Pte 23925 John Costello

• Age: 25
• From: Garston, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

John Costello was born in Garston, Liverpool in the March Qtr of 1891 to unmarried mother Margaret Costello. No baptism has been found. 

On the 1891 Census his 20 year old mother is living at 19 Hughes Street, Garston, with her own widowed mother Cecilia and her two sisters Catherine and Cecilia. 

Margaret married Peter Mallon in 1896. They had two daughters, Margaret and Norah. According to family trees Peter was the son of John and Catherine Mallon, born on the 7th Nov 1864 in Tynan, Armagh, Northern Ireland. 

Sadly his step-father Peter Mallon died early on the 06th May 1899 at the age of 35 in an accident at Garston Docks, when he was crushed by a 6-hundredweight drum of chemicals falling from a crane whilst being loaded into the hold of a ship. 

Liverpool Mercury - Wednesday 10 May 18  

FATALITY TO A DOCK LABOURER AT GARSTON.  

Mr. S. Brighouse, county coroner, held an inquest on Monday at the Blackburne Arms, Garston, into the circumstances attending the death of Peter Mallon, a dock labourer, who resided in Hughes-street, Garston. Mr. W. T. Husband appeared for the relatives of the deceased, Mr. Bland represented the London and North-western Railway Company, and Inspector M'Keand watched the proceedings on behalf of the police. The deceased was employed at the Garston Old Dock, belonging to the London and North- western Railway Company, loading a steamer called the Emerald on Friday night, and he was killed about a quarter to one on Saturday morning by a drum of caustic soda falling upon his head. The evidence showed that the drums were being transferred by means of a crane from railway waggons into the ship's hold, but there was some discrepancy between the witnesses as to how the particular drum which caused the fatality got out of the sling, a boy named Jenkins asserting that the hook came off the drum, which then fell on to the combings, whilst another lad named Cotgreave said the drum caught the combings. The jury found that the man met his death through the drum coming into contact with the combings but from what cause they were unable to say and falling upon him. They added that, in their opinion, the railway company ought to employ older persons than these boys to look after the crane and the lowering of cargo into the holds of vessels. 

Another daughter, Cecilia, was born a few months after her father's death.

His mother Margaret remarried in 1900 to Thomas Gallagher who was born in 1873 in Swineford town, Co.Mayo. 

On the 1901 Census the couple are living with Margaret’s mother, Cecilia, as head of household, she is aged 53. The family reside at 19 Hughes Street. Margaret is aged 30, Thomas is aged 29, a gas works labourer born in Ireland. Living with them are the 10 year old John, and his half sisters Margaret Mallon aged 4, Norah Mallon 2, Cecilia Mallon aged 1 and 1 month old Mary Gallagher. They have two boarders, both dock labourers born in Ireland. 

By 1911 the family have moved a few doors away to 16 Hughes Street with seven children and a boarder. Margaret is 40 years of age, and is working in for a bobbin manufacturer she states that she has been married for 10 years and has had seven children, four of whom have died, including Thomas born in 1903, Esther 1905 (a twin to Joseph), and Catherine 1908. His stepfather, Thomas Gallagher is a 39 year old dock labourer born in Ireland. Margaret's mother, Cecilia, now aged 63 is still living with the family. John aged 20, is working in a tannery, Norah is 13, Margaret and Cecila are both 11, Mary is 9, Joseph is 5 and 1 year old Ann.  Also present is a boarder, Michael Kelly aged 58 and a dock labourer.  

Another daughter, Veronica was born in 1912, but sadly died before her first birthday.

John was educated at St Francis' Catholic School, Garston and was closely associated with St Francis' Church. After finishing his education he had been employed at the Garston Tannery for six and half years.

He enlisted in Liverpool joining the 20th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 23925. His regimental number and the amount of the War Gratuity suggest that he enlisted in December 1914.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.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. 

John arrived in France on 07th November 1915, disembarking with his battalion at Boulogne.

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

30th July 1916

The 20^th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20^th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 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. 

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 death was reported in the local press under the header:

TANNERY EMPLOYEE'S BRAVERY

Private John COSTELLO of the King's (Liverpool) Regiment (Pals) who lived at 16 Hughes street, Garston, was killed on the 13th (sic) July in a gallant attempt to bring in the wounded after the big charge in which the Pals took part on that day. He had been in the famous charge of the 1st July and also on the 13th July without injury, being one of the three Garston lads in his Battalion to come safely through. He then volunteered for the perilous work of bringing in the wounded, and with two other comrades went out. A shell burst close by them and Costello and another man was killed, the third man escaping with shock.

Educated at St Francis's Catholic School, Garston, Private Costello, 25 years of age, had worked for six and a half years at the Garston Tannery. He was a member of the Garston St. Francis Y.M.S. and a devoted worshipper at the church, winning the respect and esteem of all who knew him for the consistent lived he lived. On the outbreak of war, offered himself for service, joined the Pals Regiment and went out to France with the Pals in November last year. He was the eldest son of Mrs Margaret Gallagher, his father having been killed 17 years ago at Garston Docks.     

John'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.” 

He earned his three medals.

His outstanding Army pay and a War Gratuity of £7 went to his mother, who was awarded a pension of 11/- a week from August 1917.

John is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 11 Right

St. Francis of Assisi Church, Garston 

His mother, Margaret, died in 1937, aged 67, and is buried in Allerton Cemetery.

Step-father Thomas, date of birth 20th January 1873, appears on the 1939 Register still at 16 Hughes Street. He is living with daughter Anne (later Glover). He died, aged 76, in 1951. 

John was remembered in the Runcorn Weekly News on 24th September 1926: 

PRIVATE JOHN COSTELLO of the King’s Liverpool' (Pals) was killed on the 13th July, 1916. Educated at St. Francis Catholic School, Garston, he worked for six and a half years at the Garston Tannery. He was closely attached to St. Francis Church. At the outbreak of war he offered himself for service, and went out to France 11, November, 1916. 

His brother Joseph Gallagher served in the Auxiliary Fire Service during WWII. He lost his life aged just 36 fighting a huge blaze at Huskisson Docks on the 04th May 1941, known in Liverpool as The May Blitz. The fire spread to the SS Malakand, a cargo liner which had tonnes of munitions onboard. The ship exploded and the dock was destroyed, killing four people, including Joseph. He left a wife and two small children. Joseph was added to the Roll of Honour at the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service Heritage Centre in 2012.

Step-father Thomas, dob 20th Jan 1873, appears on the 1939 Register still at 16 Hughes St. He is living with daughter Anne(later Glover). He died aged 76 in 1951. 

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

Grateful thanks are extended to Joe Devereux for permission to use the photograph of John now shown on this site.