Pte 32807 James Alfred Carmichael

• Age: 31
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 12th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Peronne Rd Cem Maricourt
  Panel Ref: I.G.9

James Alfred was born in Liverpool on the 02nd April 1885 the son of John Wilson Carmichael and his wife Mary Jane who had married in 1866. 

James was baptised on the 03rd May 1885 at St Saviour's C.of E. Church, Liverpool. His father's occupation is shown as a Custom's House Officer and the family address is given as 10 Miriam Road, Liverpool. 

The 1891 Census finds the family living at Walton Breck Road. James Alfred is 6 years of age and is living with his parents and 10 siblings. His father is described as a Custom's officer born in Northumberland in 1843, whilst his mother was born in Durham in 1849. It appears that his father's work had taken the family around the Country, as their first two children were born in Durham; Jane Ann b.1869 and John Wilson b.1870. Their next two children were born in Ipswich, Suffolk; Louisa b.1872 and William Robert b.1874. Their daughter Elizabeth was born in Dublin in 1876. The next four children were born when the family returned to Durham; Isabella b.1878, Mary b.1880, Emily b.1882, Charles Henry b.1884. Both James Alfred and Beatrice Feodore b.1889 were born in Liverpool.

He was enrolled at St Margaret's Church of England school in 1899 

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 17 Priory Road, Anfield. His father is aged 58 and is employed as a surveyor with H. M. Customs, his mother is 52 years of age. James is now 15 years of age and lives with seven of his siblings; Jane Ann aged 32, Louisa aged 29, Elizabeth aged 25, Isabella aged 23, Mary aged 21 and employed as a milliner, Emily aged 19 also employed as a milliner and B. Feodore aged 12.   

By the time of the 1911 Census the family have moved across the River Mersey to 69 Martin's Lane, Liscard, Cheshire. Both parents are present, his father is now a 68 year old pensioned custom's officer, his mother is 62 years of age. James is now 26 and a brewery clerk. He has four sisters living at home; Isabella aged 33, Mary aged 31, Emily aged 29 and still a milliner and Beatrice Feodore, aged 22.

He enlisted in Liverpool joining the 17th Battalion as Private 32807.

He was killed in action, aged 31, on 12th July 1916 during the action at Trones Wood.

He now lies in Peronne Road Cemetery, Maricourt, France.

The murderous fighting that went on inside Trones Wood rendered it impossible to put specific dates on some of the casualties which is why many of the 17^th Battalion losses have been bracketed as killed in action between 10^th – 12th July 1916. The conditions are best described in the following passage from Everard Wyrall’s book The History of The King’s Regiment (Liverpool) Volume II. 

The remembrance of Trones Wood in July 1916 to those who passed through it is of a noisome, horrible place, of a tangled mass of trees and undergrowth which had been tossed and flung about in frightful confusion by the shells of both sides. Of the ghastly dead which lay about in all directions, and of DEATH, lurking in every hole and corner with greedy hands ready to snatch the lives of the unwary.  

The place was a Death trap, and although the attacks were made with great determination,  the presence of snipers who could not be detected and often fired into the backs of our men made the clearing of the wood impossible. 

His death was reported in the local press: 

Liscard "Pal" Killed;

"Mr and Mrs J.W. Carmichael, of 69, Martin's Lane, Liscard, have received official notification, that their fourth youngest son, Private James Alfred Carmichael (Liverpool "Pals") was killed in action on July 12th. No indication is given as to how the gallant soldier met his death. An erstwhile Shaw Street College boy, he was an enthusiastic harrier, though most of his successes were achieved on the Lancashire side of the Mersey. He frequently attended St. Mary's Church, Liscard". 

He now rests at Peronne Road Cemetery, Maricourt, France.

Maricourt was, at the beginning of the Battles of the Somme 1916, the point of junction of the British and French forces, and within a very short distance of the front line; it was lost in the German advance of March 1918, and recaptured at the end of the following August.

The Cemetery, originally known as Maricourt Military Cemetery No.3, was begun by fighting units and Field Ambulances in the Battles of the Somme 1916, and used until August 1917; a few graves were added later in the War, and at the Armistice it consisted of 175 graves which now form almost the whole of Plot I. It was completed after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from the battlefields in the immediate neighbourhood and from certain smaller burial grounds.

There are now 1348, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, 366 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 26 soldiers from the United Kingdom known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of three soldiers from the United Kingdom, buried in other cemeteries, whose graves could not be found.

The cemetery covers an area of 3,787 square metres and is enclosed on three sides by a low red brick wall.

His parents also placed an In Memoriam notice 13th July, 1917:  

CARMICHAEL - In loving remembrance of Private James A. Carmichael, Liverpool Pals, killed in action on the Somme July 12th 1916. The beloved and youngest son of Mr and Mrs J. W. Carmichael 69 Martin's Lane, Liscard. (Never forgotten by his Father, Mother and family)

Soldiers Effects to father John W. and sister Miss Jane A. 

James is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 10 Left

His mother, Mary, died in 1918, aged 69, and his father, John, died, aged 76, in 1919.

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