Pte 23871 Herbert Harry James Wright

• Age: 22
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Herbert (Bert) Harry James Wright was born on 09th February 1894 in Liverpool and baptised 30th September 1896 at St Dunstan, C. of E. Church, Edge-Hill, Liverpool, together with brother Walter, his parents’ residence given as 32 Wrayburn Street, and his father’s occupation dock labourer. 

He was the son of Herbert Wright and his wife Ellen Elizabeth (née Ling). His parents were both born in Suffolk, his father in Lowestoft, and his mother in Frostenden, near Lowestoft were married in 1888, his father’s occupation at the time baker. They had seven children, of whom two died young. Their first child, Harry Herbert James, was born in 1888 in Lowestoft, but died at age 2. Another son, Sidney Charles, was born in 1890, and not long after his birth his parents moved to Liverpool.  Sadly, Sidney died in early 1891, at the age of 11 months. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 83 Earle Road, Liverpool. His father, Herbert, is aged 45, born 1866 occupation dock labourer, whilst his mother, Ellen Elizabeth, is aged 46, born 1865 with no occupation listed. Their children were all born in Liverpool. They have been married for twenty three years and have had seven children of which two died. Herbert Harry James aged 17, born 1894 occupation butcher, Walter aged 14, born 1897 is a pawnbroker shop lad, Ethel Sarah is aged 12, born 1899 and James Henry aged 10, born 1901.  

He enlisted in the 20^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 23871. 

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 19th 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.

He was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 22, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive. 

30th July 1916

The 20^th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20^th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 Other Ranks

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July. 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.

His loved ones placed notices in the Liverpool Echo on 23rd August 1916:

“July 30, killed in action, aged 22 years, Private Herbert (Bert) Wright, “Pals”. (His duty well done.) - Gone, but not forgotten by his sorrowing Father, Mother, Sister, and Brothers in France.”

“July 30, killed in action, Private Herbert (Bert) Wright, (Pals).

  Sleep on, dear Bert, in a soldiers grave,

    Your life for your country you nobly gave.

  On earth there’s strife, in heaven there’s rest;

    They miss you most who love you best.

- (From his loving friend E.C.)”

The next day, on 24th August, another notice appeared in the paper:

“July 30, killed in action, aged 22 years, Bert Wright, (“Pals”). - With loving thoughts, Rose.”

Bert's body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and 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.”

Bert earned his three medals.

His Army pay of £5 6s and a War Gratuity of £7-10s went to his father.  The pension card in the name of his mother (giving regimental number 23891) shows that she was awarded a pension of 5/- a week from February 1919.  As his documents were received in the Pension Office from the Paymaster in February 1917, the reason for the long delay is not known.

In the Liverpool Echo on 30th July 1917, under the heading, “Lost At The Battle Of Guillemont”:

“In affectionate remembrance of Private Herbert (Our Bert) Wright, 20th K.L.R. (Pals), dearly-devoted son of Mr. and Mrs. Wright, killed in action July 30, 1916. - Fondly remembered by his Father and Mother, Sisters and Brothers, of 83 Earle Road.

Dear Bert, how we all miss you,

Our loss is hard to bear;

But in heaven above where all is love

There’ll be no parting there.”

Arthur had emigrated to Canada, where he served in the Eastern Ontario Militia. He enlisted in August 1915 in the 76th Overseas Battalion, C.E.F., served on the Western Front, and survived the war.

Walter served in France with the 1st/6th Bn. and 7th K.L.R.  He suffered mustard gas poisoning in June 1918 and was demobbed in October 1919.

On the 1921 Census his father, aged 56, is dock labourer for L.N.W. Railways at Garston Docks. 

His father died in 1929, aged 64.

In 1939 his mother, 75, is still at 83 Earle Road with daughter Ethel, 41.

His mother lived through the Second World War and died in 1956 at the age of 92.

Sadly, Bert has not been identified on any local memorials.

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