Pte 35957 Albert Eli Garnett

• Age: 22
• From: Witton-cum-Twambrooks
• 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.

Albert Eli Garnett was born on 27th April 1894 in Witton-cum-Twambrooks, Cheshire, the son of Eli Garnett and his wife Elizabeth (nee Allcock). He was baptised on 24th May 1894 at Witton-cum-Twambrooks, a village just outside Northwich. His parents married on the 09th October 1887 at St Helen's Church, Witton. Eli was a 35 year old saddler of Hartford, father Thomas a labourer, whilst Elizabeth was aged 29 of Witton, father Peter a labourer. Albert was the youngest of their four children and the only son. He had three older sisters, Margaret Elizabeth, Mary Hilda, and Ada (who died in infancy). 

His father had worked as a saddler since his teenage years and the family had lived in James Street since at least 1891.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 9 James Street, Northwich. Albert is 6 years of age living with his parents and two elder sisters. His father, Eli, is a saddler born at Weaverham in 1851, whilst his mother was born at Davenham in 1858. His sisters were both born in Northwich; Margaret b.1888 and Hilda b.1890.

The family are still at the property in 1911. Both parents are present, his father, 59, is a journeyman saddler, his mother is 52. They advised that they had been married for 23 years, and had 4 children, 3 of whom have survived. Albert Eli is now 16 and a hairdressers apprentice. His elder sister Hilda, now recorded as Mary Hilda is also declared in the household. She is a shop assistant. 

Albert enlisted in Manchester in the second half of 1915, and arrived in France some time in 1916.

He was serving in the 20^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 35957 when he was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916 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.    

Albert was initially declared Missing in Action on 30th July 1916. International Red Cross records show two enquiries from his mother and responses on 19th September and 20th December 1916 notifying her that they held no information on Albert.

His parents waited nearly eleven months to hear definite news, posting a notice in the Nantwich and Runcorn newspapers on 15th June 1917:

"In ever-loving memory of Private Albert E. Garnett, King's Liverpool Regiment, reported missing July 30th, 1916, now officially presumed to have been killed on that date, aged 22, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Garnett, 9 James Street, Northwich.
     Until the day breaks,
     And the shadows flee away."

Even after his death was officially presumed, two years after Albert had been reported Missing, his mother made a further enquiry to the I.C.R.C., with a similar reply on 14th September 1918.

Soldiers effects including his outstanding Army pay and a War Gratuity of £3 went to his father. It is not clear from the pension card in the name of his mother whether a pension was awarded.

Albert'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, 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 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.”

Albert is also remembered on the  following Memorials:

Northwich Parish Church (St. Helen Witton), Church Road, Northwich

Northwich War Memorial

His father appears to have died in 1929 aged 77 and his mother in 1937 at the age of 79.

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