Cpl 16763 William Thomas Allmark

• Age: 20
• From: Anfield, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 23rd April 1917
• Commemorated at: Arras Memorial
  Panel Ref: Bay 3

William Thomas was born in Liverpool in 1896 the son of William Owen Allmark and his wife Emily Jane (nee Smith). He was baptised on 21st September 1896.

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 21 Bala Street, Walton. His father is a tinsmith born in Chester whilst his mother was born in Liverpool.

His mother died in 1907 aged 33.

By the time of the 1911 Census his father has remarried to Elizabeth and they live together with William at 56 Sedley Street, Liverpool. William now 14 is employed as a Clerk. 

He enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 01st September 1914 joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16763. He gave his age as 19 years and 20 days (exaggerated by 1 year) and his occupation as a Cotton Sampleman. He is described as being 5'5 inches tall and weighed 124lbs. He had a 37 inch chest, a sallow complexion and had grey eyes and brown hair. 

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 was hospitalised with Tonsillitis from 17/07- 30/07/1915 whilst in training at Belton Park.

He sailed to France with his Pals arriving on 07/11/1915. 

He suffered a Gunshot Wound to his back on 12th August 1916 but resumed his duties on 16th August. He then had a bout of Trench foot from 21st  -30th October 1916.

He was made Acting Lance Corporal on 04th December 1916,. He had a period of leave in the UK from 02nd -14th January 1917.

He was then made paid Lance Corporal on 07th April 1917. Two days later he was wounded in the opening phase of the Battle of Arras. He resumed duty on 10th April 1917 when he was also made Acting Corporal. 

William was initially declared as missing on 23rd April 1917. He was subsequently ( on 05/05/17) declared as killed in action on 23/04/1917, aged 20.

His body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as his name is recorded on the Arras Memorial in France. 

The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Both cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on the 31 July 1932 (originally it had been scheduled for 15 May, but due to the sudden death of French President Doumer, as a mark of respect, the ceremony was postponed until July).

A newspaper report in the Lpool Evening Express 17th August 1917 reported his death

Corpl. W.Allmark, King's Liverpool Regt., aged 20, was killed in action on April 23rd,1917. He lived with his parents at 9,Vienna-street, Liverpool, and was employed by Hooper and Co., Cotton Exchange.  

His father received his effects on 17th December 1917 at his home at 9 Vienna Street, Everton.

William Thomas is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Richmond Baptist Church in Everton 

Liverpool Cotton Association.

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