Unit/Regiment	5th Bn, Royal Irish Fusiliers
Date of Death	16/08/1915		Age at Death		34
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Helles Memorial Panel 178 to 180
CWGC Family Details (if shown)	Son of John Grimes, of 12, Bruce St., St. Helens; husband of Margaret Gobell (formerly Grimes), of 36, Mines Avenue, Whiston, Prescot, Lancs.
SDGW – Where Born	Warrington, Lancs	Enlisted		Warrington, Lancs	Resided	Prescot, Lancs
How Died	Killed In Action			Theatre of War	Gallipoli
Research Ref. No.	P134

Research ongoing

 

 

 

 

 

Unit/Regiment	“F” Coy, 7th Btn, South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death	01/04/1917		Age at Death		36
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Prescot Churchyard Middle East part
CWGC Family Details (if shown)	Husband of Bertha Burke (formerly Grogan), of 4, Golden Court, Derby St., Prescot
Census Details	1891 Census - John Grogan is aged 9 and is living in Forbers Court, off Tea Street, Prescot. The family also includes his father John, a 46 year old labourer, mother Mary (38) and children James (17), Annie (12), Andrew (7), Margaret (5), Ellen (3) and Catherine (2). By 1901, John is working as a coal miner and is living with his brother-in-law John Kelly at 3, Cambridge Street, Prescot
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations	John Grogan marriage to  Bertha Alcock (b. Q2/1884, Prescot) in Q2/1907, Prescot, 8b, 1225 Death Registered Q2/1917, Prescot, 8b, 827
SDGW – Where Born	Prescot, Lancs	Enlisted		St Helens, Lancs	Resided	Prescot
How Died	Died of Wounds			Theatre of War	Home
Research Ref. No.	P135

Service Details

John Grogan enlisted as Private 16049 into the 7^th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment on 8^th December 1914 in St Helens. He was a 33 year old married man and worked as a Collier. He lived at Golden Court, Prescot.

Private Grogan stood 5 foot 7 inches tall, weighed 126 pounds and had a 36 ½ inch chest measurement, expandable by 3 inches. His had “Good” vision in both eyes and as a result of his medical examination he was passed as Fit for military service.

The 7^th (Service) Battalion was formed from the large number of recruits who flocked to the colours as a result of Kitchener’s appeal in August 1914. The 6^th and 7^th Battalions were formed within a few days of each other but the 7^th did not receive any uniforms until October, having to wear civilian clothes up to that time.

On 22^nd February 1915, whilst at Moor Lane Camp, Private Grogan was charged with overstaying his pass from 7.30 a.m. until 9.00 p.m. and his punishment was to be “Admonished”.  However, he committed the same offence and received the same punishment four weeks later.

The battalion was eventually trained and fully equipped by March 1915 and on 17^th July the battalion embarked for France on the SS “Onward”, arriving at Bolougne.

Private Grogan overstayed his leave again in August of that year and perhaps surprisingly was only admonished for a third time!

The 7^th Battalion moved into the line for the first time on 28^th August, in the Festubert-Givenchy sector. They moved in and out of the line in rotation for several months, enduring the daily grind of warfare, with trench raids, artillery attacks, etc. to contend with.

Private Grogan committed a further offence of overstaying his leave early in 1916, but this time his punishment was to be confined to barracks for 2 days.

In June 1916, the battalion was ready to join the great Somme offensive. On the 1^st July, they moved into the line at 9.30, some 3 hours after the start of the assault, and waited for instructions. They were moved around for the next two days, but did not as yet engage the enemy. On 3^rd July, they were tasked with an attack on the strongly defended ruins of La Boisselle, although the start time for the attack was not until 9.30 p.m. The attack was fierce and sustained extremely heavy casualties, but the village was finally cleared by bayonet point at 3pm the following day.

The battalion was withdrawn from the line early on 6^th July, moving back to rest billets at Albert.

They moved in and out of the line throughout July as the battle of the Somme wore on, until finally at the beginning of August, they moved northwards into Flanders, to the Messines Ridge. They moved on again in September to the vicinity of Ploegsteert but spent a relatively quiet time there before yet again returning to the Somme in October, although the time was uneventful with regard to major incidents.

Private Grogan will have likely been wounded in one of these engagements, perhaps as part of the daily grind of trench warfare and artillery attacks. He ultimately returned home and succumbed to his wounds on 1^st April 1917. He rests in Prescot Churchyard.

Strangely, a report appeared in the Parish Magazine (date not known) which read “Pte. John  Grogan, age 36, of 4 Golden Court. 7th South Lancs. Killed in France 30th March 1917. Leaves a widow and 4 children”. It is assumed that a communication error led to the comment that he had been killed in France.

His medal entitlement, as shown on his Medal Index Card below, was the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

 

 

John Grogan's Medal Index Card

 

 

John Grogan’s grave in Prescot Churchyard. The stone is heavily covered with moss as it has, until recently, been covered with overgrowth. The condition of the stone has been reported to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

 

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Unit/Regiment	8th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death	23/05/1921	Age at Death	39
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Prescot Churchyard NP 147
CWGC Family Details (if shown)	Husband of Jane Hale, of 14, Sewell St., Prescot.
Census Details	1901 Census - James lived at West View, Huyton, with his father George, a 50 year old ironworker, Mother Ellen, 48, and siblings Anne and Sarah, both 27, Matilda (17), Clara (14) and Charles (9).
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations	Birth registered Q1/1992, Warrington, 8c, 223 Marriage registered Q2/1906, Prescot, 8b, 1131, to Jane Stott Death registered Q2/1921, West Derby, 8b, 381
Research Ref. No.	P136

 

Service Details

James Hale died after the war and rests in Prescot Churchyard. Although the exact cause of his death is not known, he must have succumbed to injuries received whilst in service. This could have been at any stage of his service with the 8^th battalion.

 

When photographed, his grave stone was in a very poor state of repair, lying recumbent upon the family grave. It had for a long time been under the heavy overgrowth which has now been cut back. The condition of the stone has been reported to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for action.

 

 

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Unit/Regiment	No 1 Reserve M.T. Corp, Army Service Corps
Date of Death	21/11/1918	Age at Death	26
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Prescot Churchyard NP 199
CWGC Family Details (if shown)	Son of William and Elizabeth Hall, of 11, Cook St., Prescot
Census Details	1901 Census - The Hall family lived at 17, Houghton Street, Prescot. William (45), a Watch Case Maker, and his wife Elizabeth (43) had children Thomas (15), Henry (13),  William (8), Margaret (6), Joseph (3) and John (6m).
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations	Death registered Q4/1918, Woolwich, Vol 1d, Page 2438
Notes	Formerly 78218, King’s (Liverpool regiment) and also 53156, Labour Corps
Research Ref. No.	P137

 

Research ongoing

 

 

William Hall’s Medal Index Card which shows his service with the King’s (Liverpool) Regiment, Labour Corps and RASC

 

 

The inscription on William Hall’s grave at Prescot Churchyard

 

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Unit/Regiment   13th Bn., Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) Date of Death   06/02/1916   Age at Death   21 Burial/Memorial & Reference   Loos Memorial   Panel 10 to 13   CWGC Family Details (if shown)   Son of Anie Matilda Hamecher of 30, Arkwright Street, Bolton, and the late John H. H. Hamecher   Census Details   1901 Census - The Hamecher family were living at 316, Ormskirk Road, Pemberton, Lancashire and consisted of father Hermes, a 51 year old maker of cordials, his wife Matilda, 41, and children Matilda (9), John (8), William (6) and Doris (6 months)   Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations   Birth Registered Q4/1894, Prescot, 8b, 6097   SDGW – Where Born   Prescot, Lancs   Enlisted   Bolton   Resided       How Died   Killed in Action Theatre of War   France & Flanders Research Ref. No.   P138

 

Service Details

Although the Hamecher family lived in Bolton at the time of the 1901 census, they had moved around south Lancashire for several years. William’s father, Herman, was born in Germany around 1850, his wife was a native of Gloucestershire, but all the children were born in either Prescot, West Derby or Wigan.

William Hamecher attested to the Royal Scots Regiment, the most senior regiment in the British Army, on the 31^st May 1915 at Bolton. He recorded that he lived at 30, Arkwright Street, Bolton, that he was aged 20 years 180 days and was working as a Shop Assistant. His next of kin was noted as his mother, Annie Matilda Hamecher of the same address.

He was initially posted to the 4^th Battalion of the regiment on 4^th June 1915 and undertook his training with them. He remained in the UK training until 3^rd October 1915, when he embarked for France as part of the British Expeditionary Force, arriving there the following day and being immediately posted to the 13^th Battalion of the regiment.  On October 12^th 1915, Pte.  Hamecher wrote a brief will in which he stated “In the event of my death I give the whole of my property and effects to my mother, Mrs. Hamecher of 30, Arkwright Street, Bolton”.

It seems likely that Pte. Hamecher joined the  battalion as one of the replacements much needed after the losses at the Battle of Loos in September. They did not get involved in any major actions for the next few months, and it is probable that Pte. Hamecher was a victim of the normal daily grind of trench life.

William Hamecher died of wounds at St Georges Advanced Dressing Station (ADS) on 6^th March 1916. He was buried close to the dressing station, which was located about 3 miles south of La Bassee, but his grave was lost in subsequent fighting and he is now remembered on the Loos Memorial.

  

 

The record of William Hamecher’s original burial, subsequently lost

 

On 22^nd April 1916, his mother, having been informed of her son’s death, wrote to the regiment to say that her son had told her that his will was with the regiment, but that when she registered her claim with the War Office, they replied that no such will was in their department. Consequently, she asked for the will to be sent direct to her from the regimental records office.

No return correspondence exists, but it seems that the fact that a copy of his will is part of the records file suggests that it was indeed returned to his mother.

The War Office wrote to the Records Office of the Royal Scots at Hamilton on 18^th May 1916 requesting that any personal possessions of Pte. Hamecher should be returned to his mother at the Bolton address. Then in October 1919, the War Office wrote to Mrs. Hamecher asking for full details of living family members of Pte. Hamecher in order that they could correctly deliver the Memorial Plaque and Scroll.

The returned form noted that he was single and did not have any children, it confirmed his mother’s details and added that his father was John Henry Herman Hamecher of the same address. Brothers John (26) and Harold (16), were listed, along with sisters Matilda (28) and Doris (19).  The name of his father conflicts with that shown on the 1901 census, suggesting a transcription error by the census enumerator.

William Hamecher’s Medal Index Card (below), confirms that he arrived in France on 4^th October 1915. This qualified him for a 1914-1915 Star in addition to his British War Medal and Victory Medal.

His mother acknowledged receipt of the medals in 1921.

 

 

William Hamecher's Medal Index Card

 

 

William Hamecher’s inscription on the Loos Memorial

 

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Unit/Regiment	18th Bn., King's (Liverpool Regiment)
Date of Death	01/07/1916		Age at Death		23
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Peronne Road Cemetery IV I 28
CWGC Family Details (if shown)	Son of Joseph and Mary Hamer, of 34, Garswood St., Dingle, Liverpool.
Census Details	1901 Census - The family lived at 53, Briarwood Road, Wavertree and comprised Joseph Hamer, a 34 year old engineer, wife Mary, aged 33, and children Joseph(10), George (8) and Violet (2).
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations	Birth Registered Q1/1893, Prescot, 8b, 723
SDGW – Where Born	Prescot, Lancs	Enlisted		Liverpool	Resided	Dingle, Liverpool
How Died	Died of Wounds			Theatre of War	France & Flanders
Research Ref. No.	P139

The Commanding Officer of the 18^th Battalion, Lt. Col. E. H. Trotter gave the following narrative of the 18^th Battalion on 1^st July 1916, the infamous “First Day of The Somme”. The narrative reproduced here is extracted from “The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool)”, by Everard Wyrell, published 1934.

“The battalion was formed up in the assembly trenches by 7.30 a.m. At 7.20, I went down the line and saw that all was in order, then returned to Battalion Headquarters. I tried to observe the advance of the battalion at 7.30 but I was too late by about a minute in seeing the front line getting out of their trenches, but I saw the enemy attempting to barrage our front line just after the third line left and before the fourth line reached the barrage. The enemy’s barrage did not appear to do much harm to our men before they left our front line, as I saw our fourth line, who were in sectional columns, press successfully through the shell area; but I heard afterwards there were casualties from the enemy’s artillery on the racecourse. There are very few officers left now from No 1 Company, the leading company on the left, and none from No 4 Company, the support company, but from the narratives of the survivors, officers and men, I think the following is a pretty accurate story.

“In many places out men could leave the trenches without being seen from the enemy’s front line trenches. This was on the Fleche side, and to deal with them the enemy had machine guns which it was impossible to locate before the action commenced. The hedge running in front of Montauban, which was the apparent place, was under barrage from our artillery. These machines guns dealt with men, unseen, leaving the parapet.  On the right, where the men were more on the high ground, there was a machine gun firing directly on our men advancing from the frontline trench. This was afterwards captured, and its team, who fired up to the last minute and then attempted to surrender, were shot. An NCO had one hand on the gun and one in the air. The first line seems to have been taken with a certain amount of opposition, and one officer and some men surrendered,  but previous to this on our advance some men were seen to leave the trench and retreat towards Montauban. A certain amount of bombing took place in the second-line trench and thirty men surrendered after being forced into dug-outs by our advancing parties. The line was not held by the barrage on the front two trenches or Alt trench.

Here a difficulty arose and the officers who remained alive with the men had difficulty in stopping their forward rush. The barrage was on, as ordered at the scheduled time, and the battalion had to wait until it lifted., during which time they were subjected from the left-flank to machine-gun fire which enfiladed them, beside which the enemy had placed a flanking party under cover of a tree hedge with its right running into Alt Alley, covered by a bombing party.

“Capt. A de Bels Adam, who was in the second line and whose duty it was to keep intercommunication with the 18^th Division and cover on the left flank, immediately saw the situation and as agreed, attempted to deal with it by the bombing parties told off for this object.  The bombing parties were, however, shot down by snipers. The gallantry of the men and officers and the foresight and battle knowledge of Capt. Adam is beyond all praise, for at this point and at this moment I think the whole of the operations for the taking of Montauban were in the balance. Our forward bombing parties had all been shot down by snipers and 2/Lt. G. A. Herdman, who had come forward to deal with the situation, was blown to pieces by an enemy bomb. 2/Lt. E. Fitzbrown, who led his company and was the first man to enter the enemy’s front-line trench, where he had emptied his revolver , seeing the situation, took two bombs in his hand and attempted to bomb Train Alley and the hedge, and immediately met with the same fate as other bombers had done who had tried to do the same thing, from the enemy’s snipers. Here it was that Capt. Adam’s battle knowledge and determination saved the situation.

“He immediately sent to Lt. Watkins of the clearing party, for more bombers, who came up. Men, whose name deserves mention, reconnoitered at the risk of wounds (which they received) and death also, located the enemy’s bombing party and reported to Lt. Watkins that Alt Trench was held by an advanced bombing party which covered the enemy’s snipers in Train Alley with rifles fixed in Alt Trench.

“Lt Watkins attempted to go down and found the body of 2/Lt. Herdman, and threw a bomb which failed to reach the enemy bombing guard. Lt. Watkins acted as a subaltern would act, and grasping the situation immediately, he told off his longest throwers, who with the greatest luck, threw a bomb into the German bombing guard, killing two and pushing the rest back into Train Alley, thus making the advance possible and the bombing of Lt Watkins party drove the enemy into their dugouts; many were shot in the hedge by riflemen and thirty surrendered to Lt. Watkins once their dugouts were bombed.”

The narrative goes on to say that every fighting officer was hit by enemy shells or bullets except one, and he as accidentally bayoneted as he crossed a trench. The total number of casualties, killed and wounded, was estimated at over 500.

It is not possible to denote exactly which part of the battle resulted in the death of Private Hamer, but the above extract is intended to give an indication of the ferocity of the action in which he fell.

 

The medals roll shows that Private Hamer qualified for the 1914-1915 Star as he arrived in the theatre of war with his battalion on 7^th November 1915. This, however, is not shown on his Medal Index Card (see below).

Although the Medal Index Card is stamped as a 1914-1914-1915 Star Card, the box in the upper right does not indicate a Medal Roll for that award, only holding details of the British War Medal and Victory Medal. This is probably because the date of entry into the theatre of war is shown as 14^th March 1916.  On 29^th January 1919, George Hamer’s father applied for the 1914-16 Star on his son’s behalf, as indicated on the reverse of the Medal Index Card (below). Although the front of the card has been marked “Ineligible”, it is clear that the award was made by the entry into the medal roll, referenced earlier.

The card also shows that the family had moved to Dingle by 1921.

 


Pictures (above and below) kindly provided by "Delboy", a Pal of the Great War Forum



George Hamer's Memorial Plaque



George Hamer's Memorial Scroll



A letter concerning George Hamer's death sent by his Commanding Officer

Private Hamer is buried in Peronne Road Cemetery, in the row adjacent to Lt. Col. Trotter, whose account of the attack on 1^st July is provided in that section. His grave stone is shown below

 

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Unit/Regiment	11th Bn., Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Date of Death	23/09/1918		Age at Death		24
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Kirechkoi-Hortakoi Military Cemetery 94
Census Details	1901 Census - This shows Robert as a "visitor" in the home of Elizabeth Disley, in Paradise Lane, Whiston.
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations	Birth Registered Q1/1894, Prescot, 8b, 700
SDGW – Where Born	Prescot, Lancs	Enlisted		St Helens, Lancs	Resided
How Died	Died of Wounds			Theatre of War	Salonika
Notes
Research Ref. No.	P140