John Moss was aged 22 and lived at 24, Woodside Street, WestDerby with his parents Owen and Agnes and six brothers and sisters.
His occupation is not clear from the census, but as he is shown on the BICC memorial, it is assumed that after 1901 he started work with BI and moved to Prescot
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
Not Found
SDGW – Where Born
Liverpool
Enlisted
Liverpool
Resided
How Died
Killed in Action
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Notes
Research Ref. No.
P205
Service Record
John Moss was already 35 years old when he attested to the South Lancashire Regiment in Liverpool on 7th September 1914. He worked as an Ironfitter and noted that he had previously served with the territorial Battalion of the Regiment. His next of kin was listed as his sister, Margaret Moss, of Eastwood Street, Edge Hill, Liverpool. He stood 5 foot 9 inches tall and weighed 135 pounds, had a fresh complexion and brown eyes.
Private Moss joined his battalion in France on 24th May 1915 as part of a large wave of reinforcements. He was appointed to the post of Lance Corporal on 29th May 1915. The only significant action in which the battalion was involved for the remainder of that year was the attack on Bellewaarde Ridge in September.
By January of 1916, the battalion was involved in the usual trench activity around Ploegsteert, before preparing for the forthcoming battle of the Somme. The 2nd Battalion joined in the attack on the second day (2nd July) with the aim of capturing German positions south of Thiepval.
The attack started at 6.00 a.m. and although it was clear by 7.30 that the troops had entered the German positions, a violent retaliation by the defenders resulted in the battalion losing 14 officers and over 300 men killed, wounded and missing. As a result, the remnants of the battalion were withdrawn into support but soon became involved in other actions as the onslaught continued.
On 3rd October, the battalion was detailed to garrison Hessian, Zollern and other trenches in the vicinity of Stuff Redoubt.. This had been the scene of bitter fighting and the area was littered with British and German dead. In addition, heavy rain had set in by now and the whole area was a quagmire, made worse by the constant shelling.
Corporal Moss was one of 5 men of the battalion who were killed in action on this date. It seems likely that they all fell victim to the German shelling. None of their bodies were identified and they are all remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
The Parish Magazine of 27th October 1916 stated “Since the October magazine was published in which the names of 47 of our heroic dead were recorded, 7 more have fallen in the long battle of the Somme. The list then followed, including “Corporal John Moss, 37, of the S. Lancs.”
On 10th August 1921, his sister Margaret acknowledged receipt of his medals.
Corporal Moss’s Medal Index Card listing his entitlement to the 1914-1915 Star as he arrived in France on 26th May 1915, in addition to the British War Medal and Victory Medal
Rifleman 240740 Robert MUTCH
Unit/Regiment
2nd/5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death
10/04/1917
Age at Death
20
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Pont-Du-Hem Military cemetery, La Gorgue
IV E 1
Census Details
1901 Census -
At 13 Williams Street, Prescot, are Alfred Mutch, a 33 year old pinion maker, his wife Ellen (36) and children James (12), Ann (9), and Robert (4).
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
Birth Registered in Q1/1897, Prescot, 8b, 725
SDGW – Where Born
Prescot, Lancs
Enlisted
St Helens, Lancs
Resided
Prescot, Lancs
How Died
Killed In Action
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Notes
Research Ref. No.
P206
Service Details
The 2nd/5th battalion of the South Lancashire regiment was officially constituted at Liverpool on September 23rd, 1914, principally as a “second line” unit for the 1st/5th battalion. It proceeded to Blackpool on 11th 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 3rd/5th 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 16th February 1917 for Folkstone. Their departure for France was delayed by fog until the 20th, 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 4th March, they moved into the front line trenches for the first time, relieving the men of the 2nd/4th battalion. AT this time, Armentieres was a “quiet” sector and so the battalion passed the month of March suffering few casualties.
At the beginning of April, the unit was in Divisional reserve at Rue Dormoire. On 10th, a small party under 2/Lt Cocking carried out a raid on the German trenches near Bois Grenier to obtain identifications. They had all been specially trained for the task, but the enemy was on alert and the raid failed with the loss of its commander with 3 other ranks missing and 7 wounded. Amongst the missing men were Rfn. Robert Mutch and Sergeant Joseph Travis.
They now rest alongside each other in graves at Point-du-HemMilitaryCemetery. It would appear that they had been buried by the Germans after the raid but were brought into Pont-du-Hem as part of the post-war battlefield clearance.
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. Robert Mutch, 20, of 5thSouth Lancs. It is thought that he was killed in action in April last. His home is 20, Cyprus Street”.
An extract from BICC “Link” magazine, April 1918
Private Mutch’s Medal Index Card
Robert Mutch’s grave at Pont-Du-HemMilitaryCemetery
Private 2467 Matthew MYERS
Unit/Regiment
2nd Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death
25/11/1915
Age at Death
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Rifle House Cemetery
III C 1
Census Details
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
SDGW – Where Born
Wigan, Lancs
Enlisted
Warrington, Lancs
Resided
Prescot, Lancs
How Died
Killed In Action
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Notes
Research Ref. No.
P207
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.
Private Myers was not one of the initial force. He went to France with a batch of reinforcements on 18th February 1915.
The men who landed in August 1914 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.
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 Balleul 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 25th 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 24th 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.
For the remainder of 1915, the Battalion carried out normal trench routine activity in the Ploegsteert sector. This carried with it the usual day-to-day risks of shelling, sniping and accidents.
Pte. Myers was Killed in Action in this period, on 25th November, although the circumstances are not known. He is buried in RifleHouseCemetery, located in the woods at Ploegsteert and named after a local strong point.
Private Myers’ Medal Index Card.
Bombardier 80636 Edwin Neve
Unit/Regiment
Royal Garrison Artillery
Date of Death
3rd August 1920
Age at Death
33
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Prescot Churchyard
CWGC Family Details
(if shown)
Census Details
1901 Census -
Edwin was aged 15 and lived as a boarder at 13, Duke Street, Prescot, the home of Edwin Clarke. Edwin was the eldest of 6 sones of William and Mary Neve, and the rest of his family lived at 1, Carlton Street
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
SDGW – Where Born
Enlisted
Resided
How Died
Theatre of War
Notes
Edwin Neve is not commemorated by CWGC
Research Ref. No.
P208
Service Details
On 13th May 1916, Edwin Neve, a 29 year old Brewer’s Traveller, was called up for military service and enlisted as Bombardier 80636 into the Royal Garrison Artillery. He stated his address as 102, Pear Tree Road, Derby. He stood 5 foot6 inches tall and had a 39 inch chest measurement.
On his papers, he listed his father as William Neve of 42, Queens Road, Prescot as his next of kin. After training, he went to France on 25th November 1916.
He remained with the RGA for the whole of his service, being stationed in France until 11th November 1919, when he was transferred to the Class “Z” Reserve in January 1920.
A letter from his father, William, to the Records Office at Dover Garrison, dated 4th September 1920, reads,
“
Dear Sir
I received a reply Post Card from 102, Pear Tree Road, Derby, in respect to my son’s War medal.
I beg to inform you that Corporal Edwin Neve, 80636, RGA, died through VDH (Valvular Disease of the Heart)caused through the effects of the war on August 3rd 1920 at the above address.
His father and mother have made repeated appeals for his pension without effect up to now.
“
In 1921, the Records Office at the Dover Garrison wrote to Edwin’s father, William, asking for full details of the family in order that the ownership of the Memorial Plaque and Scroll could be established.William replied on 9th September 1921 to say that Edwin’s parents were himself, William H Neve and Annie Neve and that Edwin also had brothers Arthur (35, of Vicarage Place), William (31, of Hope Street), Austin (29, of Eaton Street), as well as Percy (22), Walter (20) and Alfred (27) who all lived with their parents at Queens Road.
Theform was witnessed by Richard Hayes, a Justice of the Peace of 41, Columbia Road, Prescot.
Edwin’s medal entitlement was to the British War Medal and Victory Medal. His father acknowledged receipt of the medals on 16th September 1921.
One interesting point is that on Edwin’s Unit Register Card, he noted his trade or profession as “Professional Footballer”.
Edwin Neve's Death Certificate
Private 88805 Henry NORRIS
Unit/Regiment
1st/7th Bn, King's (Liverpool Regiment)
Date of Death
30/06/1918
Age at Death
19
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Niederzwehren Cemetery
II C 15
CWGC Family Details
(if shown)
Son of John and A. Norris, of Tithebarn Rd., Knowsley, Prescot, Lancs.
Census Details
1901 Census -
The Norris family lived at Tithebarn Road, Knowsley, and comprised parents John (38), a Bricklayer's Labourer and Ann (36), with children John (8), William (6), Joyce (4) and Henry (2)
Brother of William Norris, also had a younger brother, Richard, killed in the Second World War
Research Ref. No.
P209
Service Details
Henry Norris died whilst being held as a prisoner of War in Germany. The cemetery in which he lies, was begun by the Germans in 1915 for the burial of prisoners of war who died at the local camp. During the war almost 3,000 Allied soldiers and civilians, including French, Russian and Commonwealth, were buried there
In 1922-23 it was decided that the graves of Commonwealth servicemen who had died all over Germany should be brought together into four permanent cemeteries. Niederzwehren was one of those chosen and in the following four years, more than 1,500 graves were brought into the cemetery from 190 burial grounds in Baden, Bavaria, Hanover, Hesse and Saxony. There are now 1,796 First World War servicemen buried or commemorated in the Commonwealth plot at Niederzwehren.
Consequently, it is unclear at which camp Pte. Norris actually died and where he was originally buried.
Private Norris’s Medal Index Card
Private 34264 William NORRIS
Unit/Regiment
20th Bn., King's (Liverpool Regiment)
Date of Death
30/07/1916
Age at Death
21
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Thiepval Memorial
Pier and Face 1D 8B and 8C
CWGC Family Details
(if shown)
Son of John and Ann Norris, of Tithebarn Rd., Knowsley, Lancs.
Census Details
1901 Census -
The Norris family lived at Tithebarn Road, Knowsley, and comprised parents John (38), a Bricklayer's Labourer and Ann (36), with children John (8), William (6), Joyce (4) and Henry (2)
Brother of Henry Norris, also had a younger brother, Richard, killed in the Second World War
Research Ref. No.
P210
Service Details
The 89th Brigade, which included the 17th, 19th and 20 battalions of the King's, returned to the trenches in the third week of June, although the 20th Battalion did not move into the forward trenches until the 23rd, the day before the opening barrage of the forthcoming battle of the Somme.
Several battalions of the King's (Liverpool Regiment) were involved in the first attack on Guillemont in the Somme campaign. This attack took place on the 23rd July but failed. Another attempt was ordered for the 24th, but was then cancelled for a further 48 hours as the French troops involved had not moved up in readiness. Attacks planned for 26th and 28th were also postponed for the same reason, but the next attack was ordered to take place on 30th July.
The 89th Brigade included the 17th, 19th and 20th Battalions of the King's. For the assault on Guillemont, the 20th were to attack on the right and the 19th on the left. The 17th were to be in support in the trenches running from Trones Wood, with the Bedfordshire Regiment in overall support.
Zero hour was 4.45 a.m. on 30th July 1916.
The battalion diary states "At 4.45 a.m. prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about six o'clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards away. This being so it was not surprising to find that he attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection."
At 6 a.m., Lt Melley of No 1 Company reported that he had gained the German Maltz Horn Trench. Shortly after, 2/Lt. Moore reported that he had 150 men with him but he was the only officer remaining. Both his flanks were "in the air". At 9.10, the same officer reported that he now only had 75 men. He had sent two patrols in front but neither had returned.
Just after 10 a.m. 2/Lt. Musker reported that he had just over a company under his command but that the Germans were enfilading his left flank with machine-gun fire. At 11.30, the same officer reported that the machine-gun fire had caused over 30 casualties. All efforts to contact the party failed, all runners sent from battalion HQ being either killed or wounded. No further information was received by Musker's party until its remnants were brought back by Lt. Worsley at about 9.30 p.m.
The total casualties in the battle for the 20th King's were 16 officers and 357 other ranks killed, wounded or missing. Amongst these was Private Norris. His body was never identified and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
William Norris’s Medal Index Card
Private 13130 James NULTY
James Nulty pictured in the “Garston and Woolston Weekly Reporter” in 1916
Unit/Regiment
“A” Coy, 9th Bn., Royal Dublin Fusiliers
Date of Death
09/09/1916
Age at Death
36
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Villers-Brettoneaux Military Cemetery
VIA D4
CWGC Family Details
(if shown)
Son of Patrick and Kate Nulty; husband of Bridget Nulty, of 6, Hill St., Prescot, Lancs.
Census Details
1891 census -
James, aged 13, lived at 16, Browns Court, Prescot with his widowed mother Catherine (35) and siblings Anthony (11), Mary (7) and Patrick (3). The family were boarders at the residence of Eliza O'Neill. Also resident as a boarder was Patrick Hester, who would later marry Catherine Nulty and have two other children with her.
1901 Census –
Living at 11, Stone Street, Prescot, were Catherine Nulty, recorded as a 45 year old widow, and her children James (23, a Coalminer), Patrick (13), Ellen (8) and Thomas (6)
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
Birth registered Prescot, Q2/1878, 8b, 649
Marriage to Bridget Gilligan registered Prescot, Q4/1904, 8b, 1142
SDGW – Where Born
Prescot
Enlisted
St Helens, Lancs
Resided
Prescot, Lancs
How Died
Killed In Action
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Notes
Research Ref. No.
P211
Service Details
Following the capture of Guillemont on 3rd September 1916, the 9th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers,had moved on to Ginchy.
Extract from the War Diary
“9th September 1916
The battalion was in the support trench which it had dug. On the morning of 9th September the disposition of the units of the 48th Brigade for the assault on GINCHY which had been ordered were as follows.
In front trench with orders to take the first objective and consolidate it. 7th R. Irish Rifles, 1 section T.M. Battery, 1st R. Munster Fusiliers, 1 section T.M. Battery. In support trench with orders to take the second objective and consolidate. 9th R. Dublin Fusiliers, 1 section M.G Coy. 1 section 156 Coy, R.E., 8th R. Dublin Fusiliers, 1 section M.G. Coy, 1 section 156 Coy R.E..
At zero (4.45pm) the line advanced under the artillery barrage on the first objective, each battalion assaulting with 4 companies in the front line, on a frontage of one platoon, platoons at 40 yards distance.
First Phase. Right Battalion (1st R.M.F.). At the onset very heavy Officer casualties were suffered. The right company experienced considerable opposition owing to the inability of the 8th R.M.F. to advance. This company was therefore wheeled to the right and dug in. Owing to the shortage of officers the other companies lost direction and went on beyond their objective. Left Battalion (7th R.R.R.) closely followed by 7th R. Irish Fusiliers reached the first objective with slight resistance & with very few casualties.
Second Phase. Right Battalion (8th R.D.F.) advanced to the second objective at 5.25 p.m. and gained it without encountering very serious opposition. Left Battalion (9th R.D.F) advanced to the second objective at 5.25pm but suffered very heavy officer casualties in doing so. Captain W. J. MURPHY (commanding) being killed as the battalion reached GINCHY. The battalion owing to the loss of officers carried on beyond the second objective and had to be brought back and owing to the fact that 55 Division had not come up. The left flank had consequently to be brought back slightly. The line gained was then consolidated.“
The battalion lost 52 officers and men in the attack on Ginchy. The second objective, in which James died, was a German support trench.
Records held by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission show that after the battle, James was buried in a small cemetery to the south of Ginchy. In November 1923, as part of the continuing battlefield clearance, he was reburied in Villers-BrettoneauxMilitaryCemetery.Alongside him in Grave VIA D 5 is Private Michael Gallagher, also of the 9th RDF and killed on the same day, presumably in the same action.
A rare ImperialWarMuseum photograph showing the attack on Ginchy
A plan of the positions on the day of the attack
Announcement in the Prescot Reporter of 14th September 1917
The Parish Magazine of 27th October 1916 stated “Since the October magazine was published in which the names of 47 of our heroic dead were recorded, 7 more have fallen in the long battle of the Somme. The list then followed, including “Pte. James Nulty of Hill Street, Dublin Fusiliers”.
James Nulty’s Medal Index Card. This shows his arrival in France as 20th December 1915, which entitled him to the 1914-1915 Star in addition to the Victory Medal and British War Medal.
