Pte 23996 William Henry Whyte

• Age: 23
• From: Runcorn, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: La Neuville Brit Cem Corbie
  Panel Ref: I.A.7

William Henry Whyte was born in Runcorn in 1892, the son of Thomas Richard Whyte and his wife Catherine Mary (nee Brown). Thomas was born in Co.Cavan in Ireland and Catherine in Alford, Lincolnshire.

At the time of the 1901 census the family were living in a house called Belvedere in Queen Street, Runcorn with other households including those of a mariner, a joiner, a barge flatman and a surgeon called John Robinson. William's father Thomas was 46 and was a tanner by trade, Catherine was 44, they had six children living with them;  Albert aged 18 who was a commercial clerk, as was 17 year old Thomas junior, Kezia aged 14 who was an apprentice confectioner, Leonard 11, William 8 and 4 year old Nellie.

Belvedere likely belonged to John Robinson who had practiced as a G.P. and surgeon from Belvedere since at least the 1870s. He lived in the house most of the week, only visiting his wife in the village of Alvanley near Helsby on a Sunday. John Robinson was a man of considerable intellect and a well known local eccentric. With his long white beard and hair and battered raincoat he was often mistaken for a down and out. He also often ‘forgot’ to charge his poorer patients for his services. The Whyte family must have known him well as they lived in Belvedere for at least ten years.

The 1911 census shows the family still living at Belvedere. There are five children living at home with Thomas and Catherine who advised that they have been married for 30 years and have had seven children all of whom have survived.William, now aged 18 is working as a commercial clerk as is  28 year old Albert, Leonard is a 21 year old motor fitter, Nellie 14, is at school as is Bessie aged 9, another daughter born in 1902. William’s sister Kezia was working as a pastry cook and living with another baker in the household of her baker and confectioner employer. William’s brother Thomas was newly married and living in Frodsham Bridge. 

When he enlisted in Liverpool as Private 23996 on July 5th 1915, William was employed by the Manchester Ship Canal Company. He was posted to the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. 

He crossed to France with the 20th Battalion on the 07th of November 1915 and was killed in action on the 1st July 1916.

The events of July 1st 1916 for the 20th Battalion:

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 brough 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.

William now rests at La Neuville British Cemetery, France.

In April 1916, No.21 Casualty Clearing Station came to La Neuville and remained there throughout the 1916 Battles of the Somme, until March 1917. La Neuville British Cemetery was opened early in July 1916. Most of the burials date from this period, but a few graves were added during the fighting on the Somme in 1918. Neuville British Cemetery contains 866 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There are also 27 German war graves. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

He is also commemorated on the following Memorials;

Runcorn War Memorial 

Manchester Ship Canal Company which is now located in the Rolt Centre, The Boat Museum, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.

The Runcorn Weekly News on 14th July reported:

"Among the many Runcornians who have made the supreme sacrifice for King and Country is Private Willian Henry Whyte, son of Mr. And Mrs. T.R.Whyte of the Belvedere. Runcorn , whose name figures amongst those who had the misfortune to lose their lives in the big push. Private Whyte was seriously wounded in the fighting of July 1st and succumbed to his wounds in one of the base hospital in France. The sad news came in a letter from the chaplain of the hospital, who also informed the parents that their son had been laid to rest in a little cemetery close to and a cross had been placed on the grave bearing the date and their son’s regimental number. Private Whyte was 23 years of age, and before the war was employed as a clerk at the old quay yard of the Ship Canal Co. He joined the Liverpool Pals in November of 1914, and after twelve months training at Knowsley and Salisbury Plain, was drafted out to France in October of last year. Since he had been on active service he had not any leave, but was often at home during the time he was at Knowsley. From a boy he had attended the Brunswick Sunday School and was also a regular attender at the St Pauls Wesleyan Church. He had also been an enthusiastic member of the Runcorn Boating Club and both he and his family are very well known and respected in the town.

A comrade writes “in him I have lost a true friend. He was always courteous and obliging , and he was indeed sincere. The keenness of such a loss is not yet fully felt” 

Runcorn Guardian 14th July 1916

MANY LOCALS CASUALTIES

Among the many Runcorian's who have made the supreme sacrifice for King and Country is Private William Henry Whyte, son of Mr and Mrs T. R. Whyte of the Belvedere, Runcorn, whose name figures among those who had the misfortune to lose their lives in the "big push". Private Whyte was seriously wounded in the fighting on July 1st and succumbed to his wounds in one of the base hospitals in France. The news came in the letter from the chaplain of the hospital who also informed the parents that their son had been laid to rest in a little cemetery close to, and a cross had been placed on the grave containing the date and their sons regimental number. Private Whyte was 24 years of age and before the war employed as a clerk at the Old Quay yard of the Ship Canal Company. He joined the Liverpool "Pals" in November of 1914, and after 12-months training in Knowsley and Salisbury Plain was drafted out to France in October last year. Since he has been on active service he had not had any leave but was often at home during the time he was at Knowsley. From a boy he had belonged to Brunswick Sunday School, and was also regular attender at St. Paul's Wesleyan Church. He had also been an enthusiastic member of Runcorn Boating Club. Both he and his family were very well known and respected in the town. A personal friend writes:- "In him I have lost a true and consistent friend, one who was always ready and willing to assist others, even at times to his own discomfort. He rarely complained and was exceedingly sociable by nature, in fact it might be said that he lived by the motto that 'he who would have friends must show himself friendly.' He had no enemies, he was fond of outdoor life and took to the army training exceedingly well. Like others, he was anxiously looking forward to his returning home after the war. His memory with me will never die. I cannot yet realised that he has entirely gone, but the keenness of such a loss is not yet."

An article in the Runcorn Guardian on the 28th July 1916 reported:

Private W.H.Whyte’s death was the first to be recorded as the result of the great push on July 1st. He was 24 years old, and was the son of Mr and Mrs T.R. Whyte, Belvedere, Runcorn. He joined the King’s (Liverpool Regiment) in November 1911, and was drafted out to France in November 1915. He was seriously wounded in the fighting of July 1st, 1916, and succumbed to his wounds in a base hospital in France. From early boyhood he had been a regular attender at Brunswick Sunday School, and was a member of the Men’s Bible Class and St Pauls Church.

The newspaper also reported the death of Alfred Bradshaw a lifelong friend of William. The two men enlisted and served together and were wounded by the same shell. Alfred also died of his wounds. See the biography of Alfred Bradshaw Private 23916.

William’s father died in 1923, and his mother in 1940.

Acknowledgments to www.sandstoneridge.org.uk for the information about Dr.John Robinson.

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