Private 36967 James BEESLEY

 Research ongoing

Private 3940 Walter BEESLEY

Service Details

Walter Beesley’s attestation reports that he lived at 2 Court, Houghton Street, Prescot when he joined up for active service on 27^th May 1915 in St Helens. He was shown to be aged 24 years and 5 months, was 5ft 11 ½in in height with a chest measurement of 37 ½ inches, expandable by a further 2 inches. His vision and physical development are both “good”, and the Medical Officer recorded him as fit for active service.

He remained stationed in the UK until 15^th January 1916, when he embarked for France, arriving the following day.

As part of the Somme offensive, which had commenced on 1^st July 1916, on 8^th August, the battalion was ordered to capture the village of Guillemont, which had defied all previous attempts at capture and was a thorn in the side of the British forces. The attack commenced at 4.20 a.m. and initially all objectives were taken despite strong resistance. By the end of the day, the Railway Station and the front line trenches in front of the village were in allied hands. Orders were then received to be ready to continue the attack the following morning.

Zero hour was again at 4.20 a.m. and the initial assault was met with withering machine gun fire from the German defenders, resulting in the troops falling back to their starting points. This also resulted in the companies being heavily mixed up and it was noon before reorganisation was complete. After this, the battalion remained near Trones Wood until the 10^th, clearing the dead of the previous two days of battle and consolidating the ground won at such a heavy cost. On the evening of the 10^th, they were withdrawn to bivouac and then on the 12^th returned to the line at Maltz Horn Farm.

Private Beesley’s record carries no additional information before his death on 10^th August 1916 as part of the assault on Guillemont. His body was never recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. His medal entitlement is listed as the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, as shown below on his Medal Index Card.

Walter Beesley’s Medal Index Card

Private 2152 Charles BERRY

Service Details

The 2^nd Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment landed in France on 14^th August 1914, just over a week after the outbreak of war.  They disembarked at Le Havre with a strength of 27 officers and 980 other ranks, and then travelled by train to Mauberge.

They marched over the next few days through areas of northern France where the civilian population turned out in droves to meet and salute them, ultimately arriving at St Hilaire on the 20^th.  On the 21^st, they again marched off, this time towards the Belgian border, finally arriving at Framieres in the late afternoon of the 22^nd. They were then informed that the Germans had occupied Brussels and that the next day they would be moving forward to engage the enemy.

On the morning of the 23^rd they marched off and by mid-afternoon they could see shells bursting over Mons some two miles away. Battle was imminent. By 5.30, they were entrenched and ready for action.

Early next morning, the 24^th, shortly before 4 a.m., the German infantry in masses and firing from the hip, came straight for the positions occupied by the Battalion, and were met by the defenders with rifle and machine-gun fire.

The battle raged for several hours and over 1,000 German troops were estimated to have been killed. But after several hours of intense fighting against overwhelming odds, the Battalion was forced to retire from their positions covering the Mons-Conde canal to avoid being outflanked. The retreat from Mons had commenced.

By the time the Battalion reached Coyelles on the 29^th and was able to regroup, the muster amounted to 14 officers and about 400 men, about half of its original strength.

The Battalion engaged in several more conflicts throughout the remainder of 1914, receiving well-needed replacements in December, by which time it was based in trenches east of Kemmel, and billeting in Ballieul when out of the line.

1915 saw a continuation of the trench warfare which defined the latter stages of 1914, ending up in August based in the Sanctuary Wood area, ready for the attack on the Bellewaarde Ridge, scheduled for 25^th September.

The attack, targeting the German trenches in the vicinity of Hooge and Bellewaarde was a diversionary tactic, designed to contain the enemy reserves whist the attack on Loos took place further south.

The men marched to their positions on the 24^th through a torrential downpour, resulting in them spending the night in wet clothes awaiting zero hour.

At 4.20 a.m. “A” and “B” companies moved over the parapet and headed for the ruins of Hooge Chateau.  The Germans launched a withering machine-gun attack on the troops, and “A” company retired when they found that the wire on their front had not been cut. “B” company managed to reach the German trenches and several men entered and engaged in hand-to-hand fighting with the Germans, but all were killed as support could not reach them, “B” company losing 114 out of 170 of all ranks.

The attack failed to make any impact and came to an end. In a few short hours, the battalion lost 2 officers and 26 Other Ranks killed with 6 officers and 222 OR wounded or missing.

Pte. Berry was one of the wounded and he succumbed to his wounds on 28^th. He is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery. This cemetery is close to the location of the Casualty Clearing Station at which he died.

Private Berry’s Medal Index Card incorrectly records his death as occurring on 22^nd September, instead of 28^th

Sergeant 240014 John BERRY

Service Details

John Berry attested for the Territorial Army on 16th April 1908, joining the 5th Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment as Private 142. He was 27 years and 10 months old and worked as a "Wireman" at British Insulated & Helsby Cables Ltd in Prescot. His address was Paradise Lane, Whiston and his next of kin was his wife, Elizabeth, of the same address.

His service record shows that his Territorial service was on home soil, based in Widnes, until the outbreak of war on 4th August 1914. He attended the annual two weeks training camp for Territorials each year from 1908 to 1913. 

Private 3818 Joseph BIRCHALL

Service details

Joseph Birchall attested for military service on 26^th September 1914 in Liverpool, giving his address as 6, Paradise Lane, Whiston. He was enlisted in the 10^th (Reserve) Battalion (Liverpool Scottish) of the Kings (Liverpool Regiment) on 29^th August 1914. He gave his occupation as “Engineer” and was described as being 5' 7" tall, weighing 147lbs  with good physical development.

His medical inspection reported that he was aged 22 years and 3 months, that he was 5ft 6in in height with a chest measurement of 37 inches, expandable by 4 inches. His vision and Physical Development were marked as “Good” and he was declared fit for active service.

Private 4100 John BIRCHALL

Service Details

The 5^th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment, had just started its annual training in camp when war broke out in August 1914. It was sent to Edinburgh until October, then moved to Tunbridge Wells until February 1915. It was then ordered to France, sailing on the 13^th aboard s.s. King Edward., arriving at Le Havre the same day.

John Birchall attested for military service at St Helens on 22^nd June 1915. His address at that time was 7, Williams Street, Prescot and he signed on for the duration of the war.

His medical report showed that he was aged 28 years and 3 months. He was 5ft 10.5 inches in height, with a chest measurement of 34 inches, fully expanded to 37 inches. He general physical development was “Good” although he suffered from “poor teeth”. He recorded his occupation as “Miner”. His eyesight in both eyes was classed as “Good”. The Medical Officer classified him as fit for active service.

After just three months training with the 5^th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment, Private Birchall embarked for France on 2^nd September 1915 to join the British Expeditionary Force, arriving at Le Havre the following day.

His Service record shows that on the 18^th September 1915, he was “Confined to Barracks” for 3 days for unauthorised absence. He had missed the Tattoo Roll Call. On 29^th November 1915, he was sentenced to 7 days “Field Punishment No 1” for Neglect of Duty, the details of which are not recorded.

On 8^th August 1916, as part of the great Battle of the Somme, the battalion was ordered to capture the village of Guillemont, which had defied all previous attempts at capture and was a thorn in the side of the British forces. The attack commenced at 4.20 a.m. and initially all objectives were taken despite strong resistance. By the end of the day, the Railway Station and the front line trenches in front of the village were in allied hands. Orders were then received to be ready to continue the attack the following morning.

Zero hour was again at 4.20 a.m. and the initial assault was met with withering machine gun fire from the German defenders, resulting in the troops falling back to their starting points. This also resulted in the companies being heavily mixed up and it was noon before reorganisation was complete. After this, the battalion remained near Trones Wood until the 10^th, clearing the dead of the previous two days of battle and consolidating the ground won at such a heavy cost. On the evening of the 10^th, they were withdrawn to bivouac and then on the 12^th returned to the line at Maltz Horn Farm.

The next entry in his Private Birchall’s service record shows that he was admitted to a Royal Army Medical Corps Main Dressing station on 9^th August 1916 with Gun Shot Wounds to the back of the head. These wounds had been incurred “in the field”, and Private Birchall died of these wounds the same day.

The Battalion War Diary for the date of Pte. Birchall’s death is reproduced below

August 8 12midnight	Operation orders for attack received and Btn moves forward to get into position for an attack. 166 Inf Bde ordered to attack as follows: 1st Objective: Enemy front line from T25 b 1.5 through T25 a 3.3 to S24 d 65.75 2nd Objective: The capture of GUILLEMONT and of a line on the eastern side of the village from T25 b 1.5 to the Railway T19 b 0.3. 10th Liverpool Scottish to attack on the right and 5th Loyal North Lancs Regt on the left. The boundary between being TRONES WOOD – GUILLEMONT Road as far as T25 a 0.8. Thence a straight line running North East through the Church to the GUILLEMONT – LEOZE WOOD Road, to 5th Loyal North Lancs Regt. 5th South Lancs Regt to support the right Btn. Zero hour 4.30am. In moving up valley was found blocked with troops and transport.
August 9 2am	Commanding Officer with Adjutant arrived at proposed Btn Hqrs A5d 8g and found 2 Btn 165 Inf Bde (5th and 7th Kings Liverpool) in possession. Informed 166 Inf Bde Hqrs and were told to move up to Sunken Road T30c
August 9 3am	Established Hqrs in Sunken Road. Company Officers warned of changed Hqrs and sent for to explain changed scheme of attack as issued in Operation orders. No time to go into detail or for Coy Comdrs to explain to Coy Officers and N.C.O’s as attack was timed for 4.20am. Owing to all N.C.O’s and Btn and Coy runners having no idea of the country and the sunken road being crowded with men of 164 Bde great delay was caused in getting the Coys out in position.
August 9 3.55am	North Lancs just arriving and Officer in Command said he had only just heard that they were going to attack.
August 9 4.15am	Our guns opened a Heavy Barrage and the Germans dropped their Barrage within 3 minutes. Their back barrage line being our sunken road. Companies not all in position had to move thro Barrage. Those in position moved forward behind assaulting waves but whole line was unable to make headway owing to machine gun fire and heavy barrage. Whole line fell back and manned our original front line, Coys hopelessly intermixed with men of other attacking battalions.
August 9 12noon	Orders to withdraw Coys from line and relieve 1/5 Loyal North Lancs in Left Sector in front of TRONES WOOD. Relief completed 5pm. 5th Kings Own relieved 10th Liverpool Regt, on our right, also during afternoon.
August 9 5pm to August 10 midday	Btn worked hard clearing trenches and consolidating line.
August 10 4pm	Relief started by 8th West Kent Regt 72nd Bde. Relief complete 8pm and Btn moved back to Bivouacs in F22. Total casualties from 12 midnight 8th to 12 midnight 10th 8 Officers 130 other ranks.

Private Birchall rests in Dive Copse British Cemetery. The area just north of the cemetery was chosen prior to the Battle of the Somme for a concentration of Field Ambulances, and it seems likely that Private Birchall died at one of those. 

In a letter dated 21^st December 1916, the War Office advised the Army Records Office that any personal effects of Pte. Birchall should be forwarded to his mother, Mrs. Emma Ann Birchall of 7 Williams, Street, Prescot. On 17^th January 1917, the Army Records Office at Preston returned Pte. Birchall’s personal effects to his mother. They were listed as 1 Identity Disk, Letters, 1 Wallet, 1 Metal Cigarette Case, 1 Mirror in Metal Case, 1 Pocket Knife, 1 Cap Badge, 1 Pair of Titles, 1 Metal Watch.

On 17^th October 1919 the army wrote to his mother in connection with the issuing of Pte. Birchall’s death plaque and memorial scroll, asking for details of living relatives. On 22^nd October, his mother completed the army statement of relatives to show that John Birchall was unmarried and had no children. His parents were recorded as Thomas and Emma Ann Birchall of the same address. He also had three brothers, William (38), Richard (25) and Frederick (22), and three sisters, Elizabeth (35), Mary (31) and Ann (27). 

Private Birchall’s death announcement in the Manchester Guardian Casualty List of 11^th September 1916

His medal entitlement is recorded as the 1914-1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His mother acknowledged receipt of her son’s medals on 25^th September 1921.

Private Birchall’s service record, showing his dates and theatres of war, followed by his medal entitlement