Pte 52804 Harry Abrahams

• Age: 20
• From: Broughton, Manchester
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 12th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Harry’s Grandparents Moses and Rachel Abrahams were migrant Russian Jews who moved to Prestwich, Manchester in the mid-1860s. Moses was by profession a photographer and this would be in the early days of photography. They had four children born in Manchester after their arrival there. Their second child was a son, Levi Abrahams, born there in the September quarter of 1870. He was also known as Louis or Lewis he became a merchant in cotton goods.

In the December Quarter of 1892 Louis married Sarah Rebecca Simon also sometimes recorded as Simons. They married in Leeds which was Sarah’s home but they lived at 15 Broughton Terrace, Prestwich, Manchester and it was here in the June quarter of 1896 that their second child Harold Abrahams was born. He had and older sister Beatrice Abrahams born 1893 and a younger brother Alfred Abrahams born 1902.

On the 1901 census the family are living at 13 Broughton St, Cheetham, Manchester. His father, Louis, is aged 30, a job & tent merchant who was born in Manchester, and his wife Sarah aged 28 born in Leeds, they have two children Beatrice aged 7 and Harold 5 both born in Manchester. Also present are Louis’ brother Maurice aged 29 and family.

The Kelly's Trade Directory for 1905 shows Louis Abrahams at 26 Sussex Road, Southport.

As per his self-completion of the 1911 Census the familuy are now living at 19 Chambres Road, Southport. Louis lists himself still a cotton merchant, his wife Sarah, together with his children, 15 year old scholar Harold and 9 year old scholar Alfred. Presumably 18 year old daughter Beatrice was recorded somewhere else away from home. Also living with Louis and Sarah was his younger brother Benjamin Abrahams also a cotton merchant.

Harry was educated at the Modern School in Southport and prior to enlisting he was working in the business; Messrs. R. Abrahams and sons based at 84 Mosley Street, Manchester.

In late 1914 Harold aged 18 appears to have enlisted locally in Southport, under the name Harry Abrahams rather than his full birth name Harold.

His attestation papers and medals cards have survived and we know that he joined the 17th Battalion of The Kings Liverpool Regiment as Private 52804. This was part of the 89th Brigade and after training the 17th was sent to France, alongside the other 3 Battalions of the Liverpool Pals.

In October 1916 Harry and his Battalion took part in The Battle of Flers which was part of The Battle of Le Transloy.

On 12th October 1916 at Zero hour 2.5 p.m. he and his 17th Pals Battalion went over the top into No Man’s Land.

"The extreme left of the 17th found the Enemy's barbed wire uncut, which held up the progress of the assaulting troops, during which hostile machine gun fire took a heavy toll of the attackers, who were because of the lay of the land silhouetted, making them easy targets and they finally forced back to their original trenches!

Generally, the attack was an utter failure, largely caused by the skill which the Enemy employed his machine guns.
These had not been put out of action by our Artillery Barrage that morning, because of the Mud, they could not be brought forward enough distance and were firing short onto our own troops. During the afternoon the supporting Battalion, the 20th Pals Kings arrived and preceded to consolidate the small gain of some 150 yards taken by some of the 17th Btn who were relieved by Pals 19th and 20th Btn’s during the night of the 12th/13th October 1916"

Their Losses had been very heavy:-

6 Officers and 38 Other Ranks were Killed in Action that afternoon including 20 year old Harry Abrahams.

Also 5 other Officers and 225 Other Ranks were Wounded or Missing.

Harry’s body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial at Pier and Face 1 D 8B and BC.

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.”

His death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on 30^th October 1916: 

SOUTHPORT CASUALTIES 

Private H. Abrahams, K.L.R., formerly of Chambres Road, Southport; 

A further local newspaper reported the following:

PRIVATE H. ABRAHAMS

(Killed in Action.)

Private Harry Abrahams of the King's( Liverpool Regiment), son of Mr. and Mrs. Abrahams, 26 Broom -street, Broughton Park, Manchester, formerly of 19, Chambres-road, Southport, was, we regret to announce, killed in action 12th inst. The deceased soldier joined the King's in August 1914, but had been in France only three months. He was educated at the Modern School, Southport, and previous to enlisting was engaged in his father's business - Messrs. R Abrahams and son, 84 Mosley street, Manchester. He was well known locally.      

The UK Army Register of Soldiers Effects are the only Military Record surviving for Harry Abrahams. It shows, sadly, that they sent 8 Shillings and 9 Pence to his father Louis a year later in November 1917 from the Preston Depot.

A War Gratuity W5070 was authorized on 09th July 1919.

His mother, Sarah, died aged 56, in 1930 and his father, died aged 67, on the 18^th April 1938. 

Probate:- 

ABRAHAM Louis oF 30 Vernon Court, Hendon Way London N.W.2 died 18 April 1938 at St Andrews Hospital Dollis Hill London N.W.2 Administration Manchester 19 May to Alfred Abrahams cotton merchants. Effects £148 19s 6d. 

Grateful thanks are extended to Alan Chapman for the detailed biography

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