Pte 16343 Frederick John Westmorland

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Danzig Alley Cem, Mametz
  Panel Ref: Mem 6

Frederick John Westmorland was born on September 04th 1894 in Kensington, Liverpool, he was the son of Charles Westmorland and his wife Elizabeth (nee Peers) who were married on the 05^th September 1892 at St Hilary's Church, Wallasey. Charles was a 32 year old butcher of West Derby, father James, whilst Elizabeth was aged 31 of Wallasey, father George. He was baptised at St Augustine's Church, Everton, Liverpool on the 14th October 1894. At the same church another son of the couple was baptised on February 21st 1897 named Charles Arthur. 

Charles and Elizabeth are shown in the 1901 census as living at 107 Edinburgh Road, Kensington, but their children are not recorded on the form. Brother Charles A. aged 4 is staying with Sarah Jane Cromack (nee Westmorland) at 9 Acres Road, Lower Bebington, Frederick is not listed. 

They are found on the 1911 census at 62 Romer Road, Kensington, Liverpool. Fred John as he is recorded, is 16 years of age and a junior insurance clerk. He lives with his parents and his younger brother Charles. His father is 51 years of age, born in Liverpool and is shown as a Butcher- employer, whilst his mother is 49 years of age and was born in Wallasey. His parents advised that they have been married for 18 years and have had two children. His brother, Charles, is 14 years old.

Frederick enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool as Private 16343 on August 31st 1914, just four days before his 20th birthday. He gave his age as 19 years 360 days, and his occupation as a clerk. His papers describe him as being 5’ 9¼” tall, 125lbs in weight, 35" chest with a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion was Church of England.

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th 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 crossed to France with his Battalion, the 18th, on board the SS Invicta on the November 07th 1915, and was granted leave to the UK between 29th May and 9th June 1916.

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

The events of the 1st July 1916 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.

Frederick is commemorated on the war memorial in Dantzig Alley British Cemetery, France.

The village of Mametz was carried by the 7th Division on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, after very hard fighting at Dantzig Alley (a German trench) and other points. The cemetery was begun later in the same month and was used by field ambulances and fighting units until the following November. The ground was lost during the great German advance in March 1918 but regained in August, and a few graves were added to the cemetery in August and September 1918. At the Armistice, the cemetery consisted of 183 graves, now in Plot I, but it was then very greatly increased by graves (almost all of 1916) brought in from the battlefields north and east of Mametz and from certain smaller burial grounds.

Dantzig Alley British Cemetery now contains 2,053 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 518 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 17 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of 71 casualties buried in other cemeteries, whose graves were destroyed by shell fire.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

Notices were published in the Liverpool Echo on July 24th 1916:

Westmorland – July 1, killed in action, Frederick John (Fred) (“Pals”), the beloved elder son of C. And E. Westmorland, 62 Romer Road, Liverpool.

And

Westmorland – July 1, killed in action, Private Frederick John (Fred) Westmorland (Pals), (One of the best, deeply regretted) – Dora

His death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on 07^th Aug 1916: 

His father received his service medals and his effects which was just a pocket book containing photos.

• Always remembered by Dora. 

Frederick’s father Charles died, aged 76, in 1936 and his mother died, aged 75, in 1937. They were still living at 62 Romer Road at the time.

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