Pte 37054 Thomas Campion

• Age: 38
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 28th March 1918
• Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
  Panel Ref: P21-23

Thomas Campion was born in the September Quarter of 1879 and was the son of James Campion and his wife Mary (nee Malloy) who married on the 04th April 1875 in Donaghmore, Co. Queens. 

The 1881 Census shows the family living at 1, Princes Walk 2 Court, Liverpool. Thomas' father James is aged 26, born in Ireland in 1855 is a dock labourer, whilst his mother, Mary is aged 26, born 1855 in Ireland and has no occupation listed.  At the time of the Census they have two children, Mary aged 4, born 1877 and Thomas aged 1, born 1880, both were born in Liverpool. They also have two lodgers living with them, William Thompson aged 32, born 1849 in Ireland and he is a dock labourer and Eliza Simpson aged 55, born 1826 and she is a flour mill hand and she was born in Ireland.

The 1891 Census shows the family living in Bootle. His father, James, is aged 36, and his wife Mary is also aged 36. They have five sons living with them at the time of the Census, Thomas aged 11, James aged 8, George aged 6, Robert aged 4 and John aged 1.

The 1901 Census shows Thomas boarding with the Lawler family at 1, Beaufort Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. The head of the household is John Lawler aged 49, born 1852 and he is employed as an engine maker/turner and was born in Ireland as was his wife Mary also aged 49. They have two children, both born in Liverpool, Edward aged 21, born 1890 employed as a dock labourer and Madelaine aged 20, born 1891 who has no occupation listed. Thomas Campion is a boarder aged 21 and he is employed as a locomotive engine driver. Thomas' family are living at 99 Stanhope Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool.

His father, James, died between 1901 and 1911 but no positive death record can be found, he disappears from the electoral register in 1902 at 99 Stanhope St, a beerhouse.

The 1911 Census shows Thomas living with his family at 246 Derby Road Bootle. The head of the household is the mother Mary, a widow aged 57, born 1854 and she is a milk dealer. She advises that she had been married for 36 years and had 11 children 6 of whom have survived. She was born in 1854 in Tullamore, Co.Offaly, She has four sons living with her, Thomas now aged 32, is a ships boiler scaler, James aged 28 is a pawnbroker salesman, George aged 26 is a carpenter’s labourer and John aged 21 is a bookkeeper. She also has her grand-daughter Julianna Hyland aged 14 and she is a domestic servant.

He enlisted in Seaforth, Liverpool and was serving in the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 37054 when he was killed in action on the 28^th March, 1918 during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion Diary gives an insight into the chaotic events of the day

28^th March

At about 6am the enemy commenced to shell heavily the whole of the forward line and brought Trench Mortars and Machine Guns into action.

FOLIES was shelled and the area in the rear of the village as far back as LE QUESNEL.

Rations were received at dawn and parties were organised to carry them to the Companies on the right. Owing to the heavy fire, however, it was not possible to get them up.

Heavy fighting was in progress on the right from soon after dawn and at 8am the enemy was reported to be in possession of BOUCHOIR and progressing towards the BEETROOT FACTORY. About 10am  the 59^th Infy Brigade was notified that it was relieved by the French and the Battalions of that Brigade were at once withdrawn in the direction of LE QUESNEL.

At noon the enemy was bombarding the village and vicinity heavily and reports were received that he was in occupation of WARVILLERS on the left and ARVILLERS on the right.

The front line East of FOLIES continued to resist until about 2pm when the order was received from the 89^th Infy Brigade to the effect that the Battalions were relieved by the French and would withdraw at once to MEZIERES, where the men would be fed. Companies withdrew under some shelling and very heavy M.G. and rifle fire from the left , through K10 -K3 – North side LE QUESNEL to the main ROYE road and reorganised about D.29 c. The march from this point was conducted in good order despite the congested roads.

At MEZIERES it was decided to continue a rearward movement and the march was resumed via VILLERS-MOREUIL – MORISEL – ROUVREL, which village was reached about 7pm and the Battalion billeted. The men had marched 13 miles from the left position in good order and with practically no straggling. They were exhausted on arrival at ROUVREL, but in good heart.

Echelon ‘A’ of the Transport joined the Battalion at this village and the men were fed immediately on arrival. The night passed without incident.  

Thomas' body  was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial.

The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.

The cemetery and memorial were designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, with sculpture by Laurence A. Turner. The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930.

Soldiers Effects and Pension went to his mother Mary. 

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