Pte 30738 George Webb

• Age: 24
• From: Kirkdale, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

George Webb was born on the 23rd July 1891 in Liverpool, the son of William  Webb and his wife Martha (nee Higham) who were married in 1884 in Liverpool. He was baptised on the 8th August 1891 at Our Lady of Reconciliation de La Salette, Eldon Street, Liverpool.

On the 1891 Census the family are living at 2 Grundy’s Yard, Wigan. His father, William, is aged 34, a chimney sweep born in Liverpool, his mother, Martha, is aged 33 and was born in Wigan. They have three children in the household, all of whom were born in Liverpool: Bridget 9 a scholar, Mary Ellen 7 a scholar, and Elizabeth 3. 

George married Madeline Kennedy on 23rd May 1915 in St Timothy’s Church, Walton on the Hill, Liverpool. We know from his marriage certificate that his father was a labourer, James Webb, who was deceased by the time of the marriage. This error can only be attributed to George and it is a mystery as to why he named his father as such, perhaps a presumption can be made that George may have been ashamed of his father?

Madeline had a baby a few days later on 28th May 1915. The baby was named George after his father.

A few months after his marriage George Webb enlisted in Liverpool on or about July 19th 1915 joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 30738. At the time he was employed by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board.

He crossed to France as part of a reinforcement draft for the 18th Battalion in early 1916. 

George was killed in action, during the attack at Montauban, on the 01st July 1916, aged 24.

The events of that day for the 18th Battalion:

At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great spirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks.

Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:

As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter wrote in the conclusion of his account of the days action:

I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:

“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”.

Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257.

George's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

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.”

George is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 31 

Mersey Docks and Harbour Board at the Pier Head, Liverpool.

An "In Memoriam" entry placed by his widow in a Liverpool newspaper on the second anniversary of his death reads;

"In loving memory of my dear husband Private George Webb K.L.R who was killed in action July, 1 1916.

"I little thought when I said goodbye it would be the last parting between you and I, I loved you in life, you are dear to me still but in this bitter grief I must bend to God's Holy will. Could I, his wife have clasped his hand, the husband I loved so well, to kiss his brow, when death was nigh and whisper George farewell". Never forgotten by his wife and two children, 38 China Street.

Madeline remarried in 1920, her husband was called Silve Milburn, born in Durham in 1897.

On the 1939 Register she is found living at 33 China Street with her second husband and George’s son, George junior, who is working as a general labourer.  

Madeline died, aged 78, in 1973. 

His son George died in 1984, aged 69.

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