Pte 22882 Walter Davies Webber

• Age: 20
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Peronne Rd Cem Maricourt
  Panel Ref: II.E.19

Walter Davies Webber was born in Liverpool in the fourth quarter of 1895. He was the son of Charles Ernest Webber and his wife Mary Maud Davies who were married in St John the Baptist Church in Toxteth in January 1891.

The 1901 census shows Walter aged 5, living with his parents and siblings at 38 Enid Street, Toxteth. His father Charles is 38, born in Torpoint Cornwall and was working as an undertakers clerk. His mother Mary Maud was 33 and Liverpool born. His siblings who were all born in Liverpool were : Charles Ernest aged 8, Ethel 2, Arthur 1 and 1 month old Frank.

Walter was educated at Tiber Street School.

By the time the 1911 census is taken the family are living at 4 Tagus Street.  Walter is 15 years of age and is working as a solicitor's office boy. He lives with his parents and six siblings. His parents advised that they have been married for 20 years and have had eight children of whom seven have survived.  His siblings are shown as; Charles Ernest is 18 and is working as an undertakers clerk,  the same  occupation as his father,  and his siblings Ethel aged 12, Arthur aged 11 and Frank aged 10 are at school. Charles and Mary have had twin daughters Lily and May who were born in April 1910. Sadly little Lily died shortly after the census was taken.

Walter enlisted in Liverpool on the 09th November 1914, joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 22882.

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. He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

Walter was killed in action during the attack at Montauban on the 01st July 1916

The events of the 1st July 1916 with the 20th Battalion at Maricourt:

Zero Hour 7.30am. After 65 minutes intensive bombardment the Battalion advanced to the attack of the German trenches. The Battalion advanced in four lines each of the two leading Companies on a frontage of 2 platoons – No’s 1 & 2 Companies (in that order from the right) leading. No.3 Company int neh 3rd wave. No.4 Company in the 4th wave. There being a distance of about 100 yards between each line. The lines advanced through the enemy’s artillery fire as though on parade in quick time. The leading waves went on without a pause to Alt Trench and Casement Trench which were secured at (time not stated) am. The casualties up to this being small. Our barrage lifting Dublin Trench (the 1st Objective) was captured and consolidation immediately proceeded with. Captain Whiting with the 3rd wave entrenching about 150 yards in the rear. Captain Robinson was wounded and No.2 Company was commanded during the day by Lt C P Moore. Casualties up to now were killed 2 officers – 1 wounded and 49 other ranks casualties killed and wounded. At 11.50 am orders were received for the assault of the Briqueterie. The Battalion operation orders for this were issued from NW of Germans Wood. Our barrage lifted at 12,30 pm and No. 4 Company under Captain E C Orford assisted by a section of bombers under 2nd Lt Baker who went up Nord Alley and Chimney Trench to secure his left flank, who had got right forward under cover of the fire of our guns rushed it almost without opposition. On the far side a party of the enemy were found in deep dug-outs. They brought a machine gun into action and some close fighting ensued in which Lt Gooch and Lt Williams were wounded. Opposition was however speedily overcome and the garrison consisting of the H.Q. of a Regt, one Colonel and 4 other officers – 40 rank and file , 2 machine guns together with maps, orders, documents and material fell into our hands. Steps were immediately taken for consolidating the ground won, which however owing to the destruction wrought by our “heavies” was a matter of great difficulty, what had been trenches being almost unrecognisable as such and the earth so pulverised that cover could only be made by aid of sandbags. The garrison was heavily shelled through the afternoon and most of the night and casualties were many. Battalion H.Q. were at the junction of Glatz Alley and Casement Trench north west of Germans Wood and this together with Dublin Trench received considerable attention from enemy guns. Casualties during the day 2 officers killed (2nd Lts F Barnes and JC Laughlin) and 3 wounded (Captain H H Robinson, Lt S Gooch and 2nd Lt F J Williams). 75 other ranks killed and wounded.

Walter now rests at Peronne Road Cemetery, Maricourt, France.

Maricourt was, at the beginning of the Battles of the Somme 1916, the point of junction of the British and French forces, and within a very short distance of the front line; it was lost in the German advance of March 1918, and recaptured at the end of the following August.

The Cemetery, originally known as Maricourt Military Cemetery No.3, was begun by fighting units and Field Ambulances in the Battles of the Somme 1916, and used until August 1917; a few graves were added later in the War, and at the Armistice it consisted of 175 graves which now form almost the whole of Plot I. It was completed after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from the battlefields in the immediate neighbourhood and from certain smaller burial grounds.

There are now 1348, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, 366 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 26 soldiers from the United Kingdom known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of three soldiers from the United Kingdom, buried in other cemeteries, whose graves could not be found.

The cemetery covers an area of 3,787 square metres and is enclosed on three sides by a low red brick wall.

A notice in the Liverpool Daily Post 19th July 1916 reads:

Webber – July 1. Killed in action, aged 20 years Private Walter D. Webber (“Pals”) second and dearly beloved son of Mr and Mrs Webber 33 Lime Grove, Lodge Lane (Duty cheerfully done) 

He is commemorated on the  following Memorial:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 34

Methodist Church, Lodge Lane

Tiber Street County Primary School war memorial in Tagus Street, Princess Park, Liverpool.

In the 1939 Register Walter’s parents are living in Longford Street, his brother Arthur is living with them. Walter’s father died in 1940 and his mother in 1956. They’re buried together in Toxteth Cemetery.

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