Pte 34591 Arthur Clough

• Age: 26
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Arthur Clough was born in Liverpool on 23rd February 1890, and baptised 23rd April 1890 at St. Anthanasius, Kirkdale. He was the son of Frederick and Marion Clough (nee Clark) who had been married in February 1879. Frederick was born in Fangfoss, Yorkshire (near York) and Marion in Govan, Glasgow, Scotland. In the 1880s his father had been a licensed victualler, but by the time of Arthur's baptism he was employed as a coppersmith's assistant.

His parents had seven children; Arthur had older siblings Frederick William, Robert Aske, Thomas Henry, and Marion, and younger brothers John Walker and Harold.

At the time of the 1891 census the family were living at 18 Chancel Street, Kirkdale. Arthur was 1 years old, and his siblings were: Frederick aged 11, Robert aged 10, Thomas aged 8 and Marion aged 5. Their mother Marion was 36, and their father Frederick was aged 35 (his age varies on censuses; he was born in 1852 so he would have been 37) and worked as a coppersmiths assistant. Living with the family also was Marion’s parents Thomas and Marion who were both in their early 70s.

The couple had two more children, John in 1894 and Harold in 1897.

His father, Frederick, died in April 1899, aged 46. The coroner's report published in the Liverpool newspapers tells a sad story:

"Another Case of Carbolic Acid Poisoning. - Into the circumstances attending the death of Frederick Clough, 46 years old, who resided at 18, Chancel Street. It appeared that the deceased had been formerly employed as a railway guard, but for some time he had been unable to obtain any constant employment. This fact, in combination with illness in his home, led to great depression. Last Friday he went out of his house to look for work, and returned in the afternoon, evidently having had some drink during his absence. After hanging his coat up on his return to the house, he went to the scullery, and afterwards, on coming to the kitchen, he said: 'It's done now; the bottle is on the back kitchen table.' This bottle was subsequently found to have contained carbolic acid. He was immediately removed to the Stanley Hospital, where, notwithstanding all the efforts made to counteract the effects of the poison, he died the same evening. - Mr. Sampson, in view of the circumstances of the case, again said that the ease with which carbolic acid could be purchased was something surprising, and expressed an earnest hope that the Legislature would speedily devise some means by which restrictions should be placed upon the sale of this direful poison. - The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased committed suicide whilst temporarily insane."

Marion was left with four children under the age of 14; Arthur was eight, and the youngest, Harold, only one year old.

Arthur's name appears on the list of applicants to the Bluecoat School in June 1900, when he was 10 years old.

The 1901 census shows the widowed Marion still living at 18 Chancel Street with five of her seven children. Marion and Harold are at home, Robert is working as an assistant in a cigarette department and Thomas as a public baths attendant. The eldest son Frederick has emigrated to Canada and will subsequently serve in the Canadian Army. Young Arthur is found on the census recorded as an inmate and scholar at The Blue Coat Hospital Home and School for Boys and Girls. The 11 year old Arthur is one of 324 children living at the home, along with 17 live in staff, which included teachers and servants.

After leaving school in May 1904 he was apprenticed to W.& R. Jacob & Co., 286 Scotland Road (Jacob's Biscuits).

Arthur’s brother Robert married in 1907, and by the 1911 census is living in Anfield with his wife and 2 year old son.

Arthur is back living at home in Chancel Street with his mother, now aged 57 and the rest of his siblings. Arthur, aged 27, is working as a clerk in a ship brokers, Thomas 28, as a cotton warehouseman and John 17, as a clerk for a ship owner. His sister Marion aged 25 is at home with her mother, and Harold, aged 13 is at school. The family are at the same address.

Arthur enlisted in Liverpool in about December 1915, joining the 17th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 34591. 

He was killed in action on the 30th July 1916, aged 26, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

17th Battalion Diary 30th July 1916

The Battalion was in support to 19 & 20 Battalions K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.

Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.

Casualties in the 17th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks

Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917

The 17th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions) in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55th Division during the early hours of the 31st July. 

The events of 30th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.

Like so many of his Pals, Arthur was originally listed as Missing. His anxious family appealed for information about him in the Liverpool Courier on 22nd August 1916.

Private A.Clough (34591) of the "Pals," was wounded on July 30th, in France, and his parents (sic), who reside at 17, Rydal-street, Everton, would be glad to receive any information from any of his comrades as to his whereabouts.

Notices were also placed in the local press on the following days, including in the Liverpool Echo on 29th August 1916:

"Arthur Clough (27) [sic], only [sic] son of Mrs. Clough, 17, Rydal Street, Everton, Liverpool. Any information concerning him will be gratefully received at the address given."

He was still reported wounded and missing in the Liverpool Daily Post on 28th September 1916: 

Previously Reported Wounded, 

Now Reported Wounded and Missing. 

King’s (Liverpools) - Clough, 24591, A.; 

Arthur's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

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.”

Soldiers Effects and Pension to his mother Marion.

His outstanding Army pay and a War Gratuity of £3 went to his mother Marion, who was awarded a pension of 8 shillings a week from July 1917 (the pension card shows his battalion as the 21st).

His brother, Frederick, attested in August 1915 in Toronto, giving his occupation as steward. He served as a Sergeant in the 83rd Battalion C.E.F. A physical exam records poor physique, anaemic, under chest measurement, emaciated, fit for base duty on the 20th May 1915 in Toronto, a steward born 23rd May 1879, NOK mother Marion, 17 Rydal St, Liverpool, and declared fit. He arrived in Liverpool in May 1916 and was based at the C.E.F. camp in West Sandling in Kent. He was hospitalised with chronic bronchitis and returned to Canada, sailing from Liverpool, in November 1917. He spent more time in hospital in Canada and was discharged in April 1918 to Class III as physically unfit.

Thomas attested in December 1915 with the K.L.R., was mobilised in June 1916, and posted to the 68th Training Reserve Battalion. He was discharged in September 1916 as not likely to become an efficient soldier on medical grounds (vascular disease of the heart).

Harold also enlisted in the K.L.R. on 18th July 1916 giving his age as 19 when in fact he was 18 years old. He was transferred to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and served in the Eastern Theatre with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in the Corps of Military Police. He was discharged in June 1919.

Their mother suffered further loss when her only daughter Marion died in 1920 at the age of 34.

Their mother Marion died in 1927 aged 73.

Arthur is commemorated on the following memorials:

St. Mary with St. Athanasius Parishioners, Kirkdale

Liverpool's Hall of Remembrance, Panel 8 Right (21st Bn.)

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