Cpl 16793 Harry Sidney Baddeley

 

So baby Harry was brought up by his maternal Grandmother; Harriet Baddley (without the e) who had married Joseph Alcock in Northwich in the December quarter of 1871.

 

On 23 May 1894 Harry was registered for school at Lostock Gralam Infants School, east of Northwich as Harry Sidney (with an i) Baddley of School Lane by Mrs Alcock his Grandmother as Guardian. On 1st April 1897 he was registered at Lostock Gralam Junior School as Sidney Baddeley, his Guardian this time is recorded as his Grandfather Joseph Alcock. 

 

He was there until 21st June 1904 when he left, reason recorded as "Over 14."

His service record states he was born in Egremont, nr Liverpool, and his school record gives a birth date of 22nd June 1890 that registered in the Northwich District as Harry Sydney (with a Y) Baddeley. He was baptised on the 13th July 1890 in Lostock Gralam, Cheshire. 

The 1901 Census shows him as aged 10, a scholar and a grandson at 13 School Lane, Lostock Gralam.

 

In 1905 his mother's half sister Annie Allcock marries a Peter Alcock at Bucklow Registry Office.

 

On the 1911 Census, 20 year old Harry is shown as Harry Sydney Baddley an assistant grocer born at Lostock Gralam now living with his Aunt, Annie Alcock and her husband Peter and all of his cousins at Norwood Cottage Norwood Road, Seacombe, Wirral.

 

On 31st August 1914, then aged 24, Harry enlisted at St George's Hall, Liverpool, joining the 18th (Pals) Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16793 his occupation is shown as provisioner. He was described as being 5 foot 4 inches in height, weighed 129 lbs and had a 36 inch chest. He had hazel eyes and brown hair. His religion was stated as Church of England. 

 

He spent 1 year and 68 days at home training. From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when the battalion moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th 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. 

07.11.15 - embarked for France

02.7.16  - promoted to Lance Corporal

25.8.16 - attached to 30th Div. Anti-Gas School 

30.8.16 - returned to Bn.

31.8.16 - awarded 1st good conduct badge after 2 years service, granted Class I proficiency pay

7.10.16 - confirmation of paid L/Cpl

18.10.16 - wounded in action

21.10.16 - admitted to 3 C.R.S. with shrapnel wound to head

25.10.16 - resumed duty

21.1-6.2.17 - on leave to UK

8.3.17 - to 24 S.B.D. (Dental)

21.4.17 - attached to 30th Div. depot

On 11 April 1917 Harry was promoted to full Corporal and in June 1917 he was commended for gallantry in the field. 

Harry was killed in action on 31st July 1917, aged 26.

18^th Battalion

On this day, before Zero Hour, the 18^th Battalion was part of 21^st Brigade and was to form up for the attack from trenches from the area of Sanctuary Wood to Observatory Ridge but it was dark and continually falling rain gave very poor visibility. The departure of the 21^st Brigade was delayed by heavy shelling.

The 18^th King’s began to move forward in the rear of the 2^nd Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment who had been detailed as the left attacking battalion of the 21^st Brigade.

No’s 1 and 3 Companies of the King’s led the way followed by No’s 2 and 4. In Sanctuary Wood there was considerable confusion, as a result No.2 and No.4 Companies became separated from the others, and were moved over to the left flank towards positions known as Surbiton Villas and Clapham Junction in the direction of the 90^th Brigade.

No.1 and 3 Companies were soon in action with the enemy, and were for a time, held up against an enemy strong point. They pushed forward with their right on a trench known as Jar Row and their left on the tramway south of Stirling Castle. Advance along Jar Row was held up by the Germans who put up a fierce resistance and the party was forced to withdraw.

Another group of men from No.1 and No.3 Companies led by 2^nd Lieutenant Graham were being held up by another strongpoint which was south of Stirling Castle, which was eventually stormed and taken.  Not far away from this action,  an attempt, by other men of No.1 and No.3 companies, was made to penetrate a broad belt of uncut wire, but this was covered by Machine-guns which killed almost every man attempting to pass through the two gaps that were discovered.

The situation was similar with No.2 and 4 Companies, who had attacked along the wrong axis. Their advance was met with fierce opposition, and once all the experienced officer’s had been killed or wounded, all cohesion was lost, although some men did reach and cross the Menin Road at Clapham Junction.

By that time, the situation had become extremely confused, and the whereabouts of all four companies being unknown to Battalion Headquarters, urgent attempts were made to discover their locations. Eventually by mid- afternoon, it was established that the bulk of the companies, although all mixed together, were dug in the vicinity of Stirling Castle and by mid evening, the Battalion Headquarters moved forward to meet them.

During its time in the line the 18^th Battalion lost 7 officers and 76 men killed or died of wounds and 7 officers and 177 men wounded. They were relieved on the 2^nd August.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on the 23rd August 1917:

BADDELEY - July 31, killed in action, Harry Sidney Baddeley (K.L.R.), the dearly-loved and only nephew of Peter and Annie Allcock and only cousin of the late Norman Alcock who was killed in action, August 28 1916.

There is a link death cannot sever-

Love and remembrance live for ever.

- From all at 45 Wright Street, Egremont.

BADDELEY - July 31, killed in action Corporal Harry Baddeley (Liverpool Pals) of 45 Wright-street, Egremont. (A brave soldier,a hero's death) - Sadly missed by Nan Ravens. 

He was reported killed in the Weekly Casualty List on 18th September 1917

King's (Liverpool Regiment) - Baddeley, 16793, H. (Egremont).

He now rests at Hooge Crater Cemetery Ypres IV D 12.

Hooge Chateau and its stables were the scene of very fierce fighting throughout the First World War. On 31 October 1914, the staff of the 1st and 2nd Divisions were wiped out when the chateau was shelled; from 24 May to 3 June 1915, the chateau was defended against German attacks and in July 1915, the crater was made by a mine sprung by the 3rd Division. On 30 July, the Germans took the chateau, and on 9 August, it and the crater were regained by the 6th Division. The Germans retook Hooge on 6 June 1916 and on 31 July 1917, the 8th Division advanced 1.6 Kms beyond it. It was lost for the last time in April 1918, but regained by the 9th (Scottish) and 29th Divisions on 28 September.

Hooge Crater Cemetery was begun by the 7th Division Burial Officer early in October 1917. It contained originally 76 graves, in Rows A to D of Plot I, but was greatly increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of Zillebeke, Zantvoorde and Gheluvelt and other smaller cemeteries.

There are now 5,916 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 3,570 of the burials are unidentified, but special memorials record the names of a number of casualties either known or believed to be buried among them, or whose graves in other cemeteries were destroyed by shell fire.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.    

His soldiers effects under Henry Baddeley of £3:0s:7d and a war gratuity of £15 were never claimed.

 

He is listed in Wyralls Volume III The History of the King's and Maddocks Liverpool Pals under Badderley  H.

On 29th August 1916 his cousin Private 17027 Norman Goulding Alcock of the 11th Cheshire Regt and son of his Aunt Annie, who he lived with before they both enlisted, was killed in action in France.

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