Per - Plu

Private 2541 Thomas PERRIN

Unit/Regiment	1st Bn., Manchester Regiment
Date of Death	08/03/1916		Age at Death			21
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Basra Memorial Panel 31 and 64
CWGC Family Details (if shown)	Son of Frank Edward Perrin; husband of Florence Entwistle (formerly Perrin), of 32, Jackson St., Lower Openshaw, Manchester
Census Details	1901 Census - Thomas was living at 1 Garden Street, Ancoats, Manchester. The family was father Frank, a 27 year old blacksmith, mother Charlotte (27) and children Thomas (5) and Edward (3).
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations	Birth Registered Q2/1895, Prescot, 8b, 769 Marriage to Florence Hughes, Q1/1915, Prestwich, 8d, 452
SDGW – Where Born	Prescot, Lancs	Enlisted		Ashton Under Lyne,	Resided		Golborne, Lancs
How Died	Killed In Action			Theatre of War	Mesopotamia
Notes
Research Ref. No.	P221

Service Details

On the 4th August 1914, the battalion was stationed at Dalhousie, Amritar and Jullundur In India as part of the Jullundur Brigade, 3rd (Lahore) Division. The battalion was quickly collected together, and on the 29th August 1914 they sailed from Karachi for Europe on the S. S. Edavana, with the rest of the Jullunder Brigade. They arrived in Marseilles on 26th September, from where they marched to Borely. Here, the battalion was re-equipped for the European theatre of operations..

The battalion fought in most of the major actions throughout the remainder of 1914 and on through 1915.

In November, due to the heavy casualties sustained by the Indian Corps, it was decided to withdraw it from the western front, and the divisions entrained to the south of France. On the 10th December the battalion reached Marseilles and embarked upon the S.S. Huntsend, reaching Basra on the 8th January 1916

Here they re-equipped and proceeded to Shaik Sa'ad, now attached to the 7th brigade with the intention of relieving the siege of Kut. On the 19th January the brigade advanced west along the Tigris fighting small actions as they went along. On the 20th the main attack on the Hannah position started but the battalion played little part in it, being employed on piquet and reserve.

By February 5th, the battalion was in trenches on the south bank of Tigris with little other than patrol duties. A reinforcement draft of 131 men was received.

In March the battalion was in trenches at Abu Roman. Another draft of 202 men was received on 4th March. On the 7th the battalion was part of the attack on the Dujalah redoubt. Advancing across a front of 400 yards, they came under heavy fire from the Sinn Aftar redoubt and cross fire from supporting trenches. Despite this, they gained a footing in the redoubt and took two trenches. However with bombs running out and under heavy counterattack from the left flank, they were forced to retire with many casualties. 172 men were listed as killed or missing, with a further 288 wounded.

Private Perrin was amongst those killed. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Basra Memorial.

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Thomas Perrin’s Medal Index Card

Rifleman 2787 James PICKAVANCE

Unit/Regiment	1st/5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death	25/05/1915		Age at Death		35
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Menin Gate Panel 37
CWGC Family Details (if shown)	Husband of Clara Pickavance, of 19, Carlton St., Prescot, Lancs.
Census Details	In the 1881 census, James is just one year old and lives at 11 Beaconsfield Street, Prescot, with his parents James (25) and Ellen (32). Also present are James’ step-sisters Kate (12) and Margaret Brown (8). The elder James is a Watch Pinion Maker. By the time of the 1891 census, James had two additional brothers, John (9) and George (4). They still lived at the same address, but the step sisters were no longer recorded there The family had moved to Springfield Row, St Helens, by 1901, but James was not recorded as living with them, only George and John living with their parents. James was now aged 21 and living as a boarder at the home of Edward and Ann Cropper at 13, Houghton Street, Rainhill. He was employed as a General Labourer.
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations	Birth registered Q2/1879, Prescot, Volume 8b, Page 662 Marriage to Clara Loughran registered West Derby, Q2/1903, Vol 8b, Page 627
SDGW – Where Born	Prescot, Lancs	Enlisted		Prescot	Resided	Prescot
How Died	Killed In Action			Theatre of War	France & Flanders
Notes
Research Ref. No.	P222

Service Details

The 5th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment, had just started its annual training in camp when war broke out in August 1914. It was sent to Edinburgh until October, then moved to Tunbridge Wells until February 1915. It was then ordered to France, sailing on the 13th aboard s.s. King Edward., arriving at Le Havre the same day.

Over the next few days the battalion marched to billets at Le Bizet, and then undertook instruction in trench warfare. The system was for companies from a battalion to be attached to other battalions for spells in the line, before the sector was allocated to the battalion on its own. In addition to the trench duty, the battalion undertook its share of pioneer work and training in rapid fire.

The Battalion was moved around regularly without seeing action, until 28th April when it was moved to Vlamertinghe, Belgium in readiness to take part in the 1st Battle of Ypres, which had started on the 22nd.

On 2nd May, the Germans launched a violent attack, accompanied by a cloud of chlorine gas, and the battalion was moved into the line for the first time. On 3rd May, it was moved to the new line in front of Wieltje, and then on the 4th it was again moved to Shell Trap Farm. At dawn, they engaged the Germans but by 4pm the enemy was within 400 yards of the British lines, from where they began a heavy bombardment of the British lines.

More shell fire continued through the next day, culminating in heavy concentrated fire about 5 p.m. which resulted in a considerable number of men being buried, many of them killed and wounded. The enemy fire continued until midnight and four attempts were made by the Germans to take the farm, but all were repulsed.

At 2 a.m. on the 6th, the Battalion was relieved and moved to La Brique, having incurred considerable casualties.

On the 8th May, the battalion was once more sent up to the Wieltje sector as it was thought that the enemy had broken through, but it proved to be a false alarm and on the 9th it returned to La Brique, leaving “C” Company and a machine-gun detachment at Wieltje. Early on the 10th, the battalion moved to the bank of the Yser canal where it remained until the 13th, when it was moved back to the support lines.

It was more of the same throughout the next two weeks of May, then at 3 a.m. on the morning of the 24th, the Germans released the largest cloud of gas seen so far in the war across a wide stretch of the British lines, followed by a large assault force. Their followed almost a full day’s desperate fighting, often in very confusing situations, “B” and “C” companies occupied French Switch, a trench connecting the British and French troops, but they suffered from very heavy shelling of the trench, which inflicted considerable casualties.

The remainder of the day and all of the 24th was spent in reorganisation and consolidation, also re-establishing contact with the French. The battalion remained in the front line until 1st June, but no serious German attacks were launched after 25th May, although small scale actions continued. Both sides were now exhausted, having been in almost continuous contact for 33 days.

In this period, Sergeant Gordon (25th), Rifleman Pickavance (25th) and Corporal Yates (31st) were all reported as Killed in Action. The fortunes of war denied graves to these men and they are remembered on the Menin Gate.

A clipping from the Prescot Reporter of 14th September 1917

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James Pickavance’s Medal Index Card confirming his arrival in France on 13th February 1915. His entitlement was the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal

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James Pickavance’s inscription on the Menin Gate

Sergeant 626 John PLATT

Unit/Regiment	5th Bn, South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death	26/05/1915		Age at Death		24
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Prescot Churchyard NP 162
CWGC Family Details (if shown)	Son of Edward and Mary Platt, of 37, Manchester Rd., Prescot.
Census Details	1901 Census - The Platt family lived at 34, Houghton Street, Prescot. Edward was a 42 year old Saddler. Along with his wife Mary (41), they had children Thomas (15), George (12), John (10), Harry (8) and Annie (3).
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
SDGW – Where Born	Prescot, Lancs	Enlisted		Prescot	Resided
How Died	Died of Wounds			Theatre of War	Home
Notes
Research Ref. No.	P223

Service Details

At 2 a.m. on the 6th, the Battalion was relieved and moved to La Brique, having incurred considerable casualties.

Sergeant Platt is recorded to have died of wounds and is buried in Prescot churchyard. This supports the case that he was one of the above casualties but was transported back to England for hospital treatment, before finally dying on 26th May of wounds received and being brought home to Prescot for burial. This is supported by an entry in the Parish Magazine of 25th August 1915 which states “John Platt, Sergeant, 5th South Lancs. Died of wounds in hospital. Buried in Prescot Churchyard. May 29th, aged 24.”

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John Platt’s Medal Index Card, confirming that he died of wounds in May 1916

Locating John Platt's grave in Prescot Churchyard proved difficult, but I eventually located it, finding it to be badly broken. Sgt. Platt's name is on a cross which originally stood at the head of tthe grave but has now been broken off and placed at the foot of the grave.

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The picture above shows the grave in its current state
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The inscription at the base of the cross, now lying recumbent on the grave

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The above part of the inscription remains at the head of the grave. The cross would have once stood on top of this section.

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At the foot of the grave stands the above inscription from Sgt. Platt's works colleagues

Private 81515 Frank PLATT

Unit/Regiment	13th Bn., Durham Light Infantry
Date of Death	25/11/1918		Age at Death		19
Burial/Memorial & Reference	St Sever Cemetery Extension S II CC 18
Census Details	1901 Census – 1 year old Frank Platt lived with his parents Thomas (a Postman) and Isabella, both aged 35, at 3 Derby Cottages, Rainhill. Also present were his sister Mary (11) and brother James (8).
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations	Birth registered Q3/1899, Prescot, Volume 8b, Page 732
SDGW – Where Born	Rainhill, Lancs	Enlisted		St Helens, Lancs	Resided	Prescot, Lancs
How Died	Died of Wounds			Theatre of War	France & Flanders
Notes
Research Ref. No.	P224

Service Details

The Parish Magazine reported on 28th December 1918 “Five more names for our Roll of Honour” and included “Pte. Frank Platt, 19, Durham Light Infantry, died in hospital in France 25th November 1918, of 24, Carlton Street”.

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Private Platt’s Medal Index Card

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Frank Platt’s grave at St Sever Cemetery Extension

Private 10234 Patrick PLUNKETT

Unit/Regiment	1st Bn., Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Date of Death	01/07/1916		Age at Death
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Thiepval Memorial Pier and Face 4D and 5B
Census Details	1901 Census – 7 year old Patrick Plunkett lived at No 1 House, 1 Court, Chesterfield Street, Toxteth. Along with parents Peter (44, a Corporation Labourer) and Ellen (30), were his siblings Helena (12), Frank (10) and Kate (3). Both parents were born in Cavan Ireland, whilst all the children were born in England
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations	Birth Registered Q3/1893, Toxteth Park, Volume 8b, Page 172
SDGW – Where Born	Prescot, Lancs	Enlisted		Londonderry	Resided
How Died	Killed In Action			Theatre of War	France & Flanders
Notes	Census and Birth details have not been confirmed, but seem to be for the correct man.
Research Ref. No.	P225

Service Details

The 1st Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (the “Skins”) were part of the 29th Division and at the vanguard of the fighting on the first day of the Somme, 1st July 1916. Ominously, one sergeant had noted "They don't seem to be trying to cut the wire in this sector", suggesting that the artillery barrage had achieved little. A number of trench raids had been attempted leading up to the attack, but General Haig, in his report of the battle, noted that none had been successful.

The 1st Bn were on the extreme right of 29th Division near Mary Redan. They went “over the top” at 07.30 a.m. but were mainly held up by uncut wire south of Y Ravine, their Lt Col being killed. A few men got beyond the first line trench and down into the valley behind (Beaumont Hamel to Beaucourt Station Road). They were then fired on from the rear by German Machine Guns and either killed or captured.

It would appear that Private Plunkett was killed in this assault. Like so many of his comrades, his body was never identified after the battle and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing of the Somme.

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Private Plunkett’s Medal Index Card. It can be seen that he first saw actions in the Balkan theatre of war, arriving in Gallipoli on 17th March 1915. His card also states “Presumed Dead 1-7-16” which reveals that he was posted missing, and his body was never subsequently identified