Sgt 17327 John Henry Flockhart

• Age: 37
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• D.O.W Tuesday 1st August 1916
• Commemorated at: Corbie Cc Ext
  Panel Ref: II.A.10

John Henry Flockhart was born in the March quarter of 1879 in Everton, Liverpool. He was the son of James A. Flockhart and his wife Catherine (nee Murphy), of Great Crosby, Lancashire. His parents were both natives of Liverpool and were married in St. George's C of E Church, Everton on 05th March 1876. They had three other children, Agnes born 1878, James Grey born 1879 and Thomas Jenkins born 1882.

The 1881 Census finds the family living at 10 Melbourne Street, Everton, Liverpool. His father, James, is a 26 year old marine engineer who was born in Liverpool, his mother, Catherine, is 27 years of age and was also born in Liverpool as were there three children. They are recorded as; Agnes aged 3, John H. aged 2 and James G. aged 1. The family also employ a domestic servant; Charlotte Ellis who is recorded as aged 13. 

The 1891 Census finds that the family have moved to 208 Windsor Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. His mother, recorded as Kate, is head of the household, she states she is 36 years of age and married, presumably his father is away at sea. There are now four children in the household all of whom are noted as scholars; Agnes is 13, John is 12, James is 11 and Thomas is 9. 

John is recorded as entering Liverpool Institute school on 06th January 1891. 

He is not found on the 1901 Census.  

John Henry married Lilian Dalzell in the Presbyterian Church, Whitehaven on the 08^th February, 1903.

In 1911 they were living at 16 Stanlow Villas, Ellesmere Port, and John Henry was the manager for a dry dock company. There were no children recorded on the Census. 

John Henry's parents lived at 9 College Avenue, Great Crosby, in 1911

He enlisted on the 02^nd September, 1914 at St George's Hall, Liverpool, joining the 19^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 17327. He gave his age as 35 years and 270 days and gave his profession as that of a constructing engineer. He had served an apprenticeship with Arrowsmith, Sinclair and Co, Liverpool and it expired in 1898. He was described as being five feet four and three quarter inches tall, weighed 165lbs, of fresh complexion with blue eyes and dark hair. He stated his religion as Church of England.

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation 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. 

His service records show:

19.09.14: Promoted to Sergeant

04.11.14: Appointed Scout Sergeant

07.11.15 Arrived in France with his Battalion

26.05.16: Granted leave to the UK till 04.06.16.

07.06.16: Rejoined Regiment after leave.

30.07.16: Wounded to Field Ambulance.

31.07.16: Admitted to 5 C.C.S.(Gunshot wound to the buttock).

He was serving in the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Sergeant No 17327 when he died of wounds on the 1^st August, 1916, aged 37, during the Battle of the Somme. SDGW records that John almost certainly received his wounds at Guillemont on 30th July 1916:

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. 

His family placed four death notices in the newspapers:

Evening Express dated 07^th August, 1916: Eldest son of Mr and Mrs James Flockhart address Myers Road W Great Crosby.

Liverpool Echo dated 07^th August, 1916: Flockhart August 1, died of wounds in hospital. Sergeant John Henry Flockhart Kings Liverpool Regiment "Pals Battalion" B.E.F. eldest son of Mr and Mrs James A Flockhart address Great Crosby. "His country called he did his duty".

Evening Express dated 08^th August, 1916: Husband of Lilian Flockhart (nee Dalzell) address 67 Moscow Drive Stoneycroft.

Liverpool Echo dated 08^th August, 1916: Husband of Lilian Flockhart address 67 Moscow Drive Stoneycroft.

Also in the Liverpool Daily Post on 10th August 1916:

“August 1, died of wounds received in action, Sergeant Flockhart (“Pals”),the deadly-loved husband of Lilian Flockhart (née Dalzell), of 67 Moscow Drive, Stoneycroft, Liverpool, and eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Flockhart, Myers Road W., Great Crosby.”

John now rests at Corbie Communal Cemetery Extension, France, where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"LOVED IN LIFE HONOURED IN DEATH"

Corbie was about 20 kilometres behind the front when Commonwealth forces took over the line from Berles-au-Bois southward to the Somme in July 1915. The town immediately became a medical centre, with Nos 5 and 21 Casualty Clearing Stations based at La Neuville (the suburb across the Ancre) until October 1916 and April 1917 respectively. In November 1916 the front moved east, but the German advance in the Spring of 1918 came within 10 kilometres of the town and brought with it field ambulances of the 47th Division and the 12th Australian Field Ambulance. The communal cemetery was used for burials until May 1916, when the plot set aside was filled and the extension opened. The majority of the graves in the extension are of officers and men who died of wounds in the 1916 Battle of the Somme. The remainder relate to the fighting of 1918. The communal cemetery contains 249 First World War burials, the extension 918. The extension was designed by Charles Holden.

John earned his three medals.

At the time of his death his wife, Lilian, was living in Moscow Drive, Stoneycroft, and his parents were at Myers Road West, Great Crosby.

His widow Lilian was awarded a pension of 13/6 a week for herself from 12^th February, 1917.

She also received his personal effects which included a dictionary, torch, one pocketbook and a handkerchief.

Probate was granted in Liverpool on 16th September as follows:

FLOCKHART John Henry of 67 Moscow-drive, Stoneycroft, Liverpool consulting engineer, sergeant 19th Liverpool regiment died 1 August 1916 in France. Probate Liverpool 16 September to Lilian Flockhart widow. Effects £234 5s.   

John is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 64

St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Waterloo,

United Free Church, Waterloo, ( St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church)

His 1914-1915 Star was offered for auction in 2014 as part of a set of four (all 19th Bn Pals), the lot price was £80-£100.

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