Ran - Rob

Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant 160 William Hewson RANGE

Unit/Regiment

Lancashire Hussars

Date of Death

13/04/1920

Age at Death

Burial/Memorial & Reference

Prescot Churchyard

Census Details

1901 Census -

William H Range was a 19 year old Post Office Sorting Clerk & Telegraphist and lived at 8 Atherton Street. Along with parents Edmund (50, an Assistant Overseer) and Esther (45) were siblings Mary (16), Annie (14), Alice (12), Esther (6) and Edmund (5).

Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations

Birth Registered Q2/1881, Prescot, Volume 8b, Page 699

Notes

Grave inscription on family stone at Prescot reads

"William Hewson, son of the above Edmund Range and beloved husband of Amy Roselle Range, born 23rd May 1881 died 13th April 1920"

Unable to locate the grave

Research Ref. No.

P237

Service Details

William Hewson Range attended Prescot Grammar School, starting there in 1894.

William was born in Prescot on 23 May 1881. His entry in the National Probate Celendar (1920) states that he was a postmaster of Park Road, Newton-le-Willows and left effects to the value of £549/14/2d. Probate was granted at Liverpool on 13 April 1920 to his widow Amy Roselle Range and solicitor William Arthur Cross.

William Range’s Medal Index Card shows that as well as serving with the Lancashire Hussars, he also served with the Lancashire Fusiliers and the Corps of Hussars. His death after discharge is also noted. There is an entry for a Silver War Badge, showing an eligibility date of 27^th November 1918 and the card also notes that he first arrived in Egypt in January 1916.

P237-2

The reverse of the Medal Index Card shows that the medals were dispatched to Mrs. Range in Rainhill, as the date of dispatch was after the death of William Range.

Private 242310 Richard RENSHALL

Unit/Regiment	1st/5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death	31/07/1917		Age at Death		20
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Menin Gate Panel 37
Census Details	1901 Census - No 3 House, Saggersons Court, was the home of Thomas Renshall, 53, a Watchmaker. Also there are his wife Sarah (34) and children Thomas (13), Charlotte (10), Thomasina (8), Richard (4) and William (8 months).
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations	Birth Registered Q1/1897, Prescot, 8b, 726
SDGW – Where Born	Prescot, Lancs	Enlisted		Prescot	Resided
How Died	Killed In Action			Theatre of War	France & Flanders
Research Ref. No.	P238

Service Details

Richard Renshalls original service number of 4976 suggests that he enlisted in March/April of 1916, and this is supported by his Medal Index Card, which does not list a date of arrival in theatre. It is almost certain, therefore, that he was only sent to France towards the end of 1916 or even in early 1917.

By the start of the New Year in 1917, the battalion was in the Ypres Salient, carrying out normal trench relief duties. By the beginning of May, however, activity was on the increase as the British forces prepared for the forthcoming Third Battle of Ypres, better known as Passchendaele. On 29^th May, the battalion was sent to Garrison Railway Wood and then in the first week of June they mnoved to a new sector near to Zillebeke. Towards the end of June they were withdrawn to rest and train at St Omerin prepararion for the offensive, due to commence on 31^st July. On 20^th July they returned once more to Ypres and continued training until they moved into assault positions on the 30^th.

At 3.50 a.m. on 31^st July the British bombardment began and the leading waves of infantry closely followed, taking the first objective (the “Blue Line”) in their stride. At 5.05 a.m. as arranged, the battalion and the Liverpool Scottish went forwards towards the second objective, known as the “Black Line”. Once the Blue Line was passed, however, the enemy counter barrage became heavier and more effective. But the battalion continued theior advance, shell-hole by shell-hole, to withion 200 yards of their objective. Here the advance came to a brief stop under German machine gun fire, but two tanks arrived and took out the German positions.

The battalion continued their advance and they swiftly took the enemy trenches, clearing the dug-outs with bombs and bayonets. Consolidation took place and by evening the new line was secure. The battalion had lost 1 officer and 27 other ranks killed, 5 officers and 133 other ranks wounded, 1 1 officer and 11 other ranks reported missing.

Richard Renshall was one of those killed that day. His body was never identified and he is remembered on the Menin Gate.

The Parish Magazine (date unknown) reported “Pte. Richard Renshall, aged 20, of No 1 Court, Moss Street. 5th South Lancs, killed in action 31st July 1917”

P238-1

The listing of Private Renshall’s death in the London Times in August 1917

P238-3

Prescot Reporter 14^th September 1917

P238-4

Richard Renshall’s Medal Index Card has his surname mis-spelt.

P238-5

Richard Renshall’s inscription on the Menin Gate

Sapper 7150 Robert RICHARDSON

Unit/Regiment	1st West Lancs Div Field Coy RE, Corps of Royal Engineers
Date of Death	31/05/1915		Age at Death		24
Burial/Memorial & Reference	St Helens Cemetery 7 CE 199
Census Details
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
SDGW – Where Born	Prescot, Lancs	Enlisted		St Helens, Lancs	Resided
How Died	Died of Wounds			Theatre of War	France & Flanders
Notes
Research Ref. No.	P239

Research ongoing

P239-1

Sapper Richardson’s Medal Index Card, noting his arrival in France on 3^rd January 1915

P239-2

Robert Richardson’s grave in St Helens Cemetery

Private 31908 Joseph Colvin RICHMAN

Unit/Regiment	2nd Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death	14/06/1917		Age at Death		27
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Menin Gate Panel 37
CWGC Family Details (if shown)	Son of Joseph B. and Isabelle Richman, of 34, St. Mary's Rd., South Norwood, London; husband of Jessie Richman, of Poplar Bank, Prescot, Lancs.
Census Details	1901 Census - Joseph was aged 10 and lived at 21 Blythe Vale, Lewisham, with his parents Joseph and Isabella. Joseph has a younger brother Benjamin, aged 5 and sisters Jane (12) and Hilda (9). His father is shown to be a civil engineer.
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations	Birth registered Q1/1890, Lambeth, 1d, 508
SDGW – Where Born	London	Enlisted		St Helens, Lancs	Resided	Prescot, Lancs
How Died	Killed In Action			Theatre of War	France & Flanders
Notes
Research Ref. No.	P240

Service Details

Joseph attested as Private 5188 in the 1/5th Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment on 11th April 1916 at St Helens. He was a 26 year old Draughtsman and lived at Poplar Bank, Prescot.

He had married Jessie Brown Dennett in Prescot on 27th January that year.

On 3rd July 1916 while based at Oswestry, Joseph was found to have a dirty rifle while on parade and was sentenced to three days “Confined to Barracks”. He then sailed for France with his battalion on 26th November 1916, arriving at Le Havre the following day. He was initially posted to the Base Depot at Rouen but then on 10th December 1916 he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion, at which time he was renumbered.

Joseph was wounded in the left foot in March 1917 and spent some time at a Casualty Clearing Station, rejoining hid unit on 16th March. On 1st April, he was sentenced to 14 days Field Punishment No 1 for insolence to a NCO.

The early part of 1917 was a relatively quiet time for the 2nd Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment, leading up to the Battle of Messines which started on 7th June. The battalion was held in reserve until 12th, when they took over the lines previously held by the Australians. On 13th, they received orders that they were to advance on the 14th, with the aim of capturing Ferme de la Croix, east of Messines village and to clear the left back of the River Douve.

The companies had to reach the starting line over open land in full view of the German machine guns, which were mainly located in scattered shell holes and which inflicted some casualties. The attack commenced at 7.30 p.m. and the swiftness of the attack caught many of the enemy napping. Several enemy machine guns nests had, however, been left intact and these inflicted the majority of the battalion’s casualties. One of these was Private Richman. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Menin Gate memorial to the missing

The Parish Magazine of 28th June 1917 reported “The following are deaths in action, all in France or Belgium” and included “Pte. J. Colvin Richman, 27, of Derby Street, 2nd South Lancs. Killed 19th June 1917, married”

On 31st October, the War Office wrote to the Army Records Office asking that all Joseph’s effects be returned to Jessie at Poplar Bank, Prescot.

Joseph’s Plaque and Memorial Scroll were issued to Jessie in March 1920. He was also was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal. His widow, Jessie, acknowledged receipt of the medals on 14th March 1922.

Jessie never remarried and passed away in Prescot in 1971 at the age of 82.

P240-1

Private Richman’s Medal Index Card

P240-2

Private Richman’s inscription on the Menin Gate

Private 29928 Edward ROBBINS

Unit/Regiment	11th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death	21/03/1918		Age at Death		20
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Pozieres Memorial Panel 48 and 49
CWGC Family Details (if shown)	Son of Henry and Harriett Ann Robbins, of 32, Platt's Bridge, Whiston, Prescot, Lancs
Census Details
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
SDGW – Where Born		Enlisted		St Helens, Lancs	Resided	Prescot, Lancs
How Died	Killed In Action			Theatre of War	France & Flanders
Notes
Research Ref. No.	P241

Service Details

The 11^th (Service) Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment was formed in September 1914 from the third contingent of volunteers called for by Lord Kitchener.

Initial training took place on Salisbury Plain and in early 1915, the Battalion became a “Pioneer” Battalion with the 30^th Division. It had been decided that each of the New Army divisions should have an extra battalion included in its establishment to carry out road-making and other semi-technical work frequently called for in the field. The 11^th Battalion was known as the “St Helens Pioneers” in honour of the fact that the majority of the men came from St Helens.

The Battalion finally left for France in November 1915, disembarking at Le Havre on the 7^th. The Battalion strength was 30 officers and 1,007 other ranks.

They served for the remainder of 1915 in the Somme Valley, carrying out work in the trenches. They suffered a few casualties, mainly to German snipers, but otherwise their first few weeks in the field proved uneventful.

In the Spring and early Summer of 1916, the Battalion were heavily involved in preparations for the forthcoming Somme offensive. As a Pioneer Battalion, this was an exceptionally busy time.

This work continued throughout the remainder of the year and into 1917.

Ultimately, in May 1917 the Battalion moved to Palace Camp, near Dickebusch in Flanders. They were now in the infamous Ypres Salient. Although their main tasks were the construction of roads and light railways, they were involved in the construction of fire trenches, and in fact were tasked with this on their first night in the line.

The battalion was based in a school to the east of Ypres in an area know to be “an unhealthy spot”. They stayed there until 13^th June when severe casualties were caused by salvoes of high explosives and gas shells. They moved on the 14^th to new dugouts on the railway embankment, but these were under fire just as much as the school.

In June, casualties were 2 officers and 17 other ranks killed, with 3 officers and 126 other ranks wounded. Almost all of the casualties were incurred whilst in their billets, which illustrates how dangerous it was, even out of the front line.

In July, the battalion were heavily involved in preparations for the forthcoming offensive, which came to be know as the Third Battle of Ypres. More commonly, it is known as Passchendaele. Much of the battalion’s work was on the communications systems, and they were heavily attacked by German artillery.

The battalion fought throughout the battle and finally left the Salient on 6^th August, moving to Spy Farm Camp. They stayed there until the first week of November when they moved to the Zillebeke sector, where they remained until the end of the year.

Although December was an uneventful time by battalion standards, they still lost 4 men killed, with 2 officers and 20 other ranks wounded.

Early in the New Year of 1918, the battalion moved south to the Oise river, where they had a peaceful time, without any casualties, until the beginning of March. They then moved to the Savy-Roupy sector of France. They were now directly in the path of the great German spring offensive of 1918!

On the morning of the 21^st March, a furious bombardment broke out all along the front, marking the onset of the German advance. The battalion was ordered to withdraw at 3p.m., having incurred heavy casualties, and they moved to a location just north of Ham.

Private Robbins was almost certainly killed in the bombardment and his body was never identified. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Pozieres Memorial.

P241-1

Edward Robbin’s Medal Index Card. His entitlement was to the British War Medal and Victory Medal

P241-2

Edward Robbin’s inscription on the Pozieres Memorial

Second Lieutenant David Francis ROBERTS

P242-a

Unit/Regiment

410th Lowland Fld Coy, Royal Engineers

Date of Death

02/11/1917

Age at Death

Burial/Memorial & Reference

Gaza War Cemetery

XXXI G 4

CWGC Family Details

(if shown)

Son of the late David Francis and Jane Roberts, of "Park Hill," Prescot, Lancs.

Census Details

1891 Census -

The family lived at 38, Eccleston Street, Prescot. David F. Roberts, a 41 year old joiner lived with his wife Jane (39) and children William (9), Elizabeth (7) and David (2).

1901 Census -

Now living at Park Hill House, Aspinall Street, David is going by his middle name of Francis. All other family members and details are unchanged.

Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations

Birth Registered Q1/1889, Prescot, 8b, 679

Notes

Research Ref. No.

P242

Service Details

David Francis Roberts attended Prescot Grammar School, starting there in 1902.

Private 26633 William Henry ROBINSON

P243-a

Unit/Regiment	18th Bn., King's (Liverpool Regiment)
Date of Death	26/04/1917		Age at Death		22
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery IX E 3
Census Details	1901 Census - Living at 22, Carlton Street, Prescot are James Robinson, a 39 year old cable maker, his wife Margaret (29), and children William (5), Elsie (3) and James (1),
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations	Birth Registered Q4 1895, Prescot, 8b, 677
SDGW – Where Born	Prescot, Lancs	Enlisted		Knowsley	Resided	Prescot, Lancs
How Died	Died of Wounds			Theatre of War	France & Flanders
Notes
Research Ref. No.	P243

Service Details

The 18^th (Service) Battalion of the King’s (Liverpool) Regiment was formed by Lord Derby in August of 1914. They embarked for France on 7^th and 8^th November 1915 as part of the 89^th Brigade of the 30^th Division. Pte. Robinson’s Medal Index Card, below, does not hold a date for his entry into France, which suggests that he joined the battalion as part of a reinforcement draft sometime after January 1916.

The battalion had fought throughout the Somme campaign in the summer and autumn of 1916. After the activity on the Somme, the battalion was relieved on 22^nd August and moved back to billets at Pont Fixe and La Panniere, where they spent the rest of the month. The next action in which we see the 18^th involved was the Battle of Le Transloy, 1^st to 18^th October 1916. It was the 13^th October before the 18^th Battalion came into the action, relieving the 20^th King’s in the front line. Fighting in atrocious conditions, with the ground littered by mud and bodies of both sides, the battalion suffered heavily before they were relieved on the 18^th/19^th October. They had lost 14 officers and 212 other ranks.

The next few months did not see any major initiatives and by January 1917, the battalion were pulled out of the line for a whole month spent in billets. After the filth of the trenches, this was pure luxury. The battalion then came back in the line to join in the “chase” of the German army as it retreated to its Hindenburg Line fortifications in March and early April 1917. The Battle of Scarpe was about to commence.

The 18^th Battalion moved into the front line on 27^th March in front of Neuville Vitasse and immediately set to work digging trenches to get themselves nearer to the enemy, often under heavy shellfire. They finally attacked the German positions on the 9^th April, but were held up in front of the German positions by uncut wire. Despite this, they consolidated their gains until relieved on the 10^th. After this, they were withdrawn from the line and billeted at Schlangen Redoubt.

By 23rd April, the battalion was back in the line, this time supporting the 18^th and 19^th Manchesters in their attack. Due to the late issue of orders, the attack, which took place on the 23rd and 24^th, was confused and although the battalion took their objectives, they suffered heavily. The battalion stayed in position until the 28^th, when they were relieved and moved back to the Hindenburg Line.

Their casualties in this action were 115 officers and other ranks killed wounded or missing. Amongst them were Prescot men William Davies and William Henry Robinson. Private Robinson’s died of wounds and rests in Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery.

P243-1

Prescot Reporter 14^th September 1917.

Note that the commemoration has an incorrect date of death, as Private Robinson died of wounds on 26^th April, not July as stated

P243-2

William Robinson’s Medal Index Card

P243-f

Private Robinson's headstone at Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery

Pictiure courtesy and copyright of 'Ponte Fractus', a 'Pal' of the Great War Forum

Private 1910 William ROBINSON

P244-1

Prescot Reporter 21/05/1915

Unit/Regiment	1st/5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death	03/05/1915		Age at Death		20
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Menin Gate Panel 37
CWGC Family Details (if shown)	Son of Thomas and Jane Robinson, of 41, Cross St., Prescot, Lancs.
Census Details	1901 Census - The Robinson family lived at 6, Smith Street Prescot. William, aged 5, was the only child of Thomas, 33, a Labourer in the Tank House of the B.I.W. Co, and his wife Jane (30).
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
SDGW – Where Born	Prescot, Lancs	Enlisted		Prescot	Resided
How Died	Killed In Action			Theatre of War	France & Flanders
Notes
Research Ref. No.	P244

Service Details

The 5^th 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 13^th 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 28^th April when it was moved to Vlamertinghe, Belgium in readiness to take part in the 1^st Battle of Ypres, which had started on the 22^nd.

On 2^nd 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 3^rd May, it was moved to the new line in front of Wieltje, and then on the 4^th 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.

Private Robinson would have been killed in the fighting at Wieltje. His body was never identified and he is remembered on the Menin Gate memorial.

P244-2

William Robinson’s Medal Index Card shows that he arrived in France on 13^th February 1915 and was killed in action just a month later.

P244-3

William Robinson’s inscription on the Menin Gate

Private 13871 William ROBINSON

Unit/Regiment	12th Bn., Manchester Regiment
Date of Death	07/07/1916		Age at Death
Burial/Memorial & Reference	Thiepval Memorial Pier and Face 13A and 14C
Census Details
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
SDGW – Where Born	Prescot, Lancs	Enlisted		Manchester	Resided	Droylsden, Lancs
How Died	Killed In Action			Theatre of War	France & Flanders
Notes
Research Ref. No.	P245

Service Details

Formed at Ladysmith barracks, Ashton-under-Lyne in September 1914 as part of K2, the battalion moved to Bovington camp, near Wool in Dorset as part of 52nd Brigade, 17th Division. In January 1915 they moved the short distance to Wimborne but then in February 1915 they went back to hutments in the Wool area.

In May 1915 they moved to Hursley Park, where they stayed until 15th July 1915, when with a strength of 30 officers and 975 men, they sailed from Folkstone.

On the morning of the 16th July, they landed at Boulogne, moving on to be attached to the Liverpool Scottish for training in trench warfare at Ouderom around the 21st. The battalion first went into the line on the 24th near Vierstaat and later South East of St Eloi.

For the rest of the year they were in and out of the frontline around Ypres

On the 2nd January 1916 the battalion went in to the trenches at Hill 60, near to Ypres, and throughout February and early March the battalion remained in the Ypres area. On the 20th March they moved to Houplines and then in April, via LaCreche to Armentieres, where they went into the trenches once more.

In June the 12th battalion underwent intensive training for the forthcoming battle of the Somme. They went into action on the 3rd July in an attack on Railway Copse and Bottom Wood near Fricourt. After a hectic advance to the front they found themselves in two old German trenches looking north towards Contalmaison where they remained until 5th July.

On the 6th they advanced into Fricourt Wood and were ordered to take Quadrangle Trench, which previous attacks by two other battalions had failed to take. The attack took place in bright sunlight without any cover. The result was a disaster for the battalion with 555 men killed, missing or wounded. The remainder of the battalion moved back to Ville, then Hailly, then Long and Albert where it stayed for the rest of the month.

Private Robinson was one of the casualties of this attack. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing of the Somme.

P245-1

Private Robinson’s Medal Index Card. The statement “Death Assumed” is used because he was reported as “Missing” and no trace of his body was ever found.