Pte 21808 Reuben Colton

• Age: 25
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Reuben Colton was born in Liverpool on 06th October 1890 and was baptised on 16th November 1890 in St Paul’s Church, Princes Park, Liverpool. His parents were George Rawding Colton and his wife Jane (nee Coultard). George was born in Moore, Cheshire, not far from Runcorn, and Jane born in Liverpool were married at Holy Trinity Church on 11th September 1883. George’s profession is carter. 

Reuben was the fourth of their seven children; he had older siblings John Rawding, George Franklin, and Emily, and younger siblings Harriet, Walter, and William Henry.

The 1891 Census finds Reuben is 6 months old and living at 20 Carter Street, Toxteth with his parents and siblings John aged 6, George 4 and Emily age 2.

Still at the same address, in the 1901 Census the 10 year old Reuben has three more siblings, Harriet aged 8, Walter 6 and William 3. His eldest brother John is working as a bricklayer and brother George is a greengrocers errand boy.

At the age of 20 on the 02nd January 1911 Reuben joins the Liverpool Police Force as P.C. 349"A", he leaves home and the 1911 census shows him lodging with another Policeman and his wife at 4 Cowley Road in Walton. 

Reuban Colton joined the Police Force on the 02nd January 1911 as Constable 349A. He joined the Army on the 29th November 1914.

In the 1911 Census the rest of his family, his parents, brothers John, George and William were living at 20 Barter Street. His younger siblings Harriet and Walter were staying with their grandmother a few doors away. His father and brother George both work as carters for Liverpool Health Com(mittee?).

His sister Emily married William Bramhall, a postman, in 1910 and they were living at Sandbeck Street.

There is a letter in his army records dated 21st November 1914 from the Head Constable at the Central Police Office in Liverpool stating:

The above named constable from this force has received my permission to enlist. He was appointed on 02nd January 1911 and is still serving. He had a good character when he came here and he still retains it.

A further memo dated 30th November 1914 from the Adjutant 3rd City Battalion, Kings Liverpool Regiment based in Knowsley to Captain Wilson R.O. Old Haymarket:

The bearer, R Colton, is desirous of joining this battalion. If he is satisfactory, will you please cause the necessary action to be taken and post him to this battalion.

Reuben enlisted on the 29th November 1914 at Liverpool joining the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 21808. He gave his age as 24 years and 40 days and occupation as a Police Constable. He was described as being six feet and a half inch tall, weighed 170lbs, 39” chest, with a fresh complexion, brown hair with a scar on his right knee. He gave his parents and brother John at 90 South Street (Princes Park) as his next of kin. He stated his religion as Church of England. 

On 03^rd December 1914 the 19th Battalion 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. 

Reuben was appointed as an unpaid Lance Corporal on the 04th March 1915 but three month later demoted on 28th June 1915 due to absence without leave.

He embarked for France from Folkestone and arrived on the 07th November 1915

He was killed in action on the 30th July 1916, aged 25, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

19^th Battalion Diary 30^th July 1916

MALTZ HORN FARM

BATTLE begun. ZERO hour 4:45 am. The Battalion reached its objective, but suffered heavy losses, and had to evacuate its position owing to no reinforcements.

Everard Wyrall gives details of the attack in his book The History of The King’s Regiment; 

"The 2nd Attack on Guillemont- 29th July 1916 the 89th Brigade the 20th King's were to attack on the right and the 19th on the left. During the evening of the 29th the night was dark and foggy when the Battalions moved off and the 19th with Lt Col G Rollo commanding, when passing the South east of the Briqueterie they were heavily shelled first with H E and then with a new kind of asphyxiating Gas shell which had curious results, at first it had no nasty effect but about 8 hrs later men began to fall sick with violent headaches and pains in the stomach. All ranks had to wear gas masks which in the darkness and mist made the going terribly difficult. It was indeed wonderful that they were able to reach their Assembly point at all. But they did and by 2.45 a.m. on the 30th July 1916 the Btn was assembled having suffered about 30 Casualties on the way up ready for the Zero hour at 4.45 a.m.

It is known that the two left Companies of the 19th under Capt. Dodd and Capt. Nicholson advanced in touch with the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on their left although they suffered many casualties from Machine gun Fire did not encounter many Germans and reached their final objective about the time allocated, beginning at once to dig in south of the orchard on the South east corner of Guillemont.  

On the left of the 19th the Scots Fusiliers most gallantly forced their way through Guillemont to the eastern side of the village but were soon overwhelmed by the enemy and few returned. 

At 8 a.m. finding that the village was not held the two left Companies of the 19th received no word from the rear or either flank believed themselves to be totally isolated so were forced to fall back and dig in, their position being untenable.

At midday the effective fighting strength of the 19th Btn was just 7 Officers and 43 other ranks" 

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th 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 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July.

Casualties in the 19^th Battalion were 11 Officers and 435 Other Ranks 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th 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. 

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme in France.

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.”

Reuben earned his three medals. His 1914-1915 Star was issued with the regimental number 21908, and returned for amendment.

His outstanding Army pay and a War Gratuity of £7 went to his mother Jane.

His parents received his medals and his Memorial Plaque and Scroll.

Reuben's family suffered the loss of three sons, and one son-in-law in less than two years. Reuben was the first son to lose his life  at Guillemont on 30th July 1916. 

His married sister Emily lost her husband Pte Charles Mondy 2636 A.I.F. 

Liverpool Evening Express - Thursday 19 July 1917 

MONDY— In loving memory of Charlie (Australian Lewis Gun) believed killed July 19, 1916.  

Farewell, dear husband, there is one 

That mourns you, yet she is here. 

(His wife and little “Anzac.” 90 South-street) 

His brother Gunner 185535 George F. Colton. R.G.A. died of wounds at Rouen Hospital on 25th September 1917, aged 30, and now rests at St.Sever Cemetery, Extension, Rouen where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"IN GOD'S OWN KEEPING"

Private. 3904 William Henry Colton 1st Welsh Guards, killed in action 08th March 1918, aged 20, he now rests at Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun where his headstone also bears the epitaph:

"IN GOD'S OWN KEEPING"

Pension cards appear to show that his father received a combined pension for all three sons of 15 shillings a week for life.

Liverpool Evening Express - Thursday 21 March 1918 

Condolences. 

COLTON - Mr and Mrs Colton wish to thank all relatives and friends for their kind letters and kind sympathy in their great sorrow - 90 South Street. 

In 1919 his parents, with Harriet, 26, and Walter, 24, were still at 90 South Street; Emily, 30, lived in 35 Cambria St, Kensington, Liverpool; and John, 34, was at 183 Upper Water St, Halifax, Nova Scotia. 

Reuben is commemorated on the following Memorials

St Anne's Street Police Station

Merseyside Police Memorial (now displayed in Merseyside Police HQ, Canning Place, Liverpool)

All three brothers are recorded in the Hall of Remembrance, at Liverpool Town Hall

Reuben’s mother Jane died in 1921, she now rests at Allerton Cemetery, Liverpool.

His father George died in 1931 at the age of 81. He rests alongside his wife at Allerton Cemetery, Liverpool.

Grateful thanks are extended to Neil Murphy for allowing us to use the photograph of Reuben now shown on the website.

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