Pte 15352 Robert Gerald D'Arcy

• Age: 23
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 12th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Warlencourt Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: II.F.29

Robert Gerald D’Arcy was born in the June quarter of 1893 to John D’Arcy and his wife Margaret Campbell (nee Manson), who married in Liverpool on the 9th June 1889 at St George's Church, Everton. John was a 44 year old french polisher of 31 Ellison St, father Philip, whilst Margaret was aged 31 of 6 Mere Lane, father William.  Robert's father was from County Mayo, Ireland, and his mother was born in Anderston, Glasgow, Scotland. This was his father’s second marriage, as he had been widowed; Robert was raised with an older stepbrother Henry, and had an older sister Margaret, and younger sisters Jessie and Helen (Nellie).  Another child, Allan, died in infancy.

His father is found on the 1881 census with his first wife living at 23 Munsey St, Liverpool. Head John Darcy aged 39, a french polisher b.Ireland, Mary Ellen aged 30 b.Liverpool, sons Henry 5 and Thomas 2 months. From Henry Edward’s baptism on the 23rd March 1876 his mother’s maiden name is Grogan. 

The 1901 Census shows the family is living at 53 Stanley Road, Kirkdale. His father John, is aged 55,  and is a furniture dealer born in Ireland, his mother Margaret is aged 43 born in Scotland. Children born Liverpool, Henry E. 25 a french polish, Margaret J. 9, Robert G. is aged 8 and Jessie K. 5. They have a domestic servant. 

By 1911 the family have moved to 258 Stanley Road, Bootle and are living with his mother’s brother Robert Hanson (who is a joiner) and his family. His father John is aged 69, a French polisher b.Ballyhaunis, Co.Mayo, his mother Margaret is aged 53, a furniture dealer.  His stepbrother Henry is aged 35, also a French polisher and his sister Margaret Jean 19 is a saleswoman. Robert is 18, and a clerk in a shipping office.  

Prior to enlisting Robert was working in the Accounts Department of Cunard one of the major shipping lines in the City.

His service record has not survived so most of the details and dates are not known, but Robert enlisted at St George's Hall, Liverpool as Private 15352 in the 17^th (Pals) Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th 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. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

By October 1916 the battalion had been through the fighting on the Somme for some months. This included the successful capture of Montauban on 01st July 1916, the murderous fighting at Trones Wood and the catastrophic day at Guillemont on 30th July 1916. On the 11^th October the 17th Battalion assemble in the Longueval-Flers area to take up position for the coming assault on the Transloy Ridges.

17^th Bn War Diary:  Battle of Transloy Ridge –                                               

11-10-16 - Gird Trench/Gird Support – Battalion in front line and support trenches. British bombardment of enemy front line system commenced about midday.  Hostile shelling was intermittent throughout the day.

12-10-16  - Our bombardment continued. Enemy reply weak.  2.5 p.m. Zero hour. Attack on German front line system commenced.  Enemy wire was found to be uncut and attack was unsuccessful.  Hostile machine gun fire was very heavy and caused many casualties. Battalion H.Q. and Support Trench were heavily shelled throughout afternoon and evening. […] During this action all communication had to be carried out by runners and carrier pigeons as all wires were being continually cut by enemy shelling.

Casualties: 5 officers killed,  5 officers wounded, 38 OR killed, about 225 OR wounded/missing etc.

Graham Maddocks, in “Liverpool Pals” p.140, adds:

“As the whistle blew, the 17^th Battalion left its trenches to move forward.  […]  As soon as the attacking waves left their trenches the enemy artillery began to register on them, and at the same time, the defending infantry commenced a murderous rain of fire.  […]  Although their numbers had been depleted by the British bombardment, they were trained and experienced soldiers, well dug in on high ground, and for the most part, looking out on uncut wire.  As such, it was virtually impossible for them to miss the City Battalion men struggling to advance in the mud towards them.   The 17^th Battalion, on the left, was particularly badly hit, as its portion of No Man’s Land contained a slight rise in the ground, and as the troops emerged onto it they were silhouetted against the sky and became easy targets.  Those on the left of the attack, who managed to avoid the hail of bullets and make it to the German wire, then found that it was totally uncut, and thus trapped, they too became easy targets, to be picked off almost at the enemy’s will.  It was hardly surprising that, seeing the first waves being wiped out, some of the following waves turned back and made for their start lines. These lines were now packed with other waves of troops, however, and the fleeing men added to the congestion already there, and became easy prey for the German gunners.  There is some evidence also, to suggest that at this stage, the British trenches were also being hit by their own heavy artillery shells which were falling short.”

Robert was declared Missing, and his body apparently found later, in a marked grave, identified by his cap badge.

His family's anxiety is displayed when they placed an appeal for information in the Liverpool Echo on 16th November 1916:

"Wounded - Private R D'Arcy, KLR (of the Cunard office staff) reported wounded, October 12. Any information will be greatly appreciated by his parents at 6 Alroy Road, Anfield, Liverpool"   

 The family did not learn of his fate until nine months later, placing a notice in the Liverpool Echo on 24^th July 1917: 

 “Reported missing October 12, 1916, now officially reported killed in action, aged 23 years, Robert G. D’Arcy, Signalling Section K.L.R., son of John and Margaret D’Arcy, and grandson of the late William Manson, of Kirkdale.”

Robert’s body was removed after the war when graves were concentrated, and he now rests at Warlencourt British Cemetery, where his headstone bears the epitaph,

“BY THE PATH OF DUTY LIES THE WAY TO GLORY”.

Warlencourt Cemetery is entirely a concentration cemetery, begun late in 1919 when graves were brought in from small cemeteries and the battlefields of Warlencourt and Le Sars.  The Graves Registration form shows graves from “Le Sars 6/1, 6/2, Hexham Road, Seven Elms”.

Graves were brought in from the original cemeteries at Hexham Road (Le Sars), and Seven Elms (Flers), as well as over 3,000 British graves due to the fighting which took place around the Butte de Warlencourt from the autumn of 1916 to the spring of 1917, and again in the German advance and retreat of 1918.   The cemetery now contains 3,505 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War, 1,823 of which are unidentified.

His effects and pension went to his mother Margaret, then living at 6 Alroy Road, Liverpool. 

On the second anniversary of her only son's death, his mother placed a notice in the Liverpool Echo, on 11^th October 1918:

“ In loving memory of Pte. Robert G. D’Arcy, 1^st Pals Batt., reported killed October 12, 1916, beloved son of Margaret D’Arcy, 6 Alroy Road, Anfield.”

Robert is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Cunard Staff panels now situated inside Our Lady and St Nicholas' Church, Liverpool 

Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 6.

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