died beloved by all.

From Mrs Olsen and family at 84 Upper Hill Street, Liverpool.

Peter is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 32 Left

St Athanasius C. of E. School, Kirkdale

Roll of Honour at St Luke’s Church, Walton

Medal roll shows 'no medals' issued. Due to being a deserter?

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