1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
Pte 25540 Joseph Ashton Backhouse
- Age: 19
- 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.
Formed in November 1914 the 20th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th 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 7th November 1915.
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.
His Army pay of £2:19s:1d was sent to his mother at 72 Berwick Street, Liverpool on 17/12/1917 and a War Gratuity of £6:10s was also sent to her on 14 /10/1919.
She also claimed a Dependants Pension for him, but there is no amount quoted on the pension card.
"Private Joe Backhouse of the "Pals". Any news concerning him would be gratefully received by his parents at 72 Berwick Street, West Derby Road, Liverpool".
DEATHS
KILLED IN ACTION
BACKHOUSE - Reported missing, now officially reported killed July 30, 1916 aged 20 years. Private Joseph Ashton Backhouse (K.L.R.). (Sadly missed by Father, Mother and brothers) 72 Berwick Street.
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.”Hall of Remembrance inside Liverpool Town Hall at Panel 13 Left
Boaler Street Council School now housed at Butler CP School, Butler Street, Everton.
On the 1921 Census at Berwick Street, his father, Edward, is aged 68, a furniture repairer, his mother, Mary, is aged 62, Ernest is 22 and Frank 19.
His father died, aged 81, in 1935.
His death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Monday 21st October 1935;
BACKHOUSE - October 18, at 72 Berwick-street, aged 81 years, EDWARD JOSEPH, beloved husband of Mary Jane Backhouse. (Sadly missed by all.) Service at Norwood Congregational Church, to-morrow (Tuesday), at 2 p.m.; interment at West Derby Cemetery immediately afterwards.
His mother, died, aged 84, in 1942.
Killed On This Day.
(108 Years this day)Sunday 16th June 1918.
Pte 57615 Fred William Preddy
23 years old
(105 Years this day)
Thursday 16th June 1921.
Captain Leonard George Duncan
43 years old