Pte 31020 John William Dallow

• Age: 19
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 12th August 1916
• Commemorated at: Gorre Brit Cem, Beuvry
  Panel Ref: II.B.25

John (Jack) William Dallow was born on 08th July 1897 in Liverpool. He was the son of William Andrew Dallow and his wife Annie (nee Standing). His parents married on 29th July 1894 at Holy Trinity Church, Walton Breck Road, their address given as 25 Esmond Street..

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 14, Newcombe Street, Liverpool. His father, William Andrew aged 27, born in Liverpool is employed as a plumber and his wife Annie aged 28 has no occupation listed. At the time of the Census they have two children, Gilbert Lance aged 8 and John William aged 3.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 25 Esmond Street, Anfield, Liverpool.  His father William Andrew is aged 37, born 1874 occupation general property contractors foreman, whilst his mother, Annie, is aged 38, born 1873 in Liverpool with no occupation listed. They have been married for 17 years and have had three children of which one had died. Those listed in the household are; Gilbert Lance aged 18, born 1893 assistant store keeper and John William aged 13, born 1898 at school. Annie's widowed mother, Mary Standing, aged 75, born 1836 is also living at the address.

Jack enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 31020 when he was killed in action after being caught on barbed wire and shot through the heart on the 12th August, 1916, aged 19, during the Somme offensive.

His death featured in the 18th Battalion KLR War Diary 11-12th August 1916:

11th - In afternoon marched to ESSARS and billeted.

12th - Commenced to march to trenches, took over from 11th Royal Sussex Regt.

GIVENCHY (on right) A16 C06 (Canal Bank) to A9 d6. Some casualties caused chiefly through enemy rifle grenade on left of line.

Casualties - killed 31020 Pte J.W Dallow

He now rests at Gorre British Cemetery, Beuvry, France, where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"AND WITH THE MORN THOSE ANGEL FACES SMILE"

The chateau at Gorre was occupied early in the war by troops serving with the British Expeditionary Force and the Indian Corps, and the cemeteries, located in the south-east corner of original the chateau grounds, were begun in the autumn of 1914. The Indian section of the cemetery was closed in October 1915, shortly before the Indian infantry divisions left France for redeployment to the Middle East.

Many of those who now lie in plots V and VI of the British section of the cemetery were killed during the Battle of Estaires in April 1918. There are now over 930 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated here. The cemetery, which was designed by Charles Holden, also contains nine war graves of other nationalities, most of them German.

Gorre Chateau during the First World War

For much of the war, the chateau stood approximately four kilometres behind a section of the British front-line that ran northward along the Aubers Ridge from Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée to Festubert. From the end of the Battle of Festubert in May 1915 until the spring of 1918, this was considered a relatively ‘quiet’ sector. The village of Gorre was occasionally bombarded by German artillery during this period, but the chateau remained intact and its rooms were used as an officer’s mess and headquarters for British units stationed in the area. The grounds of the chateau were also the site of several artillery emplacements, a rifle range and an improvised parade ground and football pitch. Throughout 1916 and ’17 British troops could be seen drilling in the fields next to the chateau or unloading supplies from barges on the La Bassée Canal, which runs just south of the village.

The British section of the cemetery was used by infantry and artillery units stationed in the area until April 1918, when the relative quiet of the sector was shattered by the German Spring Offensive and Gorre became a support post close behind the front line during the Battle of Estaire. This battle was one of two massive German assaults on the Commonwealth positions from Ypres to Festubert that became known as the Battle of the Lys. When the battle erupted on 9 April, the 55th (West Lancashire) Division occupied the front-line trenches running north from Givenchy to Richebourg L’Avoué. The Allied positions to their left, around the village of Le Touret, were held by Portuguese units.

After a preliminary artillery bombardment that began on the evening of 7 April the German Sixth Army, spearheaded by storm troops, attacked in force early on the morning of the 9th. Heavy mist enabled the attackers to get very close to the Allied lines before they were observed and Portuguese units suffered heavy casualties and began to retire. Further south, the various formations of the 55th Division were hard pressed from the outset and the front line trenches around Givenchy were the scene of fierce fighting between British and German troops. The divisional brigade holding the northern section of the British line was forced to pull back, but well-organised counter-attacks and determined defence elsewhere enabled the 55th Division to hold its ground for the rest of the battle and prevent a major German breakthrough. Fighting continued in the trenches east of Gorre until 17 April when the German forces finally broke off the attack. In just over a week of fighting almost 3,000 officers and men of the Division had been killed, wounded, or taken prisoner, but the territory over which they had fought remained in Allied hands.

His death was reported in the Birkenhead News on 04th November 1916

EASTHAM BROTHERS

On Killed, the Other Wounded

News has been received at Eastham that Pte J. Dallow has been killed, whilst his brother Pte G. Dallow has been badly wounded. Private J. Dallow was a member of the K.L.R., having previously served in the R.A.M.C., and was shot through the heart when caught on barbed wire. Pte G. Dallow was also in the K.L.R. and is progressing favourably. They both resided at the Rake, Eastham. 

Jack was also listed in the "Fallen of the War", in the Birkenhead News 30th December 1916. 

Soldiers Effects to his father William Andrew and pension to his mother Annie.

He was remembered by his family on the occasion of his 21st birthday in the Liverpool Echo on 08th July 1918:

DALLOW - In sad but ever-loving 21st birthday remembrance of Private J.W. DALLOW (our Jack), youngest son of W.A. and A. Dallow, who was killed in France, August 12 1916. One of the best. Deeply regretted by his ever loving Father and Mother. 

The Liverpool Echo of 12th July 1918 brought news of his brother's wedding:

Marriage of Gilbert L. Dallow, King's Liverpool Regiment Pals, to Winifred Lowe

[Pte G. L.Gallow #16448 KLR and #265944 Lab. Corps] 

Jack was remembered on the anniversary of his death in the Liverpool Echo on 12th August 1919:

DALLOW - In loving memory of Private JW Dallow our Jack second Liverpool pals killed in action August 12th 1916 one of the best never forgotten by father and mother Eastham Cheshire. 

He is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 4

Eastham War Memorial.

His mother died in the March quarter of 1924 aged 51.

His father died on 25th July 1940 at 39 Hampton Court Road, West Derby according to a family tree.

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