Private 350014 William James CADDICK 

Service Details

It is not clear when William Caddick transferred from the Royal Engineers to the King’s (Liverpool) Regiment. His medal index card, shown below, does not include a date of entry to an operational theatre of war which usually means that the date would be after 1^st January 1916.

The following narrative is an extract from Ken Lees website http://www.9thkings.co.uk/

In July 1917 the British Army once again went onto the offensive in the Third Battle of Ypres which became known as 'Passchendaele'. They attacked near to the village of Wieltje on the opening day of the battle, 31st July 1917 in conditions which soon appeared almost impossible. Survival against the elements was a difficult task in itself without the ever present danger of the German shelling and machine guns.

The objective allotted to the Battalion consisted of a section of the enemy second line called the "Stutzpunkt" Line. In spite of the conditions and the determined resistance of the German defenders, the attack of the opening day of the battle was relatively successful but as always, many men of the battalion paid for this success with their lives before being relieved from the front line on the night of 2nd/3rd August.

Their efforts in the opening days of one of the world's epic battles was recognised with numerous awards to officers and men for gallantry and the following message from the Brigade Commander:

“To Officer Commanding,

9th King's Liverpool Regt.

Will you please congratulate all ranks of your Battalion on the great gallantry they displayed during the recent operations? They not only captured all their objectives, but also helped other troops to capture theirs. The magnificent way in which they captured the position and held it against all counter attacks makes me very proud to have such a Battalion in my Brigade.

L. BOYD MOSS,

Brigadier General,

165th Brigade.

4th August, 1917.”

Although his date of death is the 4^th August, when the battalion had come out of the line, it is likely that Private Caddick was killed in the action referred to above. The battalion lost 18 men killed between the 1^st and 4^th of August. William Caddick’s body was recovered and he is buried in Mendinghem Military Cemetery.

Private 14654 Charles CAFFREY 

The announcement of Pte. Caffery’s Military Medal in the London Gazette

S CANAVAN

This name is inscribed on the panel of the civic memorial which was added after the initial panels had been inscribed. I have been unable to find anything at all about this man, and I don't know for certain if he was actually a casualty of the Great War or the Second World War.

If you can aid identification, could you please contact me at the above email address.

Lance Sergeant 241195 Richard CARNEY

Service Details

The 2^nd/5^th battalion of the South Lancashire regiment was officially constituted at Liverpool on September 23^rd, 1914, principally as a “second line” unit for the 1^st/5^th battalion. It proceeded to Blackpool on 11^th November to commence its training, although it was severely handicapped in the early days by a lack of uniforms and equipment.

Early in 1915, the battalion was moved to Tunbridge Well sin Kent, forming part of the Central Force for Home Defence, although training was still hampered by the lack of equipment. The battalion consisted of 37 officers and 1,203 other ranks, although a significant proportion of these were for Home Service only. In addition, a high turnover of personnel came about due to the large number of discharges on medical grounds.

In May of 1915, the first draft to replace casualties at the front was called for and 10 officers left immediately for France. A steady drain of men continued until November, when the 3^rd/5^th battalion was formed to act as a Dept for men who had been evacuated due to wounds or sickness, also supplying drafts to the first line battalion. The second line battalion was now able to form itself into a shape fir for the purpose of fighting.

As 1916 progressed, the battalion remained on Home Service, mainly constructing field fortifications for the protection of London, south of the Thames. In June, however, the battalion was moved to Ashdown in Kent to complete training in preparation for moving overseas. Orders were not received until Christmas 1916, however. Eventually, the battalion entrained at Farnborough on 16^th February 1917 for Folkstone. Their departure for France was delayed by fog until the 20^th, when they sailed on the s.s. “Princess Henriette” with a full complement of officers and men.

Their early days in France were mobile, moving from Boulogne to Bailleul, then Oultersteene and finally to Armentieres. Here on 4^th March, they moved into the front line trenches for the first time, relieving the men of the 2^nd/4^th battalion. At this time, Armentieres was a “quiet” sector and so the battalion passed the month of March suffering few casualties.

The battalion moved constantly around the front line areas throughout the remaining months of the year, ultimately moving into front line trenches in the Houthulst Forest sector on Christmas Day under constant German harassing fire. On 27thn of December,  “B” and “C” companies were relived in preparation for a raid on Turenne Crossing, north of Poelcapelle. They went back to Baboon Camp for training for the assault, planned for the night of 30^th/31^st December. The operation had been carefully rehearsed and was scheduled to start at 8 p.m., supported by artillery, machine guns and mortars. Snow was lying thickly and the raiders were instructed to wear white shirts over their uniform.

The companies advanced at zero hour under a creeping barrage. The artillery was effective and little resistance was encountered, with all the objectives being taken and the line being advanced by 200 yards. However casualties were suffered with 2 officers and 17 other ranks killed and 13 wounded.

Sergeant Richard Carney  was one of the wounded. He succumbed to his wounds on 2^nd January 1918 and now rests in Dozinghem Military Cemetery.

The Parish Magazine of 26^th January 1918 reported the death as follows: “Sergeant Richard Carney, 21, of the S. Lancashires who was killed 2^nd January 1918, of 23 William Street”.

 Richard Carney’s Medal Index Card, above, lists his entitlement to the British War Medal and Victory Medal

J CARROLL

This name is inscribed on the panel of the civic memorial which was added after the initial panels had been inscribed. I have been unable to find anything at all about this man, and I don't know for certain if he was actually a casualty of the Great War or the Second World War.

If you can aid identification, could you please contact me at the above email address.