Son of Joshua and Annie Finney, of 8, Ward St., Prescot, Lancs
Census Details
1901 Census -
The Finney family lived at 11, Cyprus Street. Joshua (30, a Watch Broachmaker) and his wife Annie (27) had children Rachel (6), Fred (5), Joseph (3) and Walter (1)
As there is no date of entry shown in Fred Finney’s medal Index Card (below), it is assumed that he only arrived in France with his battalion after the beginning of January 1916.
In mid-January 1916, the battalion was based south of Arras, taking over trenches from the French at Bellacourt. The time between then and April was uneventful, but the trenches were in a very poor condition leading to an uncomfortable period there, with some 25 men being victims of frostbite and exposure. The units spent 8 days in the trenches and 8 days in support, and whilst in the trenches they had to send out patrols every night,
The Regimental history does not record details of any significant actions around this time. Although the Battle of the Somme had commenced on 1st July, the battalion, part of 55th Division, was only engaged with active patrolling and sniping.
Private Finney was killed in this “quiet” period. His body was recovered and he rests in AgnyMilitaryCemetery
The Battalion War Diary for the few days around Pte. Finney’s death is reproduced below.
July 12th/13th
Relieved 1/8th Liverpool Regt, 164th Bde in trenches in front of AGNY. Dispositions of 166th Bde, 1/5th South Lancs Regt in front line right sub sector, 1/5th K O (Royal Lancaster) Regt in left sub sector, 1/10th Liverpool Regt in support in AGNY, 1/5th Loyal North Lancs Regt working for 165th Infy Bde in BRETENCOURT.
July 14th
Discharged smoke at 3am and heavily bombarded enemy lines. Retaliation was prompt but not heavy. Wind blew most of smoke back over our own lines. Casualties 1 killed 2 wounded.
July 16th/17th
Relieved by 1/6th York & Lancaster Regt, 11th Div and marched to billets at BEAUMETZ.
Prescot Reporter 28/07/1916 –
“Pte. Fred Finney of the Gun Section of a South Lancashire Regiment has been reported killed in action. Capt. Guy Pilkington has written saying the unfortunate young man was killed instantly by a big shell on the 16th inst. And that he would be greatly missed by his comrades and officers. He always did his duty willingly and cheerfully and was an exceedingly brave soldier.
Pte. Finney was 20 years of age and lived with his parents at 8, Ward Street, Prescot. He was well known in the town and his many friends have heard of his death with extreme regret. The greatest sympathy is felt for his sorrowing parents.”
The Parish Magazine of 22nd July 1916 reported “Four more of our townsmen have been reported Killed in Action”, and included “Pte. Fred Finney, 5thSouth Lancashire, aged 20, of 8, Ward Street”.
Prescot Reporter 14th September 1917
Fred Finney’s Medal Index Card. He was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal
Fred Finney’s grave at Agny Military Cemetery
Private 241325 Albert Holt FINNEY
Prescot Reporter 23/03/1917
Unit/Regiment
6th Bn., King's (Liverpool Regiment)
Date of Death
25/02/1917
Age at Death
25
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Y Farm Military Cemetery
N20
Census Details
1901 Census -
At 60, Warrington Road, Prescot, were Thomas Finney, a 48 year old File Maker, his wife Elizabeth (45), and children William (20, a File Maker), James, 18, a carter for a corn dealer (J Garth?), Thomas (15), a watch engraver, Lilly (12), Albert (10) and Martha (5).
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
Birth Registered Q2/1891, Prescot, 8b, 698
SDGW – Where Born
Prescot, Lancs
Enlisted
Liverpool
Resided
Prescot, Lancs
How Died
Killed In Action
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Notes
Brother of Ernest Finney (whose details follow)
Research Ref. No.
P104
Service Details
Rfn. Finney served with 2nd/6th King’s (Liverpool Regiment) from 3rd July 1915. The battalion landed in France around the middle of February 1917, one of 6 “second line” Territorial battalions of the King’s (Liverpool) Regiment to go to France after almost two years training in England.
They settled down to trench warfare, first in the Fleurbaix sector, then extending the line northwards as far as Armentieres, covering almost 16,000 yards of the front line. An officer of the 2nd/6th described Fleurbaix as follows:
“..it was a ruined village though some of the surrounding farms were intact and actually flourishing. The church was a mere skeleton and whole sides of somestreets were in a state of collapse. Windows were few and far between and the spaces usually covered with glass were now mostly filled with canvas, or in a few privileged places with oilskin which let in the light. According to the local report, the enemy shelled the place at regular intervals, gas shells being particularly plentiful in the previous bombardment”
On the 22nd February, the battalion relieved New Zealand troops in the front line in the La Boutillerie sector. The tour lasted four days, and one officer’s report stated “On the last night (25th) we had our first casualties, a ‘minnie’ falling right on to a post, killing three men and wounding two. The fortune of war is very curious; some men go for months and even years unscathed through dangers of every description; others, like these three, are killed on their first tour of duty in one of the quietest sectors in France. We buried them next day in the cemetery by Battalion Headquarters, and it was melancholy to realise that the dissolution of our happy band had now commenced in grim earnest, and was likely to proceed more rapidly in the days to come.”
Private Finney was one of those killed in this incident. The other men were Lance Corporal 241108 William Jack, aged 22 of Walton, Liverpool and Rifleman James McCutcheon, also aged 22, of Liverpool. The three men lie in adjacent graves at Y Farm Cemetery.
The Parish Magazine of 26th April 1917 reported “The following have fallen in the present fighting on various battlefields” and included “Pte. A. Holt Finney, 26, King’s Liverpool, of 60, Warrington Road, March 1917”
Prescot Reporter 14th September 1917
Private Finney’s Medal Index Card. The absence of a Date of Entry indicates that he only arrived overseas after January 1916. His entitlement was to the British War Medal and Victory Medal
The reverse of the card (above) shows that the Officer in Charge of Records requests authority for disposal of the medals in January 1923. This “disposal” refers to the issuing of the medals and suggests that they had not been sent out originally in 1921, when most medals were issued. The reasons for this are unclear
Private Finney’s grave (above) in Y Farm Cemetery, and below are the adjacent graves of his colleague Pte. Jack and Pte McCutcheon. They served together, died together and rest together
Private 9312 Ernest FINNEY
Unit/Regiment
1st Bn., King's (Liverpool Regiment)
Date of Death
16/05/1915
Age at Death
29
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Chocques Military Cemetery
I C 4
Census Details
1901 Census -
The Finney family lived at 60, Warrington Road. Thomas Finney, a 48 year old Filemaker and his wife Elizabeth (45) were joined by their children William (20), a Filemaker, James (18), a Carter for a Corn dealer, Thomas E. (15), a Watch Engraver, Lily (12), Albert (10) and Martha (5)
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
Thomas Ernest Finney, Birth Registered Q3/1885, Prescot, 8b, 713.
Marriage as Ernest T Finney to Emelda J Carrier, Q1/1914, 8b, 990
Son Laurence born Prescot, Q3/1914
SDGW – Where Born
Prescot, Lancs
Enlisted
Liverpool
Resided
Prescot, Lancs
How Died
Died of Wounds
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Notes
Brother of Albert Holt Finney (above)
Research Ref. No.
P105
Service Details
Ernest Finney was a reservist who had enlisted in July 1905 and had already served in India for 8 years. He was called up when the 1st Battalion mobilised on 5th August 1914, and sailed to Le Havre on board the S.S. Irrawaddy on 12th August.
Following the failure of the attack on Aubers Ridge on 9th May 1915, the High Command decided to continue the pressure on the German forces by another attack on the night of the 12th. This was delayed due to dull wintry weather, which interfered with artillery observation, and so the attack was scheduled for the night of the 15th May.This became known as the Battle of Festubert.
After darkness had fallen on the night of the 15th, around 6.15 p.m. the artillery began the final stage of their bombardment. The 1st battalion moved up later and by 10.30 were located in "C" and "D" lines. German artillery fire was quite active with heavy shells falling amongst "A" and "B" companies and by 11 p.m. several men had already been wounded.
Around 11 p.m. the men moved out into "No Mans Land" in small parties. Eventually, the first, second and third lines lay out in front of the trenches waiting for the signal to attack - and still unnoticed by the Germans.
The attack began at 11.30 p.m. The companies attempted to cross the remainder of No Mans Land by platoon but the first attempt was cut down by German machine gun fire, and the second went out before any other orders could be issued. These men were also wiped out.
Another assault was ordered for 8 a.m. and two platoons of the battalion led the attack but the enemy rifle and machine-gun fire almost wiped them out. During the day, some of the men who had been wounded managed to make their way back and others came in after darkness had fallen.
Private Finney is reported wounded and died the same day, 16th May, in No 1 Casualty Clearing Station, located at Chocques, north-west of Bethune.He was buried in ChocquesMilitaryCemetery.
Prescot Reporter 14th September 1917
Ernest Finney’s Medal Index Card. It shows only his entitlement to the British War Medal and Victory Medal. A second card, shown below, shows his entitlement to the 1914-1914-1915 Star. The entitlements have been split because the second card has him incorrectly recorded as “B. Finney”.
This second card also confirms his arrival in France on 12th August 1914, 8 days after the declaration of war.
Ernest Finney’s grave at ChocquesMilitaryCemetery
Corporal 23001 Ernest FISHER
Unit/Regiment
1st/6th Bn, King's (Liverpool Regiment)
Date of Death
09/09/1918
Age at Death
21
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Terlincthun British Cemetery
III D 28
CWGC Family Details
(if shown)
Son of Thomas and Ann Fisher, of Knowsley, Lancashire.
SDGW – Where Born
Marbury, Cheshire
Enlisted
Liverpool
Resided
Prescot, Lancs
How Died
Died of Wounds
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Research Ref. No.
P106
Service Details
Corporal Fisher was awarded the Military Medal in 1918. Citations for the award do not exist, but the London Gazette entry for the award was dated 29th August 1918. Generally, the gazette announcements came approximately three months after the action for which the award was made, suggesting an action in or around May/June 1918.
The announcement of Cpl. Fisher’s award in the London Gazette
Ernest Fisher’s Medal Index Card
Corporal Fisher’s grave (centre) at Terlincthun
Private 2011 Percy FISHER
Unit/Regiment
65th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
Date of Death
21/03/1916
Age at Death
32
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Longuenesse Souvenir Cemetery
II B 46
CWGC Family Details
(if shown)
Husband of Elizabeth Fisher, of 5, Macdonald St., Wavertree, Liverpool.
SDGW – Where Born
Southborough, Kent
Enlisted
St Helens, Lancs
Resided
Prescot, Lancs
How Died
Died
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Research Ref. No.
P107
Service Details
The Parish Magazine of 27th November 1916 reported “The following have fallen in the present fighting on various battlefields” and included “Pte. Percy Fisher, 31, RAMC, of 15, Beaconsfield Street, died of wounds on 21st March 1916”.
Percy Fisher’s Medal Index Card
Private Fisher’s grave at Longuenesse Souvenir cemetery
Private 59150 Joseph FLEETWOOD
Unit/Regiment
1st (Garrison) Bn., Devonshire Regiment
Date of Death
15/04/1917
Age at Death
36
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Mikra Memorial
CWGC Family Details
(if shown)
Husband of Louisa Fleetwood, of 7, Portico Buildings, St. Helens, Lancs.
Census Details
1901 Census -
Joseph is recorded as living at 44, Houghton Street, Prescot, with his widowed mother Annie, aged 47. Joseph is shown to be a watch maker/case jointer. The 1891 census showed that he had elder sisters Annie and Mary. In the 1881 census, his mother is shown as married but no father is recorded.
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
Birth Registered Q2/1880, Prescot, 8b, 727
Marriage toLouisa Simm, Q2/1912, Prescot, 8b, 1317
SDGW – Where Born
Prescot, Lancs
Enlisted
Birmingham
Resided
How Died
Died
Theatre of War
EEF
Research Ref. No.
P108
Research ongoing
Joseph Fleetwood’s Medal Index Card
Joseph Fleetwood’s inscription on the Mikra Memorial
Private 241135 Alfred FLEMING
Unit/Regiment
1st/5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death
30/12/1917
Age at Death
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Cement House Cemetery
XIII F 41
SDGW – Where Born
Prescot, Lancs
Enlisted
St Helens, Lancs
Resided
How Died
Killed In Action
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Research Ref. No.
P109
Research ongoing
Alfred Fleming’s Medal Index Card
Alfred Fleming’s grave, in the centre with the Remembrance Cross at its base at Cement House cemetery. The first picture is a close up of the stone.
