Pte 29620 Charles Vickers Ashcroft

• Age: 18
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

29620 Charles ASHCROFT, 20^th Battalion, KLR.

Charles was born in Liverpool on the 24th August 1897 the son of William James and Mary (nee McAllister) Ashcroft who were married on the 19th May 1895 at Christ Church, Kensington. William was a 36 years old safe finisher of 1 Patterson St, father William deceased, whilst Mary was aged 23 of 3 Patterson St, father John. He was baptised Charles Vickers Ashcroft at Holy Trinity Church, Wavertree, Liverpool on 13th July 1898. The family address at this time was 44 Cambridge Street, Wavertree and his father’s occupation is shown as a safe finisher. 

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 60 Hey Green Road, Wavertree.

Charles Vickers is aged 3. His father is shown as a 42 year old iron safe finisher born in Liverpool, whilst his mother is 28 years of age and was also born in Liverpool. He has three siblings all of whom were born in Liverpool; Lily aged 5, Sophia aged 2 and ten month old Jessie. 

By 1911 the family had moved to 5 Byford Street, Edge Hill, Liverpool.

Charles is now 13 and a scholar. Father William is aged 52, a safe finisher in a safe works born in Old Swan, mother Mary is aged 38 and they confirm that they have been married for 15 years and have had 9 children all of whom have survived. Charles' eight siblings are shown as; Lily 15 and a warehouse assistant in the boot trade, Sophia 12, Jessie 10, Jack 8, Richard 6, Annie 5, Archibald 3, and Harry 1.   

Two more children were born after the census, Philip in 1912, and Marion in 1915. 

At the outbreak of war Charles was employed as a plumber’s assistant with the London and North Western Railway. 

Charles Ashcroft enlisted in Liverpool, his place of birth, as Private No 29620 on 31st May 1915 and was posted to the 20^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment (4^th Liverpool Pals) as Private 29620.

After completion of his training, Charles left for France on an unknown date, probably early in 1916 as part of a reinforcement draft, for his Battalion.

Charles was killed in action during the attack at Montauban on 01st July 1916 during the opening day of the Battle of the Somme:

20^th Battalion

Maricourt

Zero Hour 7.30am. After 65 minutes intensive bombardment the Battalion advanced to the attack of the German trenches. The Battalion advanced in four lines each of the two leading Companies on a frontage of 2 platoons – No’s 1 & 2 Companies (in that order from the right) leading. No.3 Company in the 3^rd wave. No.4 Company in the 4^th wave. There being a distance of about 100 yards between each line. The lines advanced through the enemy’s artillery fire as though on parade in quick time. The leading waves went on without a pause to Alt Trench and Casement Trench which were secured at (time not stated) am. The casualties up to this being small. Our barrage lifting Dublin Trench (the 1^st Objective) was captured and consolidation immediately proceeded with. Captain Whiting with the 3^rd wave entrenching about 150 yards in the rear. Captain Robinson was wounded and No.2 Company was commanded during the day by Lt C P Moore. Casualties up to now were killed 2 officers – 1 wounded and 49 other ranks casualties killed and wounded. At 11.50 am orders were received for the assault of the Briqueterie. The Battalion operation orders for this were issued from NW of Germans Wood. Our barrage lifted at 12,30 pm and No. 4 Company under Captain E C Orford assisted by a section of bombers under 2^nd Lt Baker who went up Nord Alley and Chimney Trench to secure his left flank, who had got right forward under cover of the fire of our guns rushed it almost without opposition. On the far side a party of the enemy were found in deep dug-outs. They brough a machine gun into action and some close fighting ensued in which Lt Gooch and Lt Williams were wounded. Opposition was however speedily overcome and the garrison consisting of the H.Q. of a Regt, one Colonel and 4 other officers – 40 rank and file , 2 machine guns together with maps, orders, documents and material fell into our hands. Steps were immediately taken for consolidating the ground won, which however owing to the destruction wrought by our “heavies” was a matter of great difficulty, what had been trenches being almost unrecognisable as such and the earth so pulverised that cover could only be made by aid of sandbags. The garrison was heavily shelled through the afternoon and most of the night and casualties were many. Battalion H.Q. were at the junction of Glatz Alley and Casement Trench north west of Germans Wood and this together with Dublin Trench received considerable attention from enemy guns. Casualties during the day 2 officers killed (2^nd Lts F Barnes and JC Laughlin) and 3 wounded (Captain H H Robinson, Lt S Gooch and 2^nd Lt F J Williams). 75 other ranks killed and wounded.                     

Charles has no known grave and his name is listed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme in 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 death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on 19th July 1916: 

Private Charles Ashcroft has been killed in action. He worked for the London and North Western Railway as a plumber's assistant. He was in his eighteenth year, and resided with his parents at 5 Byford-street, Edge-hill.  

Liverpool Echo 24th August 1917 

ROLL OF HONOUR. 

ASHCROFT - In loving birthday memory of my son, Private Charles Ashcroft, who was killed, July 1, 1916 on the Somme.  

Oh, for the touch of a vanished hand, 

And the sound of a voice that is still. 

Charles is also commemorated on the following Memorials

Hall of Remembrance inside Liverpool Town Hall at Panel 16 Right  

London and North West Railway Memorial at Euston Station.

Soldiers Effects and Pensions to mother Mary. 

Mother Mary, dob 14th Dec 1873(9th Dec 1872 on baptism), appears on the 1939 register at 65 Cecil St, Edge Hill with daughter Marion. She died aged 77 in 1950 and was buried at Holy Trinity, Wavertree on the 5th Oct 1950. The address given was 24 Dudley Road, the home of her son Philip according to the Electoral Roll. 

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