Pte 35554 Ernest Charles Weeks

• Age: 20
• From: Formby
• Regiment: 12th KLR
• Died on Friday 4th August 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: Pier and Face 1 D 8 B and 8 C

Ernest Charles Weeks was born in Formby on the 16th July 1896, the son of John Wills Weeks and his wife Susan Ann (née Hearle) who were married on the 15th June 1875 at St. Thomas' Church, Stepney in London. John gave his address as 51 Windor Street, Liverpool on his marriage interview. His father was from Devon and his mother from London. Ernest was baptised on the 08th September 1898 at St Peter’s Church, Walton-on-the-Hill, his father was a painter of Westminster Road. 

On the 1901 Census the family are living at 276 Westminster Road, Kirkdale. His father, John, is aged 48, a funnel paint manufacturer and builder born in Dartmouth, Devon, his mother Susan A. is aged 47, born in Stepney. There are nine children in the household, those born Liverpool are; Florence B. 22, Ethel H. 20, Evelyn R. 18, and Bertha L. 9, those born in Bromley are; Maria L. 16, Walter P. 14, Eva L. 13, Annie G. 11. Ernest C. is aged 4 and was born in Formby. 

His father died a wealthy man, aged 51, whilst in London on the 23rd May 1904 and was buried on the 27th May 1904 at Kirkdale Cemetery. 

Probate:- 

WEEKS John Wills of Westminster Road Liverpool paint manufacturer and contractor died 23 May 1904 at Euston Road, Middlesex Administration Liverpool to Susan Ann Weeks widow. Effects £6033 2s 11d. 

On the 1911 Census the family are still at 276 Westminster Road, Kirkdale. Ernest's widowed mother, Susan, is aged 57 and still in control of the paint manufacturing. There are nine children in the household; Florence B. 32, assisting in the business, Ethel H. 30, Rose E. 28, assisting in the business, Lottie M. 26, Walter P. 24, assisting in the business, Eva A. 23, Gertie A. 21, Bertha L. 19, and Ernest C. is aged 14 at school. 

He enlisted in Liverpool with The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 35554. 

Similarly to Pte W. A. Lawson he was attached to the Manchester Regiment when his mother reported him missing in the Liverpool Daily Post - Tuesday 22 August 1916: 

Missing. 

Private E. C. Weeks, Manchester Regiment. Any information concerning him would be gratefully received by his mother, Mrs Weeks, 25 Breeze-hill. Bootle. 

According to his medal roll he shipped to France with another draft of the 17th Battalion of the K.L.R. after the 01st January 1916, and was attached to probably the 12th Battalion of the Manchester Regiment with which he died on, or since, the 04th August 1916.  

12th Bn. Manchester War Diary.  

Aug 1st 1916 - The Btn. moved up into Brigade Support in old German second line and occupied trenches LONGUEVILLE-BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT and relieved 16th Btn. Royal Warwicks. Relief complete 7.30 p.m. During the night 1st/2 both our and enemy artillery maintained a vigorous bombardment between 10 a.m. and 2 a.m. using gas shells.  

Aug 2nd - Still in Brigade Support.  

Aug 3rd -  Btn. received orders to attack enemy line ORCHARD TRENCH in conjunction with 9th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers.   

Shortly before the Btn. left the trenches to launch the attack the enemy set up a barrage and seriously interfered with our preparations.   

Order of battle - A and C Coys attack, D Coy in support and B Coy in reserve.   

Aug 4th - The attack was launched at 12.50 a.m. but failed.   

2.30 p.m. were relieved by 10th Btn. Lancs Fusiliers and moved into Brigade Reserve in MONTAUBAN ALLEY.   

Aug 4th - Brigade moved with Divisional Reserve. The Btn. occupied trenches near CARNOY. 

Charles was initially declared Missing, and his name appeared as such in the list of K.L.R. casualties published in the Liverpool Daily Post on 18th September 1916.   

King’s(Liverpools) - Cloverley(sic), 24591, A.; Lewis, 35239, T.; Weeks, 35554, C.;   

It was over ten months later that he was reported killed in the Liverpool Daily Post on Friday 29 June 1917: 

WEEKS—Reported missing August 4, 1916, now officially reported killed, Ernest Charles, youngest son S. A. and the late J. W. Weeks, 25 Breeze-hill, Bootle. 

His body was not recovered or was subseqeuntly lost as his name is now 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.”

His mother received his Soldiers Effects, £3 3s 11d in outstanding pay and a £3 War Gratuity, no pension record found. 

He received his two medals. 

Probate 1921:- 

WEEKS Ernest Charles of 25 Breeze Hill, Bootle Lancashire private 12th Battalion Liverpool Regiment died on or since 4 August 1916 in France Administration Liverpool 24 June to Susan Ann Weeks widow. Effects £617 17s 5d. 

His mother died, aged 81, on the 04th June 1935 and was buried on the 06th June at Kirkdale Cemetery. 

Probate:- 

WEEKS Susan Ann of 25 Breeze Hill, Bootle Lancashire died 6 June 1935 Administration Liverpool to Walter Percy Weeks funnel paint manufacturer and Florence Beatrice Weeks spinster. Effects £7170 7s. 

We currently have no further information on Ernest Charles Weeks, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.