Pte 16888 William Byrne

• Age: 21
• From: Birkenhead, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Sunday 2nd July 1916
• Commemorated at: Dive Copse B C, Sailly-le-sec
  Panel Ref: I.A.27

16888 Pte William Byrne, 18^th Battn KLR.

William Byrne was born on the 20th August 1894 in Birkenhead the third child and eldest son of Stephen Byrne, and his wife, Zilla Maria (nee Beever). His parents married in 1889 inn Coventry. 

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 53 Grange Road West, Birkenhead. William is 6 years of age and is living with his parents and 5 siblings. His father, Stephen, is shown as a 37 year old butcher born in Birkenhead, whilst his mother, Zilla, is 35 years of age and was born in Coventry. His siblings are listed as; Edith A. aged 10, Florence aged 8, Zilla aged 5, Stephen aged 3 and Edward aged 6 months. There is also a servant listed in the household.

The family are still at the same address in 1911. William is now 16 years of age and is a clerk for a leather merchant. Both parents are in the household and declare that they have been married for 22 years and have had 7 children one of whom, Edward, has sadly died. There are 5 siblings present in the household; Edith Agnes aged 20 and a typist for a clothing manufacturer, Florence, aged 18 and a telephonist with a national telephone company, Zilla aged 15, Stephen F. aged 13 and Robert aged 8.    

William was educated at Birkenhead Higher Elementary School. He was also a member of the congregation at St Laurence’s Roman Catholic Church.

On 02nd September 1914, William enlisted at St George's Hall, Liverpool, joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16888. He was aged 20 years and 13 days, giving his occupation as clerk with Messrs. George Angus and Company, Liverpool leather merchants and his next of kin as his father, Stephen, of 53 Grange Road West. He was described as being 5' 6" tall, weight 126lbs, 35” chest, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair. He stated his religion as Roman Catholic. 

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 crossed to France with his Battalion on board the SS Invicta on the 07^th November 1915.

During the attack at Montauban on the 01^st July 1916, whilst part of 11 Platoon, he was shot in the abdomen and despite treatment at 96 Field Ambulance he died of his wounds on 02nd July 1916.

The 18^th Battalion Diary describes the events of the day:

At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great spirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks.

Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:

As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.  

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter wrote in the conclusion of his account of the days action:

I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:

“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”.    

Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18^th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257. 

The Liverpool Daily Post  of 14th September 1916 reported:

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED WOUNDED, NOW REPORTED DIED OF WOUNDS

King's Liverpool Regiment - Byrne, 16888, W. (Birkenhead).

William now rests at Dive Copse British Cemetery, France. 

Dive Copse Cemetery, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, is 13 miles southwest of Guillemont.  In June 1916, before the Somme offensive, the ground north of the cemetery was chosen for a concentration of field ambulances, which became the XIV Corps Main Dressing Station.  Dive Copse was a small wood close by, under the Bray-Corbie road, named after the officer commanding this station. Plots I and II were filled with burials from these medical units between July and September 1916.  Plot III contains the graves of 77 men who died in August 1918 as well as graves brought in from scattered sites and small cemeteries in the area.  The cemetery now contains 589 burials and commemorations of the First World War, 29 of which are unidentified but there are special memorials to 10 casualties known to be buried among them.  

On the 13^th July, his mother wrote to the Records Office at Preston asking for any news of her son, Private W. Byrne, 11^th Platoon, 18^th Battalion KLR, saying:

”I have heard from an unofficial source that he was wounded last week on the Somme. If you could let me know anything of his whereabouts or the nature of his wounds I should be so thankful”.

On 18^th July, the family sent a telegram asking for any news of Private Byrne, 2^nd Pals”.

William is commemorated on the Birkenhead War Memorial, Hamilton Square, Birkenhead.  

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