Pte 15072 James George Byrne

• Age: 20
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 16th February 1916
• Commemorated at: Cerisy-gailly Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.G.23

James George Byrne was born on the 11th June 1895 at Liverpool and was baptised on the  01st July 1895 at St. Francis Xavier's R.C. Church Liverpool, he was the son of Sylvester Byrne and his wife Letitia (nee McLelland) who had married on the 08th February 1892 at St Peter's Church, Liverpool.

His father was born Burns, which matches his first marriage registered in 1870 when he married a girl whose surname was Lynskey. At the time of his second marriage to Letitia McLelland at St Peter's Church in Liverpool in 1892, his name was still registered as Burns. However, both James George and his younger brother Sylvester were registered as BYRNE. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 20 Kemble Street, Liverpool. James' father Sylvester is aged 30, born 1871 in Liverpool, his occupation recorded as a cotton porter  His wife Letitia is aged 33, born 1868 in London.  They have two children James aged 5, born 1896 and Sylvester aged 3 born 1898, both being born in Liverpool. They also have Mary E O’Donnell, aged 17 also living at the address.

Letitia died in 1907 and Sylvester married again on 21st November 1910 to Mary Josephine Kerrigan. They had a child, Thomas Francis who was born in 1915.

The 1911 Census shows Sylvester Byrnes, a Turf Commission Agent and his wife Josephine living at 42 Sheil Road. There are no children resident at the property, however there is a domestic servant listed; Margaret Egan an 18 year old girl.  

James enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 15072.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th 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 arrived in France on 07^th November 1915 thereby earning all three medals.

On 16^th February 1916 he was killed in action by shellfire, aged 20.

James was initally buried at Maricourt Military Cemetery, however, after the war when graves were concentrated, his body was exhumed and he now rests at Cerisy-Gailly Cemetery in Grave II G 23, France where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"REST IN PEACE"

Gailly was the site of the 39th and 13th Casualty Clearing Stations during the early part of 1917, and of the 41st Stationary Hospital from May 1917 to March 1918. The villages were then captured by the Germans, but were retaken by the Australian Corps in August 1918. Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery (originally called the New French Military Cemetery) was begun in February 1917 and used by medical units until March 1918. After the recapture of the village it was used by Australian units. The cemetery was increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of the Somme including:  MARICOURT MILITARY CEMETERY was at the South-East corner of the village, on the road to Clery. It was begun by French troops in December, 1914, and was known to the French by the name of Ferme Caudron. It was taken over by British troops in August, 1915, and used until July, 1916. It contained the graves of 887 French soldiers, 260 from the United Kingdom and six German. The cemetery now contains 745 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 114 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate five casualties buried at Maricourt and Ste. Helene whose graves could not be found. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 25th February 1916:

ONE OF THE "PALS."

Official news has been received of the death of Private J. G. Byrne of the 17th Service Battalion (the 1st "Pals"), who was killed by shell fire in France. He was 20 years of age, and joined shortly after the outbreak of war, being drafted to France last November. He resided with his parents at 42 Sheil Road, Kensington, Liverpool. A letter from the commanding officer, expressing his own sympathy and that of the officers N.C.O.'s and men of a company, says:- "He was in my company from the very beginning, and was one of the very best fellows in the world, always cheerful and doing his best to keep up the spirits of his comrades. He was respected and loved by all who knew him". Deepest sympathy goes to Mr and Mrs Byrne from a wide circle of friends.

Soldiers Effects to father Sylvester, Pension to father Sylvester and brother serving soldier Sylvester Joseph who served as Pte #3470 2/5 KLR and #201204 12/KLR, attested 15th Feb 1915, address 42 Sheil Rd, Fairfield

His father died in the December quarter of 1937.

James George is also commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 53.

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