Pte 22656 Henry Connor

• Age: 26
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 1st August 1917
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Cemetery
  Panel Ref: LXV.G.18

Henry Connor was born in the June quarter of 1891 in Liverpool, the son of John William Connor and his wife Margaret Anne (nee Mackey).

On the 1901 census the family are at 53 St Domingo Road, Everton. His father, John, is a 43 year old woodwork manager, born in Liverpool in 1858 , mother Margaret A. is 44, she was also born in Liverpool in 1857. They have six children in the household, all born in Liverpool; John W. 23 woodworker, Margaret A. 19 sewing machinist, Theresa 17 sewing machinist, Ada 11, Henry 9, George 7. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 41 Lavan Street, Everton, Liverpool. His father John is aged 53, and is a wood sawyer. His wife Margaret aged 54. They have been married for 33 years and have had ten children of which four have sadly died. Those declared in the household on the Census are; Henry aged 19,  an apprentice compositor at a printers and George aged 17, born 1894 is an apprentice painter.

Henry enlisted on the 09^th November, 1914 in Liverpool, joining the 20th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 22656. He gave his age as 23 years and seven months and his occupation as printer. He was described as being five feet four inches tall, weighed 112lbs, had a sallow complexion, brown eyes, brown hair and gave his religion as Roman Catholic.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th 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. 

Following his enlistment Henry married Dorothy Mary Linnett on the 06^th April 1915. Henry's address was given as 34 Fishguard Street, Everton, and Dorothy's as 18 Compton Street, Everton.

His service papers show: 

08.06.15: Whilst at Grantham he was absent from 08.00am to 08.30pm 07.06.15- Confined to barracks for five days and forfeit one days pay.

10.08.15: Whilst at Grantham absent from 10.00pm to 3.30pm 08.08.15- Admonished.

05.10.15: Absent from 10:00pm, 02.10.15 to 10.20pm, 03.10.15- 4 days confined to barracks and forfeit two days pay.

07.11.15 Arrived in France.

25.05.16. Fell out on march, to Field Ambulance.

25.05.16: To C.C.S exhaustion.

29.05.16: Discharged to duty.

19-29.01.17: Granted leave in UK.

He was serving in the 20th Battalion (No 3 Company) when he was killed in action on the 01st August 1917, aged 26, during the Third Battle of Ypres.

The 20th Battalion diary gives details of the circumstances that the Battalion found themselves in during the early phases of the 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). Having taken part in the initial fighting of 31st July 1917 there is a general write up in relation to the period 01st -08th August and specifics solely from the 03rd August. As such it is impossible to say exactly how each of the men who fell on 01st or 2nd August met their death.

20^th Battalion Diary 01^st August – 08^th August

The Battalion continued to hold the position taken up on the morning of 31^st July. After the first day the weather was very wet and the going very difficult, but the men’s spirits remained wonderfully good. From time to time there was very heavy enemy shelling and in addition to this machine guns and snipers were very active. The work of communication was extremely difficult and the wires to Companies and to Battalions on our flanks were repeatedly cut and were only kept going by most excellent work by our linesmen, who suffered very heavy casualties as also did the runners. 

His wife Dorothy was awarded a pension of 13/9 for herself with effect from 25.02.18.

Henry now rests at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Belgium. 

Tyne Cot Cemetery is located in an area which was known as the Ypres Salient where Commonwealth, French, Belgian and German forces fought almost continuously throughout the First World War.

In 1917, British forces launched the Third Battle of Ypres, which raged from July to November. Forces from the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa fought to push the Germans off the low ridges that dominate the area. On 4 October 1917, during the phase known as the Battle of Passchendaele, the 3rd Australian Division captured a group of German Bunkers on the ridge below the village of Passchendaele.

One of these bunkers was unusually large and was used as an advanced dressing station after its capture. From 6 October 1917 to the end of March 1918, 343 graves were made, on two sides of it, by the 50th (Northumbrian) and 33rd Divisions, and by two Canadian units. The cemetery was in German hands again from 13 April to 28 September, when it was finally recaptured, with Passchendaele, by the Belgian Army.

Tyne Cot Cemetery was greatly enlarged after the Armistice when remains were brought in from the battlefields of Passchendaele and Langemarck, and from a few small burial grounds.

Soldiers Effects to widow Dorothy, Pension to Dorothy Connor(later Richards), 15 Compton Streer, Everton.

Family trees indicate that his father died in 1922 in Vancouver B.C.

His widow remarried in 1927 to Edward Richards. They had two children; John, born in 1929 and Harry born in 1931.   

Henry is also commemorated on Our Lady of Immaculate Conception R.C. Church, Everton.

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