Cpl 21588 William John Pugh

William John Pugh was a new CWGC Commemoration on the 01st February 2025. 

He was born in Liverpool in 1888 the son of William Dodd Pugh and his wife Margaret Elizabeth (nee Sheridan) who were married on the 21st July 1887 at St Clement's Church, Toxteth Park. William was a 24 year old tailor of 224 Park Road, father John a tailor, whilst Margaret was aged 25 of 100 Selborn Street, father Michael a deceased shipwright. His father was born in Wales and mother in Liverpool.

William was baptised on the 04th July 1888 at Princes Avenue Methodist Chapel, Toxteth Park. 

On the 1891 Census the family are living at the house and shop at 226 Park Road, Toxteth. His father, William D., is aged 26, a clothier born in Llandisilio, Montgomeryshire, mother Margaret is aged 28. They have two children; William J. 2 and Margaret E. 1. Also present is J. Francis, 40, the brother of William snr.  

A brother Henry Guy died in infancy in 1899. 

William suffered bouts of ill-health and had rheumatic fever in 1898, 1903, 1908, 1911. This was to lead to serious problems in later life. 

On the 1901 Census the family have moved to 12 Jolliffe Street, Toxteth. His father, William, is aged 37, a tailor, his mother Margaret is aged 39. They have four children declared in the household; William 12, Margaret 11, Albert 8 and Walter 6.  

On the 1911 Census the family have moved again, to 34 Park Place, Toxteth. His father, William Dodd, is aged 48, now a master tailor, his mother Margaret Elizabeth is aged 48. They have been married for 23 years and have had 6 children, 4 of whom have survived.  All four surviving children are listed in the household; William John, 23, Margaret Ellen 21, teacher training, Albert 18, teacher training (crossed out, not present), and Walter 16 at school.   

William enlisted on the 05th September 1914 at St George's Hall in Liverpool joining the 19th Battalion, of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as  Private 21588. He gave his age as 26 years and 96 days, occupation woollen trade. He was described as being five feet eleven inches tall, weighed 127 lbs, 35” chest, being of sallow complexion with brown eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England and gave his father as next of kin at 20 Jermyn Road, Liverpool. 

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th 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 embarked at Folkestone and arrived in France on 07th November 1915. 

His service record reads:- 

04.03.15 - Appointed to unpaid L/Cpl. 

20.05.15 - Appointed to paid L/Cpl. 

06.02.16 - Appointed acting Cpl after Cpl Perryman was wounded.   

19.03.16 - Promoted to Cpl. 

06.04.16 - Attached 89th Bde. 

01.05.16 - Sick to F.A., V.D.H. admitted to 55 F.A. 

02.05.16 - V.D.H. admitted to 21 C.C.S. 

05.05.16 - V.D.H. admitted to 21 Stationary Hospital at Rouen. 

06.05.16 - Discharged to Reinforcement Camp, at Rouen. 

08.05.16 - Joined 30th I.B.D. at Etaples. 

09.06.16 - Sick to hosp. 

09.06.16 - V.D.H. admitted to 24 G.H. 

12.06.16 - To England, as per S.S. Aberdonian. 

29.09.16 - Medically Unfit, V.D.H. 

Date of origin doubtful (1) Liverpool (2) France.  

Rheumatic fever in 1898, 1903, 1908, 1911 before joining army.  

Palpitations + shortness of breath on vigorous exercise, only suffered in the morning. Breakdown in France after 10 weeks in the trenches. Persistence of fluttering sensations + palpitations + faintness.  Apex beat just within nipple line.  Systolic thrill.  Systolic + diastolic murmur over mitral and tricuspid areas.   Shortness of breath and palpitations on any light exertion.  

The results of active service strain on a heart weakened by previous illness. Permanent prevents 3/4 Expires 13.4.17 

13.10.16 - Discharged, no longer physically fit. 

His being sent home from the front  was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Saturday 08 July 1916: 

PRIMITIVE METHODIST.  

Corporals W. J. Pugh and Ray Pugh, of the Princes Avenue Church, have been invalided home from France. They are hospital. 

The other Pugh mentioned in the report was his brother who also served in the 19th Battalion as Private 21586, his service numnber being just two away from William's, showing that they had gone together to enlist. His brother was later Commissioned on 19th March 1917.

William received a pension of 24/- p.w. reducing to just 6/- by 12.8.19. 

William married Winifred Morris on the 17th August 1918 at the Congregational Church, Southport. 

The marriage was reported in the Liverpool Echo on Tuesday 20 August 1918: 

PUGH—MORRIS—August 17, at Congregational Church, Southport, by Rev. J. Fitch, assisted by the Rev. A. T. Guttery, WILLIAM J. PUGH, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Pugh (Liverpool), to WINIFRED (freda), daughter Mr. and Mrs. P. R. Morris, Southport. 

It's usually caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream and attaching to the heart.

William died at home on the 02nd December 1919, his death certificate shows that he was a tailor's cutter and records that his death was due to (1)acute rheumatism (2) Infective endocarditis, a rare but serious infection of the heart's inner lining or valves. It is usually caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream and attaching to the heart.

At the time of his death he was living at 43 Pilkington Road, Southport with wife Winifred. 

He was laid to rest on the 05th December 1919 at Toxteth Park Cemetery where his headstone reads:

In Loving Memory of My Dear Husband

WILLIAM JOHN PUGH, 19th K.L.R.

Who Died December 2, 1919, aged 31 Years

"Through Sacrifice to Life." 

There are 288 First World War burials in the Cemetery.

His parents placed a note of thanks in the Liverpool Daily Post on Tuesday 09 December 1919: 

PUGH – Mrs. W. J. PUGH and Mr. and Mrs. W. J. PUGH and Family desire to thank all relatives and friends for the kind letters of sympathy and floral tributes sent during their recent bereavement. 

Probate was granted on 17th December1919 to his widow:- 

PUGH William John of 20 Jermyn Street Liverpool army pensioner died 2 December 1919 Administration Liverpool 17 December to Winifred Pugh widow. Effects £266 10s. 

His parents appear on the 1939 Register at 40 Millersdale Road, Wavertree, father William, dob 21st Jan 1863, a master tailor, mother Margaret, dob 31st Jan 1862, and daughter Margaret Ellen, a school mistress. 

His mother, Margaret, drops of the electoral roll in 1952, leaving just Margaret Ellen at 40 Millersdale Road. 

His father, William, died aged 88, in 1952, he was cremated on the 10th January 1952. 

His mother, Margaret, died aged 92 in the March quarter of 1954. 

His widow; Winifred never remarried and died aged 85 in Southport on 10th February 1976. She now rests alongside William in Toxteth Park Cemetery.