Pte 34569 Alfred Reginald Cutts

• Age: 26
• 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.

Alfred Reginald Cutts was born in Liverpool on 28th December 1889 to Harry Cutts and his wife Margaret Elizabeth (nee Williams). He was baptised on the 9th March 1890 in St Cuthbert's Church, Everton, the family residence at the time 16 Burleigh Road North, and his father's occupation book keeper. Harry and Elizabeth were married in St James Church, Toxteth on the 25th July 1887. Harry was a 23 year old clerk, father Edward an artist, whilst Margaret was aged 23, father Joseph a milk dealer, both of 47 Carter St. Alfred had an elder brother Harry, born in 1888, and younger siblings Thomas George Harold, 1891, and Ethel May, born in 1893. 

The 1891 Census shows his parents Charles Harry and Margaret were living with one year old Alfred and his two year old brother Harry at 117 Walton Breck Road(all born Liverpool). Father Harry is aged 27, a Tobacconist, mother Margaret is also aged 27. Living with the family are grandparents Joseph and Elizabeth Williams. Also declared is Mary Kirkham, a servant. 

By the 1901 Census they family are at the same address.

His father is aged 37, a tobacconist working at home on his own account, mother Margaret is also aged 37. They now have four children in the household – Harry 12, Alfred 11, Thomas 9, Ethel 8.  Elizabeth’s mother, now a widow, is still living with them. 

Alfred’s mother Elizabeth died in Shaw Street Hospital, aged 43, in 1907 and was buried in Kirkdale Cemetery.

Alfred is found on crew lists in 1908 and 1909 as a waiter aged 21 on the Carmania and Mauretania (Cunard ships), his address shown as 296 Stanley Road.

The 1911 Census shows the widowed Harry has moved to 296 Stanley Road Bootle and is trading as a furniture dealer. Living with him are sons Harry and Thomas and daughter Ethel. Harry is working as a telephone clerk, Thomas is assisting his father in the furniture business and Ethel is keeping house for them all.

Alfred was initiated into the Freemasons Marlborough Lodge, Liverpool in May 1913. He’s recorded profession was Saloon Steward.

Alfred had left home and was on the ships serving on the SS Carmania and the Mauretania sailing on the Liverpool to New York route before he joined the Royal Navy on 15th December 1914 "for period of hostilities" serving under the name “Christopher Ascroft”. He was then aged 26, described as being 5'4" tall, 39” chest, with a fresh complexion, brown hair, and grey eyes, with a butterfly tattoo on his left forearm and the letters G.A. on the right, and a birthmark on his left shoulder. His character is noted as very good. 

15.12.14 to 31.12.14  - O.S. III (Officers Steward class 3) at Naval Barracks Vivid 1 in Devonport. 

1.1.15 to 12.2.15 - S.S.A. (Ship's Steward Assistant) at Vivid 1. 

13.2.15 - S.S.A. on training ship HMS Powerful also in Devonport.  

His service record shows "transferred to C.S. as S.S.A. for hostilities" on 1st January 1915, some two and a half weeks later. He re-engaged under Continuous Service terms(C.S.) as a Ship's Steward Assistant(S.S.A.), and was allocated the Official Number of M15819. A further record at the National Archives states he “ran” from the Navy later in 1915. He managed to find work on the Cunarder R.M.S. Pannonia on the transatlantic routes.  

As he was technically on the run from the Navy he subsequently enlisted in December 1915 under the alias Christopher Ascroft in the 19th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 34569. 

He arrived in France some time in 1916, likely not long before he was killed.

Alfred was killed in action on the 30th July 1916, aged 26, 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.     

He was initially reported Missing and his sister Ethel appealed for information in the Liverpool Echo on 05th September 1916:

"Private Fred Garside, Machine-gun Section, K.L.R., and Private C. Ashcroft (Alf. Cutts), K.L.R.  Any information will be gratefully received by Miss E. Cutts, 106, Kirkdale Road, Liverpool."

Both their names were included in the list of K.L.R. Missing on 18th September 1916: Pte. 34569 C. Ascroft and Pte. 21507 F.J. Garside. Fred's  address was the same as Alfred's, 106 Kirkdale Road.

Alfred was later presumed to have been killed in action on or since 30th July 1916.

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, 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.”

His three medals, issued under the name Ascroft, were sent to his father, at 106 Kirkdale Road, and returned for amendment.

His father received Alfred's outstanding Army pay and a War Gratuity of £3. No pension card has been found, suggesting that Alfred had no dependents, or that his father did not apply for a pension.

In the Liverpool Echo, on the first anniversary of his son's death, 30th July 1917 under the heading Lost At The Battle of Guillemont, his father paid tribute to Alfred:

“July 30, 1916, killed in action, previously reported missing, Alfred Reginald Cutts, K.L.R.(Pals) late SS Pannonia, second son of Harry Cutts, 106 Kirkdale Road, Liverpool.”

He was also remembered, alongside his fellow Pal, Fred Garside, on the second anniversary of his death in 1918:

"In loving memory of Alfred Reginald (Pals), second son of Harry Cutts; also Fred Garside (Pals), both killed in action, July 30, 1916. - 106, Kirkdale Road."

His sister Ethel married in 1919 to Harold Burnett and had 4 children, including a son she called Alfred Harold in 1928.  

His father Harry died on the 27th June 1933 aged 69. 

Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 28 June 1933 

CUTTS June 27, peacefully at home, HARRY CUTTS, of 106 Kirkdale Road. Funeral at Longmoor-lane Cemetery, on Friday next, at 12 o’clock. 

Alfred is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall at Panel 8 Right

Masonic Hall, Hope Street, Liverpool.

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