Gunner 75902 Edwin McConnochie

Edwin Ayers McConnochie was born in Wallasey, Cheshire, in the March quarter of 1896, the youngest child and only son of Frank McConnochie and his wife Elizabeth (née Ayers). His father was born in Birkenhead and his mother was from Liverpool, they married in Liverpool in 1887.  Edwin had three older sisters: Frances, born in 1888, Elsie in 1890, and Doris in 1894.

 

In 1901 the family is living at 13 Comely Bank Road, Birkenhead. His father is a general merchant’s clerk, his three sisters are at school, Edwin is 5.

 

In 1911 they are at 10 Lonsboro Road, Wallasey.  His father is a commercial clerk for a cattle food manufacturer.  Frances, 22, and Elsie, 21, are teachers in the council school, Doris is 17, no occupation, and Edwin is 15, at school.  

 

His mother died in Birkenhead in May 1914, aged 55. 

 

Unfortunately his military record has not survived so the details of his service are not known, but we do know that Edwin enlisted in Liverpool as Private 16253, 18th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment. 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 arrived in France on 8^th November 1915.

A report of Edward being wounded appeared in the Wallasey News on 02/12/1916:

"In the official casualty list appears the name of Pte.Edwin McConnochie, King's Liverpool Regt., who is reported as wounded. He is the only son of Mr. Frank McConnochie,10,Lonsboro'-road, Wallasey,and is 20 years of age.The parents have not received any communication from the War Office". 

He was later transferred to ‘D’ Bn, Tank Corps, as Gnr 75902. The Tank Corps was involved in the Third Battle of Ypres, also known as, Passchendaele, which began on 31st July and continued until November.  Tanks were employed at the Battle of Langemarck, 16-18 August, remembered for its death, misery, and mud. Edwin was killed in action on 22nd August 1917, aged 21.  Given the date and place of his death, it is probable the he took part in what is known as the Action of 22nd August.

This engagement was fought by the Fifth Army. Following the fighting at Langemarck, the British had advanced north of the village but had been defeated further south and failed to capture the Wilhelmstellung, the third German defensive position. At a conference with the Fifth Army corps commanders on 17 August, Gough arranged for local attacks to gain jumping-off positions for another general attack on 25 August. At the Action of the Cockcroft on 19 August,XVIII Corps and the 1st Tank Brigade had captured five fortified farms and strongpoints for a fraction of the casualties of a conventional attack. The attack on 22 August was much bigger effort, which advanced the British front line up to 600 yd (550 m) in places, on a 2 mi (3.2 km) front but failed to reach the more distant objectives.

Edwin was buried in place, or in a small burial ground, and after the war when graves were concentrated his body was exhumed and reburied in New Irish Farm Cemetery, Ypres, Flanders, where he now rests.

New Irish Farm Cemetery was first used from August to November 1917 and was named after a nearby farm, known to the troops as 'Irish Farm' (originally there was an Irish Farm Cemetery immediately South of the Farm. New Irish Farm Cemetery is about 300 metres North of the Farm at a crossing once known as Hammond's Corner). It was used again in April and May 1918 and at the Armistice it contained just 73 burials - the three irregular rows of Plot I - but was then greatly enlarged when more than 4,500 graves were brought in from the battlefields north-east of Ypres (now Ieper) and from other smaller cemeteries.

There are now 4,719 commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 3,271 of the burials are unidentified, but special memorials commemorate four casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of 30 casualties buried in four of the cemeteries removed to New Irish Farm whose graves were destroyed by shell fire.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

Edwin earned his three medals.

 

His effects, including a War Gratuity of £14, went to his father Frank, living at The School House, Marsworth, Tring, Hertfordshire.  A pension card has not been found.  His father worked as an accountant, and died aged 71 in a car accident in 1929.

 

Edwin is commemorated on his mother’s headstone in Rake Lane Cemetery, Wallasey:

 “Also Edwin, her son, killed in action in France, 22nd August 1917, aged 21 years.”

 

Edwin is also commemorated on the following memorials -

Wallasey Civic Memorial (Hospital)

Wallasey Roll of Honour

Christ Church (Free) C. of E. Church, Liscard

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