Pte 15433 William James Fullerton

• Age: 24
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

William James Fullerton was born in Liverpool in 1892 and was the son of James Arthur Fullerton and his wife Eliza Campbell (nee Faulke). The couple married on the 11th December 1888 at St Philemons Church, Toxteth. James was a 21 year old mariner of 91 Gwendoline St, father James, whilst Elizabeth was aged 20 of 21 Twiss St, father Edwin. James had joined the Merchant Navy as an apprentice at the age of 14.

William was baptised in St Silas' Church in the Dingle on 26th June 1892, his parents' address at the time was 7 Shearer Street, and his father's occupation mariner. Will was the second of eight children. He had an elder brother Robert Arthur, and younger siblings Thomas Henry (who died at 10 months old), Frank Campbell, Percy, Sidney, Harold, and Bessie.

The 1901 Census shows the family were living at 14 Kinmel Street. His father James was 37, a mariner in the merchant service, his  mother was 33 both were born in Liverpool. William was 8 years old and had an older brother Robert aged 10, and three younger brothers – Frank 5, Percy 2 and Sidney who was born less than a month previously. They also have a 22-year old visitor, Ada Smith(?), and a boarder, 68- year old widow Elizabeth Albert.

His father James died  at the age of 41 in early May 1905 leaving Eliza with six boys under the age of 15. Their only daughter, Bessie, was born two months after her father's death.

By 1911 the widowed Eliza is making her living as a shopkeeper in a tobacconist at 132 Hill Street. The eldest sons are working – Robert now 20 is an apprentice boiler maker for the Mersey Dock Board, William is an 18 year old clerk also for the Mersey Dock Board and Frank is 14 and is an office boy in a cotton merchants. Also living at home are two younger children 7 year old Harold and 5 year old Bessie. Eliza is listed as having had 8 children one of whom had died. Eliza’s child Percy aged 12 is in the Seamans Orphans Institute in Newsham Park in the 1911 census.

William enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 01st September 1914 joining the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 15433. 

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. 

On 07th November 1915 he embarked for France with his battalion.

He was killed in action on the 30th July 1916, aged 24, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

17th Battalion Diary 30th July 1916

The Battalion was in support to 19 & 20 Battalions K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.

Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.

Casualties in the 17th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks

Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917

The 17th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions) in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30th 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 55th Division during the early hours of the 31st July. 

The events of 30th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89th 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.       

A newspaper report of 16th August 1916 records the following:

Well-Known Conservative Bereaved

The committee of the St George and St Peter's branch of the Liverpool Workingmen's Conservative Association last evening passed a resolution of condolance with Mr T Atkinson JP, vice chairman of the Liverpool Conservative Association, and Mrs Fullerton in the sad bereavement they have sustained by the death of their nephew, Lance Corporal W. J. Fullerton of the Pals. The meeting was presided over by Mr A. Sharpe.  

He was reported as killed in action in the Liverpool Daily Post on 12th September 1916: 

Killed. 

King’s(Liverpool Regiment) Fullerton, 15433, W. J. (Liverpool); 

William's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

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.”

He earned his three medals.

His Army pay and a War Gratuity of £8-10 went to his mother, who was awarded a pension of 5/- a week from February 1917, increased to 15/- a week from September 1917.

In the Liverpool Echo, on 30th July 1917 under the heading Lost At The Battle of Guillemont, his family paid tribute to Will:

“In loving memory of my dear son Will, private 17th K.L.R. (Pals) killed in action July 30, 1916, aged 24 years. – Sadly missed by Mother and all at 132 Hill Street, Liverpool.”

“In loving remembrance of Will, killed in action July 30, 1916. – (Peace, perfect peace.) Sadly missed by Lila.” 

He was remembered on the second anniversary of his death in 1918: 

"In sad but loving memory of Private W. J. Fullerton (1st Pals), who fell in action on July 30, 1916. - Sadly missed by his Mother and all at 132 Upper Hill Street."

Will is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance in Liverpool Town Hall at Panel 64

Mersey Docks and Harbour Board Memorial

Toxteth Tabernacle Baptist Church Plaque 

His mother later lived with married daughter Bessie in Blythswood Street, and died on the 23rd March 1931, aged 62.

Probate:- 

FULLERTON Eliza Campbell of 68 Blythswood Street Liverpool widow died 23 March 1931 at Myrtle Street, Liverpool Probate Liverpool 4th July to Herbert Prince Telford costs clerk and Edward Williams railway employee. Effects £2441 4s 11d. 

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