Pte 17262 Herbert Edward Ankers

Herbert Edward Ankers was born in Toxteth Park, Liverpool, in October 1894, the son of John Henry Ankers and Caroline Lilian (née Grieves), known as Lilian.  His parents were both born in Liverpool and married 14th March, 1891 St. Michael’s Toxteth, and had five children.

 

Their first child, John Henry was born in 1893 but sadly lived for only five hours.  After Herbert’s birth in 1894 they had Leslie Arnold in 1895, Stanley 1898, and Lilian May in 1902, known as May.  Herbert lived at 59 Elaine Street, Toxteth Park, for the whole of his short life.

 

The 1901 census finds them at 59 Elaine Street, with three children.  His father is a book keeper for a provision merchant, Herbert’s age is listed as 7 (he would have been 6).

 

In 1911 his father, 48, is a van man for a dyer’s, his mother is 43;  Herbert, aged 16, is a junior clerk with an estate agent, Leslie, 15, is a library office boy, Stanley is 12, and May 8.  They have a 44 year old boarder, Martha Bradshaw.

 

Herbert enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 02nd September 1914, as Private 17262,joining the 19th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment. He gave his age as 19 years and 335 days, and his occupation as clerk. He is described as being 5’ 5” tall, weighing 116 lbs, with a fresh complexion, blue eyes, and fair hair, and scars over his spine on his neck and his right shoulder.  He gives his religion as  Church of England, and as next of kin his father at 59 Elaine Street.

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th 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. 

Herbert arrived in France on 07th November 1915, disembarking at Boulogne.

 

In early January 1916 the Pals battalions took up position in the south of the Somme line near Carnoy.  Herbert was accidentally wounded with a bullet to the groin/left leg on 11th March 1916.  He was sent to a Field Ambulance then to S.M.D. (South Midland Division) C.C.S. 

 

A Court of Enquiry (required of any accidental or suspected self-inflicted wound) was held the same day. Herbert himself, as well as others, gave evidence:

 

Pte. Herbert Ankers 17262:

“I was on sentry duty this morning (11th March 1916) after stand down about 6:30 a.m.  I looked into my rifle, found there were two cartridges in the magazine under the cut off. I fired them both and recharged at once with another clip of five […] five were under the cut off.  The safety catch was b[ack?].  On the platform were two stanchions fixed by wire and I laid my rifle across the two wires.  Pte. Aitken got up on the platform.  I told him I’d been firing at a mound in the German trenches. After that I took no further notice.  I was not sure whether he was relieving me or not.  He picked my rifle up. I remained standing on the platform facing the German trenches.  I was then hit.”

 

Pte. Alexander Aitken 17261:

“Pte. Ankers and I were on the firing platform about 6:30 a.m. this morning.  Ankers’ rifle was lying on the parapet.  He said, “Have a pot at that mound over there.”  I picked up the rifle from the parapet and in bringing it to the aim it went off. I don’t know how.  I was not relieving Ankers.  The rifle was lying horizontal on the parapet. I was on sentry duty at the time this all happened.”

 

Pte. Edward Parkinson 17445:

“I was standing on the fire step on which Ankers was on sentry duty.  Aitken brought along a brush which he handed to me.  I brushed the floor of the trench with it.  In the meantime Aitken got on to the fire step.  I had just gone a bit way along the trench when I heard a shot and on turning I saw that Aitken was assisting Ankers to lay down on the fire step.”

 

Sgt. Thomas C. Stephen 17475:

“Shortly before 7 a.m. this morning Pte. Parkinson came to my dug out […]  He informed me that Pte. Ankers had accidentally shot himself.  I went at once to the post, meanwhile sent one man for the stretcher bearers and another for Capt. Bickersteth, who was the nearest officer.  While assisting Ankers I heard that the shot had been fired by Pte. Aitken.  I did not think it my place to ask Aitken for any explanation.  I don’t know who the sentry on duty was on that fire step.  Previously at stand to then inspecting the platform I had taken particular note that all cut offs were in, safety catches were back, and that no rifles were cocked.”

 

Commanding Officer Lieut. Colonel Llewellyn Stephen Denham recorded his findings:

“I am of the opinion that Pte. Ankers was accidentally wounded under circumstances which showed gross neglect of duty on Pte. Ankers’ part. I am also of the opinion that Pte. Aitken, by conversing with a sentry and thereby distracting his attention, is guilty of highly improper conduct.”

 

The proceedings of the Court of Enquiry were forwarded to the D.A.G. Base (Deputy Adjutant General), the evidence showing that there was “considerable slackness in the manner in which sentry duty was being carried out by these two men”.  The proceedings were being forwarded “so that disciplinary action might be taken if possible in the case of Private Ankers.  Pte. Aitken has been dealt with by his Commanding Officer.”

 

Herbert died of his wounds eighteen days later, on 29th March 19116.  

 

His service record notes that he was buried in Nouveau Cemetery, Amiens (New Cemetery at St. Pierre)  grave 9, line 3, group 1 (CWGC gives his grave location as 1.C.10), where his gravestone inscription reads,

“PEACE PERFECT PEACE”.

During part of August 1914, Amiens was the British Advanced Base. It was captured by the Germans on 31 August, and retaken by the French on the following 13 September. The German offensive which began in March 1918 had Amiens for at least one of its objectives but the Battle of Amiens (8 - 11 August 1918) is the Allied name for the action by which the counter offensive, the Advance to Victory, was begun. The 7th General Hospital was at Amiens in August 1914; the 56th (South Midland) Casualty Clearing Station from April to July 1916; the New Zealand Stationary Hospital from July 1916 to May 1917; the 42nd Stationary Hospital from October 1917 to March 1919; and the 41st Stationary Hospital in March 1918, and again in December 1918 and January 1919. The Commonwealth plot in St. Pierre Cemetery was first used in September 1915 and closed in October 1919, but shortly afterwards 33 graves of 1918 were brought in from positions in or near the city. During the Second World War, Amiens was again a British base, and G.H.Q. reserve was accommodated in the area south-west of the town. There was heavy fighting in and around Amiens when the Germans broke through the Somme line and took the town on 18 May 1940. Much damage was done, but although all the houses to the west of the cathedral were completely destroyed by the bombardment, the cathedral itself and the church of St. Germain l'Ecossais survived. Amiens was retaken by the British Second Army on 31 August 1944. Nos. 25 and 121 General Hospitals were posted there in October 1944, remaining until April 1945. St. Pierre Cemetery contains 676 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 82 from the Second World War. The Commonwealth plot was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

 

His parents placed a notice in the Liverpool Echo on 12th April 1916:

 

The newspaper officially reported his death on 24th April:

“News has been received from the War Office of the death, in hospital, from wounds, of Pte. H. Ankers of the Liverpool Pals.  Prior to the war he resided at 59, Elaine Street, Liverpool, and was engaged as a clerk.”

Liverpool Daily Post 29th March 1917

ANKERS - In loving memory of our dear Bert (Pte H. Ankers), who died of wounds March 29th 1916 aged 21 years.

Longing for a face we will never see,

Listening for a footstep we will never hear;

So your body is far away,

Your memory is still with us here.

From his sorrowing Father, Mother, sister and Brother, 59 Elaine Street. 

Herbert earned his three medals.

 

His mother’s claim for a pension was refused on the grounds that Pte. Ankers was responsible for his own death.  His personal effects were sent on 2nd June 1916 to his father; his insurance book was forwarded to the regimental paymaster.  His father received Herbert’s Army effects and a War Gratuity of £6-10s as well as the Memorial Plaque and Scroll.

 

Of the others involved in the incident:

Pte. Alexander Aitken from Kirkdale, Liverpool, was awarded 20 days Field Punishment No.1 for his improper conduct.  He was later transferred to the Cheshire Regiment as Pte. 59767 and killed in action at Passchendaele on 22nd  October 1917, aged 22.

 

Pte. later Acting Sergeant Edward (Ewen) Parkinson from St. John’s Road, Bootle, suffered a bullet wound to the left arm and was discharged in April 1918 with a Silver War Badge and a 40% disability pension.

 

Sgt. Thomas Callow Stephen from Toxteth was discharged to commission in December 1916 and served as a Lieutenant in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps.  He survived the war but died in 1921 aged 36.

 

Herbert’s brother Leslie joined the Merchant Navy as an indentured apprentice in April 1914; he became a First Mate in 1920 and received his Master’s Certificate in 1925.

 

His mother died in 1927 aged 60, and his father in 1929 aged 65, still living in Elaine Street.

 

Herbert is commemorated in Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 16 Right.