The family lived at Hope Cottage, Lunts Heath Road, Widnes, and consisted of Jonathan (47), a farm labourer, his wife Hannah (40), and children John (10), Emily (9) and Albert (8).
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
Birth Registered Q4/1892, Warrington, 8c, 207
SDGW – Where Born
Warrington, Lancs
Enlisted
Warrington, Lancs
Resided
Prescot, Lancs
How Died
Killed In Action
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Notes
Research Ref. No.
P172
Although the battalion initially arrived in France within about a week of the start of the war, L/Cpl Kenwright only arrived with as part of the reinforcements of 31st May 1915, as shown on his Medal Index Card below..
The 1st Battalion of the King’s (Liverpool Regiment)had its baptism of fire on the Somme as late as 27th July, almost three weeks after the onset of the battle. From 6 a.m. on that date, the battalion had been “standing to” as the 99th Brigade was then attacking Delville Wood. Two hundred prisoners had already been passed down when the C.O. and two companies went up to carry stores to Longueval, close to the wood. They had to pass through a very heavy German barrage, with the result that 2/Lt. Seth Smith was wounded and 2/Lt. Crossley gassed, and about 40 other ranks became casualties.
Official dispatches for the day record that “the remainder of Delville Wood was recovered by the 2nd Division”.
It would appear that Lance-Corporal Kenwright was one of the casualties of the German barrage. His body was never identified and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
(Additional information, courtesy of Joe Devereaux) The Warrington Guardian of 16th June 1917 reported:-
“Lance-Corporal Albert Kenwright, of the King’s (Liverpool) Regiment, who has been missing since July 27th 1916, is now reported killed.
A single man, Lance-Corporal Kenwright (who lived with his sister, Mrs. Ellison of 1, Cobden Street, Warrington), was an old soldier, having completed seven years service in India five months before the outbreak of the war, when he was called up as a reservist. He received his education at Silver Street School, and during the five months he was at home, was employed by Messrs. Joseph Crosfield and sons. Two of his brothers are serving with the forces – Gunner Frederick Kenwright of the Royal Field Artillery and Quarter-Master Sergeant Walter Kenwright, who is on active service with the Gloucester Regiment. A brother-in-law and two nephews are also serving.
Albert’s link with Prescot is limited to his place of residence on SDGW being recorded as “Prescot”. The Warrington Guardian article suggests that this is incorrect. IT has been known for this “Place of residence” to be that of his next of kin, so it is possible that his sister had moved to Prescot by the time the records were collated in the early 1920’s.
The Medal Index Card of L/Cpl Kenwright
Sergeant P/6413 John KENYON
Unit/Regiment
Mounted Branch, Corps of Military Police
Date of Death
10/04/1919
Age at Death
34
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Lille Southern Cemetery
II B 13
CWGC Family Details
(if shown)
Husband of Ann Kenyon of Suez Lodge, Portico, Eccleston, Prescot, Lancs
Census Details
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
Marriage to Ann Melling registered Prescot, Q3/1913, Vol 8b, Page 1275
SDGW – Where Born
Knowsley, Prescot
Enlisted
Knowsley
Resided
Prescot, Lancs
How Died
Died
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Notes
Formerly 992, Lancs Hussars Yeomanry
John Kenyon is also commemrorated on the web site of the London and North Western Railway (LNWR) which shows that he worked as a Parcel Vanman at Prescot Station
Research Ref. No.
P173
Service details
The Military Mounted Police (MMP) was established in 1877 for service both at home and abroad. It was followed in 1882 by the Military Foot Police (MFP), raised in 1882 for service in Egypt, and becoming a permanent corps for service at home in 1885. The MFP and MMPfirst worked together at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in 1915.
John Kenyon’s Medal Index Card
Record of John Kenyon’s award of the Meritorious Service Medal. Note that the “Date of Gazette” is shown as “Peace Gazette”., a special issue of theLondon Gazette issued to mark the Armistice.
The “Meritorious Service Medal", by the time of the Great War, had become purely a award for meritorious service, usually awarded to Colour Sergeants and above. The MSM was also rarely awarded for acts of gallantry not in the face of the enemy. The award came with an annuity, in the case of a service award to those who had completed 21 years continuous service and were already in receipt of the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. The Treasury placed a limit of 200 men who could receive the annuity at any one time
John Kenyon’s grave at Lille Southern Cemetery
Private 11365 James KILGALLEN
Unit/Regiment
6th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death
16/08/1915
Age at Death
Burial/Memorial & Reference
East Mudros Military Cemetery
II F 90
CWGC Family Details
(if shown)
Son of John and Mary Kilgallen, of Carrowntleva, Co. Mayo.
Census Details
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
SDGW – Where Born
Prescot, Lancs
Enlisted
St Helens, Lancs
Resided
How Died
Died of Wounds
Theatre of War
At Sea
Notes
Research Ref. No.
P174
Service Details
James Kilgallen was 27 years old when he enlisted into the South Lancashire regiment on 31st August 1914 in St. Helens. He lived in Highfield Place, Prescot, and worked as a Labourer. He stood 5 foot 10 inches tall, weighed 128 pounds and had a chest measurement of 36 inches. His religion was listed as Church of England.
The 6th (Service) Battalion was formed soon after the outbreak of war from the first thousand men who answered Kitchener’s call to arms “Your Country Needs You”. These units were afterwards known as “K1” units. The battalion commenced training at Tidworth in Wiltshire in the barracks recently vacated by the 2nd Battalion, which had joined the British Expeditionary Force in France. Final “polishing” took place at Blackdown, near Aldershot.
In April 1915, an Expeditionary Force landed on the shores of Gallipoli as part of the Dardanelles campaign, with the ultimate aim of capturing Constantinople. The landings were not the success that was first hoped for, and reinforcements were brought in. This took place on 7th July and included the 6th Battalion, South Lancs., landing at Helles. They had left Avonmouth in England on 12th June 1915 aboard the s.s. "Anconia".
The next few weeks were spent learning trench warfare, and included several spells in the front line before being withdrawn to Mudros on the Greek island of Lemnos on 31st July for a rest period.
On 4th August, the battalion returned to Gallipoli, this time landing at Anzac Cove. On the 8th, it was ordered to follow the 9th Royal Warwickshire Regiment in an assault on the slopes of Chunuk Bair. This took place, although the assault came under withering Turkish fire. The attackers eventually dug in late in the evening about 100ft below the summit.
At some point between the return to Gallipoli and the assault on Chunuk Bair, Private Kilgallen received the wounds which resulted in his transfer back to hospital at Mudros. He is reported to have died from a Gun Shot Wound on board ship on 16th August. It is not clear where he was initially buried when he died, but on 3rd October 1921 he was reinterred at East Mudros Cemetery, where he rests today.
On the 18th June 1919, his mother, Mary Kilgallen, wrote to the War Office asking if they had any information about her son, James. She reported that the last she understood was that he had left England with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force for Gallipoli. The War Office forwarded the letter to the Infantry Records Office at Shrewsbury for their attention. A reply was sent to his mother reporting that he was buried at East Mudros on the Island of Lemnos, and that he had died on 16th August 1915.
The Army Records Office wrote to his mother in Co. Mayo on 26th July 1920 asking for full details of all James' living relatives in order that the ownership of his medals and plaque could be determined. However the letter was returned marked "Unknown" and so the Records Office wrote once again, this time to the local Chief Constable asking if he could help in providing an address for the family.
In October 1921, his mother wrote directly to the South Lancashire Regiment asking if they could provide recompense for the loss of her son as she now had no means of support and was in danger of starvation. The letter was forwarded to the Records Office at Preston for attention.
The letter said, "Sir, I beg to approach you that you might grant me some allowance in recompense for the loss of my son which has done his duty and lost his life with your regiment and owing to his enlistment he abandoned me and he being my only means of support I am consequently in a state of starvation, with what I get through the charity of others being my present means of existence. I was for a lengthy period and could not locate him but eventually did and was still at a loss for his number which I see by his interment notice is 11365. I hope my case will receive your immediate attention and grant me some allowance as relief from my present state of practically begging which I consider is unfair to the mother of a hero. Thanking you in anticipation, etc."
The War Office wrote to the Army Records Office on 11th January 1922 asking that any personal possessions of James Kilgallen should be returned to his mother Mrs Mary Kilgallen of Carrowntleva, Balla, Co. Mayo.
Shortly after this, James' medals were issued to his mother and she acknowledged receipt of them.
John Kilgallen’s Medal Index Card
Private 242356 John KING
(c) Prescot Reporter
Unit/Regiment
1st/5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death
30/11/1917
Age at Death
25
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Cambrai Memorial
Panel 7
Census Details
1901 Census -
8 year old John King lived at 54 Sewell Street, Prescot, with parents Thomas, a 41 year old Labourer and Elizabeth (37), and brothers James (15) and Thomas (6)
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
Q3/1892, Prescot, Vol 8b, Page 686
Marriage to Gladys Bache registered Prescot, Q2/1915, Volume 8b, Page 1497
Daughter Olive born Q1/1916, Prescot
SDGW – Where Born
Prescot, Lancs
Enlisted
Prescot
Resided
Prescot
How Died
Killed In Action
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Notes
Research Ref. No.
P175
Service Details
The Parish Magazine of 25th March 1918 added 6 names to the existing 100 who had already fallen, including “Pte. John King, 25, 5th South Lancs. Missing since 30th November 1917. His wife and child live at 72, Sewell Street”.
An extract from BICC “Link” magazine, July 1918
John King’s inscription on the Cambrai Memorial
Able Seaman R/4680 Alfred James KIRBY
Unit/Regiment
Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division
Date of Death
14/01/1918
Age at Death
25
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Cologne Southern Cemetery
XVI A 29
Census Details
1901 Census -
Alfred was aged 9 and lived at 19 East View, Prescot. Also there were his parents Henry (57) and Mary (54) and sister Mary (20)
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
Birth Registered Q2/1892, Prescot, 8b, 704
Research Ref. No.
P176
Service Details
Alfred Kirby was born on 1st February 1892. He originally enlisted for service in the Army Reserve on 21st January 1916 but then joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 4th July 1917 and was entered for the draft into the British Expeditionary Force on 30th October. He joined Hood Battalion on 19th November.
The Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) was composed primarily of men who had no direct contact with the sea, yet signed themselves as willing to serve in the Navy in the event of War. Some of these men served at sea in the Navy proper, most usually on coastal motor-boats etc.
In 1914 the Navy had more men than available ships, so upon mobilisation at the outbreak of war, the Royal Naval Division (RND) was formed from this surplus - mainly RNVR - to augment the Army numbers. In keeping with their naval roots, their battalions were named after famous Admirals.
On Welsh Ridge at the end of December 1917, the 63rd (RN) Division occupied a front of 6,800 yards with the 188th Infantry Brigade on the right of this line and its Anson Battalion in Brigade Reserve. From Christmas Day onwards the enemy’s shelling increased and he launched his attack at dawn on the 30th December. Ground was lost including the crest of the ridge so that a daylight counter-attack was impossible and dusk became the preferred time. The counter-attack by the Anson Battalion, led by their A Company, was a brilliant success and they reoccupied the vital position on Welsh Ridge.
The RND paid a heavy price during this battle with 63 officers and 1355 men, killed, wounded or missing.
AB Kirby would have been wounded and captured in the original German attack. He was reported missing on 30th December 1917, eventually being reported as a prisoner. He had suffered a gun shot wound to the thigh.
He died of his wounds at 3.00 a.m. on 14th January 1918 at Baracken Lazarette, Mulheim 7 Ruhr, Germanyand is buried in Cologne Southern Cemetery. His next of kin was recorded as his mother Mary, of 118 Warrington Road, Prescot, although she later moved to 34 Stanley Street, Atherton, Manchester.
Private 7263 Thomas LARKIN
Prescot Reporter 14/05/1915
Unit/Regiment
2nd Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death
24/08/1914
Age at Death
38
Burial/Memorial & Reference
La Fert-Sous-Jouarre Memorial
CWGC Family Details
(if shown)
Husband of Mary Annie Larkin, of 1, Duke St., Prescot, Lancs.
Census Details
1891 Census –
The Larkin family lived at 11 Mill Street, Prescot and comprised parents Thomas (a Labourer) and Catherine, both aged 34, with children William (15, an Assistant Fireman), Thomas (14, an Assistant Greengrocer), Agnes (5), Joseph (3) and 1 year old Elizabeth.
By the time of the 1901 census, the sons William and Thomas had left home and the family had moved a few doors to Number 15, Mill Street. Thomas cannot be located in the census and it is likely that he had joined the South Lancashire Regiment and was serving in South Africa at the time.
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
Marriage to Mary Annie Edwards registered in Prescot, Q4/1912, Volume 8b, Page 1255
SDGW – Where Born
Prescot, Lancs
Enlisted
Liverpool
Resided
Preston
How Died
Killed In Action
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Notes
Private Larkin was almost certainly the first man from Prescot to die in the Great War.
Research Ref. No.
P177
Service Details
The 2nd Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment landed in France on 14th 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 20th.On the 21st, they again marched off, this time towards the Belgian border, finally arriving at Framieres in the late afternoon of the 22nd. 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 23rd 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 24th, 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 29th and was able to regroup, the muster amounted to 14 officers and about 400 men, about half of its original strength.
It is not known for certain how Pte. Larkin met his death, and he has no known grave, being commemorated on the La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre memorial, which commemorates some 4,000 men of the British Expeditionary Force who fell between August and early October 1914, and who have no known grave.
As far as can be determined by this research, Thomas Larkin was the first man from Prescot to be killed in the Great War.
Private Larkin’s Medal Index Card showing his arrival in France on the 14th August 1914, just 10 days after the declaration of war. As an “Old Contemptible”, he qualified for the 1914 Star in addition to the British War Medal and Victory Medal
Private Larkin’s inscription on the La Fert-Sous-Jouarre Memorial
Private 10034 Henry LEA
(c) Prescot Reporter
Unit/Regiment
41st Bn, Machine Gun Corps, (Infantry)
Date of Death
25/10/1918
Age at Death
36
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Vichte Military Cemetery
III B 8
CWGC Family Details
(if shown)
Husband of Annie Lea, of 4 Court, Moss St., Prescot, Lancs.
Census Details
1901 Census -
14year old Henry Lea lived at 3, Pottery Fields, Prescot, with his parents Peter (40, a Watchmaker) andCatherine (43), and brothers William (10) and James (9)
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
Marriage to Annie Houghton, Q4/1908, Prescot, Vol 8b, Page 979
The only confirmed child of the couple is Peter, born 1915. There were 4 other children born in Prescot between 1911 and 1914 who died shortly after childbirth, all with a surname of Lea and a Mother’s Maiden Name of Houghton.
SDGW – Where Born
Prescot, Lancs
Enlisted
Knowsley
Resided
Prescot, Lancs
How Died
Killed In Action
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Notes
Formerly Private 26607 Liverpool Regiment
Research Ref. No.
P178
Service Details
The Parish Magazine reported on 28th December 1918 “Five more names for our Roll of Honour” and included “Pte. Henry Lea,,33, Machine Gun Corps, killed in action 25th October 1918, of 4 Court, Moss Street, leaves a widow and 3 children”.
Henry Lea’s Medal Index Card. His entitlement was to the British War Medal and Victory Medal
Henry Lea's grave at Vichte Military Cemetery
Private 51075 Walter LEATHER
Picture kindly provided by the Leather family
Unit/Regiment
13th Bn., Cheshire Regiment
Date of Death
10/08/1917
Age at Death
21
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Menin Gate
Panel 19 - 22
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
Birth Registered Q3/1896, Prescot, 8b, 703
SDGW – Where Born
Prescot, Lancs
Enlisted
Prescot
Resided
How Died
Killed In Action
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Notes
Research Ref. No.
P179
Service Details
Walter was born in 1896, the youngest of at least 9 children to Robert Leather and his wife Margaret(nee Bromilow). He was probably born in Rowson Street No. 1 or No. 4 .
Robert and Margaret lived at 18 Moss Street according to the 1881 census and by the time of the 1891 census the family had moved to 4 Rowson Street, just off St Helens Road, a few streets away from Moss Street. Papers regarding the death of Walter sent in 1920 shows the family still at 1 Rowson Street.
The records state that he joined the Cheshire Regiment in Warrington on the 2nd March 1917 and sailed from Southampton straight away. He was 20 years old, height 5 feet 3 1/2 inches and weighed 115 lbs and in need of dental treatment.His trade was a Clerk
He may have attested before this date as some papers mention a 1915 date and it seems he had a different service number before 1917 (40275) and may have been with a Lancashire regiment and for some reason it was changed and he became part of the 13th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. This would explain the fact that he left from Southampton immediately after enlistment in the Cheshire Regiment; he must have had previous military training.
The 13th battalion of the Cheshire Regiment, unofficially known as the “Wirral Battalion”, was originally raised at Port Sunlight on 1st September 1914. They moved across the UK including Chester, Bournemouth and Aldershot, before embarking for France in September 1915.
Walter Leather joined the Battalion on 9th July 1917 as they prepared for the third battle of Ypres, better known as Passchendaele.
The battle was launched on 31 July and some initial success occurred early on the first day, but the attack quickly become stalled in the rain and mud. Small gains were been made but, until 10 August, the 13th Cheshires were still in reserve.
The Germans still occupied high ground on the Westhoek Ridge which gave them observation to the east and south east. The Cheshires and the other three battalions of 74th Brigade were to attack the Ridge. Other Brigades would attack nearby positions. By 3.25am on 13th August, the troops were all in their assembly trenches. The attack would be on a 2000 yard front, with the Cheshires on the right, next to the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles, the 9th North Lancashires and, on the left, the 11th Lancashire Fusiliers.
It must have been a particularly miserable time for the troops as it had rained all day making the ground difficult to even walk over. For many, this would be their first time in action. Approximately 50% of the Battalion strength was made up of new recruits who had joined the unit since June. But, at 4.25am, the whistles blew and the Cheshires left the protection of the trench, in four waves. At the same time, British artillery opened fire on the enemy front line trench. The first wave was held up by a heavily fortified post but this was captured by a vigorous assault supported by the use of Stokes Mortars. The troops then pressed on to their objective without much further difficulty.
The fourth wave was to push through to a forward position to cover the consolidation of the captured German front line. It was supposed to then withdraw. However, it was caught by heavy shell fire and only 15 men reached the designated position making the provision of covering fire all but impossible.
To the right of the Cheshires' position, troops had initially captured Glencorse Wood, but were forced out again by a strong counter-attack. The Germans were now able to open machine gun and sniper fire on the Cheshires as well as the shelling which had been continual. German counter -attacks were made throughout the day and night but these were repulsed by machine gun fire. The Regimental History records that "Very fine work was done by the machine guns supporting the 13th Cheshires. Some of them were in action for 30 hours, up to their waists in water, enduring heavy shelling and sniping."
The Battalion had 72 killed and almost 300 wounded in the single day of fighting. Amongst those was Walter Leather. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Menin Gate.
The Parish Magazine of 26th September 1917 reported “To the long list of names of those of our gallant men who have given their lives for the Empire must now be added the following”. Included in the list is “Pte. Walter Leather, 21, of the Cheshires. Killed in Action 10th August 1917, of 1, Rowson Street”.
Walter Leather’s Medal Index Card shows his service with both the South Lancashire Regiment and the Cheshire Regiment
