Pte 22945 James Byrne

• Age: 21
• From: Widnes, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

22945 Pte James BYRNE, 20^th Battalion, KLR.    

James Byrne/Burns was born in 1894 in Widnes and was the son of Edward Byrne, originally from Ireland, and his wife Mary (nee Connell) who were married in 1877 in Bury. 

James was educated at St Marie’s School, Widnes, attending St Marie’s Church and working firstly as an errand boy and later as a shipping clerk at the local Muspratt Chemical Works. James was a ‘non-playing' member of Widnes Football Club.

James enlisted in Liverpool on 09^th November 1914 giving his age as 19 years 240 days, his occupation as clerk and his next of kin as his father, Edward, of 25 Midland Street, Widnes. He was described as being 5'4" tall, weighing 112lbs, 35” chest, with a fresh complexion, green eyes and auburn hair. His religion was stated as Roman Catholic. 

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 20th 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 7^th November 1915.

In his last letter home he wrote:

"We have plenty of noise with all the Artillery guns around us. I got a great surprise the other night, for I was just having a rest on the grass after having my tea when who stood in front of me but our Martin. I thought the heavens had opened, not expecting anything. He looks fine and is as big as a corporation horse, and I am sure he thought he was in Widnes again when all the Widnes fellows from our lot got talking to him. And he is quite an old soldier already, telling me what he did to the Germans when he went into the trenches. Well, things are very lively at present where we are, and before long something sensational is coming off. I am longing for another sight of dear old Widnes, but I am afraid it will be a bit longer, but never mind, everything will come in its turn and I hope before long to be in it again".

James was killed in action on 01^st July 1916 near Montauban. Having been wounded in the early exchanges he was receiving medical attention from Serjeant James Vincent Carr, also from Widnes, when a shell exploded nearby killing James instantly. 

20^th Battalion Diary

Maricourt

Zero Hour 7.30am. After 65 minutes intensive bombardment the Battalion advanced to the attack of the German trenches. The Battalion advanced in four lines each of the two leading Companies on a frontage of 2 platoons – No’s 1 & 2 Companies (in that order from the right) leading. No.3 Company in the 3^rd wave. No.4 Company in the 4^th wave. There being a distance of about 100 yards between each line. The lines advanced through the enemy’s artillery fire as though on parade in quick time. The leading waves went on without a pause to Alt Trench and Casement Trench which were secured at (time not stated) am. The casualties up to this being small. Our barrage lifting Dublin Trench (the 1^st Objective) was captured and consolidation immediately proceeded with. Captain Whiting with the 3^rd wave entrenching about 150 yards in the rear. Captain Robinson was wounded and No.2 Company was commanded during the day by Lt C P Moore. Casualties up to now were killed 2 officers – 1 wounded and 49 other ranks casualties killed and wounded. At 11.50 am orders were received for the assault of the Briqueterie. The Battalion operation orders for this were issued from NW of Germans Wood. Our barrage lifted at 12,30 pm and No. 4 Company under Captain E C Orford assisted by a section of bombers under 2^nd Lt Baker who went up Nord Alley and Chimney Trench to secure his left flank, who had got right forward under cover of the fire of our guns rushed it almost without opposition. On the far side a party of the enemy were found in deep dug-outs. They brough a machine gun into action and some close fighting ensued in which Lt Gooch and Lt Williams were wounded. Opposition was however speedily overcome and the garrison consisting of the H.Q. of a Regt, one Colonel and 4 other officers – 40 rank and file, 2 machine guns together with maps, orders, documents and material fell into our hands. Steps were immediately taken for consolidating the ground won, which however owing to the destruction wrought by our “heavies” was a matter of great difficulty, what had been trenches being almost unrecognisable as such and the earth so pulverised that cover could only be made by aid of sandbags. The garrison was heavily shelled through the afternoon and most of the night and casualties were many. Battalion H.Q. were at the junction of Glatz Alley and Casement Trench north west of Germans Wood and this together with Dublin Trench received considerable attention from enemy guns. Casualties during the day 2 officers killed (2^nd Lts F Barnes and JC Laughlin) and 3 wounded (Captain H H Robinson, Lt S Gooch and 2^nd Lt F J Williams). 75 other ranks killed and wounded.

His death was reported in the Runcorn Weekly News on Friday 25^th August 1916: 

SHIPPING CLERK’S DEATH 

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 01^st 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.”

The Serjeant who was treating James when he was killed, was James Vincent Carr who survived the war, and later received the Distinguished Conduct Medal. He lived to the age of 90 and died in Woolton, Liverpool. 

James is also commemorated on the war memorial in St Bede’s Roman Catholic Church, Appleton Village, Widnes.

The subject of James' letter was his younger brother, Martin, who enlisted in the 11^th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment in May 1915, falsely giving his age as 19 years 5 months, his occupation as chemical worker and his home address as 25 Midland Street, Widnes. He served as Private 21625 arriving in France on 16^th March 1916 and died of his wounds in Belgium on 26^th June 1917, aged 19 when his Battalion was engaged on pioneer work in preparation for the offensive.

Martin now rests at XV D 8, in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"R.I.P"