Lieutenant Alex Frank Evelyn Prescott

• Age: 22
• From: Lowton, Leigh
• Regiment: M.G.C. 124
• Died on Sunday 8th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F 5c and 12c

Alexander Frank Evelyn Prescott was born in Lowton, Leigh on the 20th May 1894, the son of James Prescott and his wife Ann (nee Hill) who were married on the 13th January 1892 at St Luke's Church, Lowton. James was a 27 year old clerk of Golborne, father George a manager, whilst Ann was aged 25 of Lowton, father James a farmer. Alexander was baptised on the 22nd July 1894 also at St Luke’s. Church.  

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 430 Newton Road, Lowton. His father, James, is a printer's traveller born in Golborne in 1865, his wife Annie was born in 1866 in Lowton. Alexander is referred to as Alec on the Census record and is the eldest son, aged 6. He has an older sister Dora Annie b. 1893 and younger brothers Horace Hill b.1896 and Christopher James b. 1899. 

They are still living at the same address in 1911. His father, James is aged 46, a printers manager, mother Ann is aged 45, they have been married for 19 years and have had 5 children. All five children are in the household;  Dora 18 is a printers clerk, Alec is now 16 and still at school, Horace Hill 15 and Chistopher James 12 are  also at school, They have been joined by Geoffrey Hornby b.1904, also at school.  

Alec enlisted in Liverpool joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 15571. His medal index card shows a further service number of 25590 before he earned a commission and was serving with the 124th Machine Cun Corps when he was killed in action, aged 24, during the fighting around the Butte de Warlencourt on 08/10/1916. His body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. 

His death was reported in the Leigh Chronicle and Weekly District Advertiser on Friday 20 October 1916: 

Lowton Lieutenant Killed.  

Lieut. A. F. E. PRESCOTT, LOWTON.  

Lieutenant Alec F. E. Prescott, King’s Liverpool Regiment, attached Machine-Gun Corps, killed in action October 7th, was the eldest son of Mr. James Prescott, Brook Cottage, Lowton, manager of Bibby's printing works, Liverpool. He was educated at the Leigh Grammar School, and commenced his career as mechanical engineer with the Linotype and Machinery Company, Broadheath, and joined the Liverpool “ Pals” 1st Battalion as private at their formation. He was granted a commission in the same regiment six months later. He was in the service of the Liverpool Corporation, electrical department, at the time of joining the forces. He was 22 years of age, and on the roll of honour at Lowton Parish Church. His brother Horace (6th Manchester Regiment) is in hospital in Egypt.  

HIS COMMANDING OFFICER'S TRIBUTE.  

Lieut. Prescott’s commanding officer writes, under date Oct. 12th:— It is my very sorrowful duty to inform you that your boy Alec was killed in action on Saturday last, the 7th inst. Possibly you may have heard this officially by now. I hope you will not have thought me unkind in not writing before this. We only came out of the front line yesterday. This, I know, will be a terrible blow to you, his parents, even if you must have contemplated the possibility. It is also a severe blow to me, his company commander, and to all of us, his brother officers. Speaking the simple truth, I can say he was the most beloved officer in my company. His cheerful, open and loyal nature made an irresistible appeal. He was my second in command. He was very young to have such a responsibility, but he was the most suitable officer for the position, and that is why he was appointed. His place will be most difficult to fill. We cannot replace the boy himself. I had come to have a great affection for him, and I am happy to think that this was reciprocated on his part in a great measure. You will naturally wish to know everything. On Saturday last he accompanied me into action with the reserve guns about 6 p.m. We arrived at the front of the line, and were finding suitable positions for the guns when he was hit by a rifle or machine gun bullet. I was a few yards away, and he shouted to me that he was hit. I rushed to him, and with the help of one of the men of his old section, bandaged up the wound, which was in his side. He said, “I shall not get over this. Sir," He became unconscious in about two minutes, and only lingered about ten minutes altogether. Everything was done for him that could possibly be done, and I think he suffered very little. May I offer, on behalf of myself and the other officers of the company, of whom, alas, not many are left, our most sincere sympathy in your great sorrow. It will be some consolation to you to know that he died a very noble death, and how much beloved he was by both officers and men who had the privilege of knowing him.” 

His body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. 

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.”

Soldiers Effects went to his father James, no pension card has been found. 

A tribute to Alec was reported in the Leigh Chronicle and Weekly District Advertiser on Friday 26 January 1917: 

THE LATE LIEUT ALEC PRESCOTT, LOWTON.  

Out of respect for the late Lieut. Alec F. E. Prescott, of Brook Cottage, Lowton, who was killed on Oct. 7th last, the major of the 124th Machine Gun Corps has ordered that one of the posts in his line be named “The Prescott Post.” 

This could be a position identified on the front line

He is commemorated on the following Memorials:

St Luke's Church, Lowton 

Also on the tablet inside St Luke's Church, Lowton.  

It reads:- 

To The Glory Of God  

& In Affectionate Remembrance Of  

ANN, 

The Beloved Wife of JAMES PRESCOTT,  

Who Died March 21st 1918, Aged 52 Years.  

Also  

Their Dear Son Lieut. ALEC F. E. PRESCOTT, 

Machine Gun Corps,  

Killed During An Attack  

On The Butte De Warlencourt, 

Battle Of The Somme,  

October 7th 1916, Aged 22 Years.  

He Worshiped Here With His Mother  

The Lord Gave And The Lord Hath Taken Away;  

Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord. 

Southport Memorial.

He is also commemorated on the family headstone at St Luke's Church yard. The headstone also records that his mother died on 21st March 1918.

His father died aged 62 in 1928.  

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