Cpl 16773 George Clare

• Age: 24
• From: Walton, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

16773 Corporal George CLARE, 18^th Battalion, KLR.

George Clare was born in Walton, Liverpool on 05th October 1891, rthe son of George Clare and his wife Esther (nee Garlick) who were married in 1879 at St Philemon's Church, Toxteth. He was baptised on the 18^th October 1891 at St Mary's Church, Walton-on-the-Hill. 

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 14 Elton Street, Walton. George is aged 9 and is living with his parents and five siblings. His father is a 52 year old marine engineer born in Seacombe, whilst his mother is 44 years of age and was born in Liverpool. George's five siblings, all born in Liverpool are listed as; Florence aged 16 and a cigar factory worker, Ann E. 14, Elsie 7, Henry 3 and Arthur 7 months.

By 1911 the family are living at 58 Stuart Road, Walton. George, now aged 19, is a provision clerk. Both parents are resident, his father George is aged 62, no occupation listed, whilst his mother Esther is aged 54 and was born in Everton. They advised that they have been married for 31 years and have had 9 children, eight of whom have survived. Five of George's siblings are also resident and declared as; Florence aged 26 and a drapery assistant, Annie 24 a dress maker, Elsie 17 a typist, Henry 13 at school, and Arthur 10 also at school.  

Prior to enlistment George worked as a salesman for Wragg Brothers.

George enlisted at St. George's Hall in Liverpool on 31^st August 1914, joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16773. He gave his age as 22 years 330 days, his occupation as salesman and his next of kin as his parents at 58 Stuart Road. He was described as being 5'10" tall, weighing 134lbs, a 36" chest and was of fresh complexion with grey eyes and brown hair. His religion was stated as Church of England.

On 9^th September 1914 he was appointed Lance Corporal (Paid).

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 served in France from 7^th November 1915. On 28^th January 1916 he was treated for a problem with his dentures before rejoining his unit. On 9^th February 1916 he was promoted to Corporal and between 31^st of May and the 24^th June 1916 was attached to the 30^th District Grenade School.

On 1^st July 1916, George was killed in action during the attack at Montauban.

18^th Battalion Diary:

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 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.”