Pte 22076 Clement Duncanson Fishwick

• Age: 23
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Clement Duncanson Fishwick was born on 07th June 1893 in Liverpool, the son of James Fishwick and his wife Theresa (nee Duncanson). James and Theresa were married on the 02nd September 1880 at St Peter’s Priory, Seel Street, Liverpool. James was of 132 Duke Street, father John, whilst Theresa was of 164 Chatham Street, father Frederick. He was baptised on the 14th June 1893 at Oratory of St Philip Neri, Catherine Street, Liverpool. 

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 104 Chatham Street, Liverpool. His father is shown as born in Liverpool in 1859 and is employed as a clerk for Mersey Docks and Harbour Board. His mother was born in Liverpool in 1863. Clement aged 7 and his brother Alphonsus aged 5 are both shown as born in Liverpool. Also present is Ann Duncanson, Clement's grandmother and there is also a servant shown as living at the property.

The family are still shown at 104 Chatham Street in 1911. Both parents are present, his father James, 52, still works as a clerk for the MDHB, in the Treasurer's Department, his mother Theresa is 48. They state that they have been married for 22 years and have had two children. Clement, now aged 17, is shown as an apprentice Bank clerk for Parr's Bank. His younger brother Alphonsus Percy is a 15 year old scholar and his grandmother, Ann Duncanson are still present.    

Clement was educated at the Catholic Institute.

He was employed by Parrs Bank in their St Helens branch at the time of his enlistment. He had worked for Parrs since 1909 joining the Wigan branch before transferring to St Helens. 

He enlisted on 10th November 1914 at Liverpool, joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 22076. He gave his age as 21 years and 4 months and his occupation as a Bank Clerk. He was described as being 5 feet six inches tall, weighed 123lbs and had a 35 and a half inch chest. He had a fresh complexion with brown eyes and dark brown hair. He stated his religion as Roman Catholic and his next of kin was his father, James, of 104 Chatham Street.  

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built 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.  He arrived in France with his Battalion on 07^th November 1915. 

Whilst at Grantham he spent one month in the Military Hospital for rheumatism.

He suffered another bout of rheumatism in France:

21.02.1916 Admitted 98 Field Ambulance

22.02.1916 Evacuated to C.C.S., rheumatism

25.02.1916 Discharged to duty with ulcer?

19.04.1916 Rejoined unit

Clement was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 23, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

The 20^th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20^th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 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. 

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.       

His death was reported in the St. Helens Newspaper & Advertiser on Tuesday 22 August 1916: 

PRIVATE C. D. FISHWICK (Killed)  

News has been received at Parr’s Bank of the death in action of Private C. D. Fishwick. He resided in Liverpool, at 104, Chatham-street. His father was employed at the Cunard Co.’s offices, and Private Fishwick has a younger brother also with the Cunard Co. Private Fishwick enlisted on the 16th of November, 1914, in the Liverpool “ Pals,” and official information regarding his death was received on the 30th of July last.   

A report of a Memorial Service in his honour was contained in the Liverpool Echo on 22nd August 1916: 

A MEMORIAL SERVICE. A service in memory of Private Clement D. Fishwick, killed at the front, was held St. Philip Neri's, Maryland-street, Liverpool. A Requiem Mass was said by the Rev. A. Jeanrenaud. the rector, and the girls from the Female Orphanage, Falkner-street, sang hymns. (Lpool Echo 22.8.16).

An obituary in the Bank's staff magazine gave an insight into Clement's character:

"His kindly disposition and goodwill made him a genial companion, and his loss will be felt by us and those who continually came into contact with him"

Clement's 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.

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 01st 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 father was informed in January 1917 there were no personal belongings to be sent.

His father died in early 1918 aged 59.

Clement earned his three medals, which his mother Theresa signed for.  

She received his outstanding Army pay and a War Gratuity of £7-10s. 

Clement is remembered on the following Memorials:

Catholic Institute

Liverpool Central YMCA

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 64

His mother received his medals and his plaque and scroll. In a sworn declaration of 20th June 1920 gave details that she was a widow and that she and her son Percy, 24, were still living in Chatham Road and were Clement's only living relatives. 

His mother wrote in 1922 enquiring whether she was entitled to a pension, and was advised to make her application to the local War Pensions Office(?), School House, Lodge Lane, Liverpool. No pension card has been found. 

His mother died in 1938 aged 75 in St. Joseph's Convent, and was buried in Yew Tree Cemetery. 

His younger brother Alphonsus Percy Fishwick joined the 20th Battalion as Private 22077, he and Clement must have enlisted at the same time given their numbers were consecutive. Alphonsus was formerly employed by Cunard. Upon joining the Liverpool Pals he was discharged to Commission on 26/02/1918, 3rd Manchester's attached RAF as 2nd Lieut. He was born on 27th March 1896 in Liverpool, he survived the war and died on 19th September 1964. 

Grateful thanks are extended to RBS for their permission to use the wonderful photograph of Clement from their archives.

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