Whilst undertaking the research into the men of Prescot who fell in the Great War, I came across details of many more men who served and returned, some unharmed and some injured. Although the principal aim of the web site is to commemorate the men who fell, I feel that it is important to also remember those who served. Their story is told on the "Also Served" pages although there is generally not as much detail as in the Casualty sections.
These pages will develop over time as I add details to them, so please keep an eye on "What's New" on the Home Page to check when it has been updated.
if you have a relative who served in the war and you can't find any details on the site, please email me at the address above and I will investigate and hopefully come across details of his service.
George Albert JOLLEY 10, Ward Street, Prescot
Sapper 7937, 17th Field Coy., West Lancs Division, Royal Engineers (later 428145 with the same unit).
Born 23rd June 1894.
In the 1911 census, George was aged 16 and worked as an Apprentice Draughtsman at the Wire Factory. He lived with his parents Robert (a Coal Miner) and Elizabeth, brother Robert (18) and sister Lena (10).
Attested to the Royal Engineers at St Helens in May 1915, recording his trade as “Draughtsman”.
George went Absent without Leave for half a day on 21st February 1916 for which he was fined one day’s pay. George went to France on 22nd April 1916. He had two periods in hospital in November 1917, suffering from Dysentry.
At some unknown point, he moved from France to Salonika, where he served until 1919. He was appointed to the post of Acting Lance Corporal on 30th January 1919, reverting to Sapper on 22nd April that year, the same date that he embarked for the UK to be demobbed.
Medal Entitlement – British War Medal and Victory Medal
George died in Crosby in 1972 at the age of 78.
Robert JOLLEY 10, Ward Street, Prescot
Private 21743, King’s (Liverpool) Regiment
To France, 7th November 1915
In the 1911 census, Robert was aged 18 and worked as a Student teacher for the County Council. He lived with his parents Robert (a Coal Miner) and Elizabeth, brother George (16) and sister Lena (10).
Listed in the Prescot Reporter “List of all local men who have enlisted” in 1915 as serving with “Kitchener’s Army”, then pictured in Prescot Reporter of 21/07/1916 with caption “Liverpool Pals (wounded) Ward Street, Prescot”
Medal Entitlement – 1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Attesting to the army on 3rd April 1916, aged 26, William recorded his occupation as “Ships Steward”.
William originally declared his father, Robert Jolley of 10, Ward Street, Prescot, as his next of kin but then on 30th October 1916 at Prescot, he married Elizabeth Mary Murtagh, at which time he changed his next of kin declaration. They lived at 6, Cambridge Street, Prescot. On 2nd December 1919, they had a son, William Joseph Jolley.
He went to France on 19th February 1917 and remained there until 6th March 1918, but was sent back to France on 20th March 1918. After the war, William served in the army of occupation, for which he voluntarily agreed to extend his Terms of Service
William was demobbed on 20th March 1920.
Medal Entitlement – British War Medal and Victory Medal.
William Samuel KAY
1, Cambridge Street, Prescot
(William was identified to me as a Prescot Great War veteran by Martin Ledson, who holds his medals)
Pte 254842, 23rd Signal Coy, Royal Engineers
(Initially Pte 30732, Cheshire regiment).
William enlisted in the Cheshire Regiment in St Helens on 7th April 1916, aged 21 years 7 months. He was assigned to the 17th Reserve Battalion. He stated that he worked as a Motor Attendant at the Cable Works. His next of kin was his wife, Lily Kay, of the same address. They had two daughters; Dorothy (born 20th February 1914) and Elsie Irene (26th September 1915).
In September 1916 he was appointed Lance Corporal before being transferred to the Royal Engineers later that month.
On 11th January 1917, he was admitted to hospital at Prees Heath suffering from Scabies, and remained there for 6 days.
He went to France on 24th April 1917. He suffered from Bronchitis in July 1917 and was treated at No2 2 Stationary Hospital at Abbeville for four weeks. He returned to the UK in August of that year, going straight to 1stLondon general Hospital on 1st August and remaining in hospital until 11th September 1917, when he was discharged back to duty, although he was medically downgraded to Class B III.
However, he continued to suffer from Bronchitis and was admitted to the MilitaryHospital at Thetford on 22nd November, remaining there until 14th December.
He was admitted to WhistonAuxiliaryHospital on 30th June 1918 suffering from influenza, and was only discharged on 17th September that year. Going back to his unit, he was then admitted to an army Field Ambulance on 24th December 1918suffering from Bronchitis and stayed in hospital until 28th December.
William was discharged to Class “Z” reserve on 25th September 1919. He applied for a pension, stating that he had suffered Bronchial Catarrh since 1917.
William’s medal entitlement was to the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
He died in Prescot in 1937 at the age of 42
Joseph Gordon LAUDER
10, Vicarage Place, Prescot
Captain, 1/5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
The Lauder family appear to have moved to Prescot around the turn of the century. The 1911 census shows that their 15 year old daughter Rhoda had been born in Kent while their 11 year old son James was Prescot-born.
Alexander Lauder (47) was a Hydraulic Engineer at the Cable Works. He had been married to Elizabeth (45, nee Revell), for 25 years, and six of their seven children were still living. Joseph (23) was an electrical draughtsman, also at the Cable Works. He lived with his parents along with his wife Ada (27, nee Allen) and their two children Ada (1) and Rhoda (1 month).
Also with the parents were children Archibald, 20, a Clerk at the Cable Works. William (17) was an Assistant Cable Tester, Rhoda (15) was a Student at Commercial College and James (11) was also at home.
Joseph served with the 1/5th Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment as a pre-war Territorial and on the outbreak of war he was a Sergeant with the battalion. He went to France on 12th February 1915.
He was listed in the Prescot Reporter list of men serving with the forces in May 1915, and also in 1915, he was reported in the Parish magazine to be in hospital recovering from wounds. Around this time, he was “Mentioned in Disptaches”
The London Gazette of October 13th 1915 reported that Sgt J.G. Lauder of the South Lancashire regiment, was to be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.
Then on 25th September 1917, he was again in the London Gazette, this time as a result of being awarded the Military Cross, also noting that he was serving with the Machine Gun Corps, presumably this being the unit to which he had been seconded.
Given the date of the award, it seems likely that it was for actions during the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele).
The citation for this award finally appeared in the London Gazette on 9th January 1918 and stated:-
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of a battery of eight machine guns. After the capture of the last objective, he displayed the greatest judgement and ability in establishing his gunsunder extremely heavy fire, although at the time he was suffering severely from shell shock and was unable to speak. He set a splendid example to all ranks”.
At some point, Joseph was promoted to Acting Captain, and in February 1919, the Gazette confirmed his reversion to Second Lieutenant on leaving the army.
After the war, Joseph’s medal Index Card confirmed his entitlement to the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. He also applied for “Oak Leaf” which he was entitled to wear as he had been mentioned in dispatches. The card shows his address as “Grantham”, 67 Kemble Street, Prescot.
It appears that Joseph returned to work at the Cable Works, and in 1928 he and the company successfully applied for a patent for “improvements connected with the extrusion of metal”.
Joseph Gordon Lauder, MC, died in Prescot in 1954 at the age of 66.
Incidentally, Joseph’s daughter Rhoda married William Reakes in Prescot in 1937, and in 1938 their son Sidney was born. Sid Reakes was a director of Liverpool Football Club for many years and was also, I believe, the founder of Towns Travel, Prescot’s travel agency
William R LAUDER
10, Vicarage Place, Prescot
William was included in the Prescot Reporter list of men serving with the colours in May 1915, which reported that he was (like his elder brother), serving with the 1/5th Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment.
No record of his service with the battalion (or any other) can be located
James LEATHER 1, Rowson Street
Private 22416, Coldstream Guards
Picture kindly supplied by the Leather family
James Leather attested as Private 22416 to the Coldstream Guards in Prescot on 20th December 1915. His attestation was witnessed by William Roughsedge and the certifying magistrate was Councillor W.J. Lucas.
James was 22 years old and single. Working as a Collier at Cronton Colliery, he lived at 1, Rowson Street, Prescot. His next of kin was listed as his mother Margaret Leather of the same address. At his initial medical inspection, James was recorded as 5 foot 7 inches tall with a 37 inch chest measurement.
He was immediately posted to the Army Reserve and was not then mobilised until 28th June 1917 when he was called to the Guards depot at Warrington then moved to Caterham. On 31st March 1918 he sailed from Southampton for France and was posted to the 1st Battalion, joining them at the Base Depot on 1st April 1918.
He was wounded in action on 26th May 1918 and appears to have remained out of the line for treatment until 29th August, finally rejoining the battalion on 14th September. On 27th September, he was again wounded, this time receiving a Gun Shot Wound to the left thigh. He was treated at 56 Casualty Clearing Station and No 18 General Hospital but as then evacuated to England for further treatment on 2nd October 1918, at which time he was also transferred to the 3rd Battalion. He was treated at a hospital in Halifax and was discharged on 11th November 1918, the day of the armistice.
James was ultimately discharged on 26th January 1919.
He was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
He died in Prescot in 1966, aged 72
Charles MASON 11, Bond Street, Prescot
Private 70444, South Lancashire Regiment
Charles Mason served with the 13th Battalion of the South Lancs. Regiment from October 1915 to March 1916. After the end of the war, he re-enlisted on 3rd May 1919 in Dusseldorf, Germany. At the time, he was single, lived at 11 Bond Street, Prescot and worked as a Baker. He was aged 19 years and 3 months. His father was William Mason of the same address.
He stood just over 5 foot 5 inches, weighed 148 pounds and he had a pale complexion with blue-grey eyes and fair hair. His religion was Church of England.
He was based in Germany with the Regiment until he was posted to serve with the Welsh Regiment on 9th July, at which time he returned to the UK. Then on 11th November 1919 he was discharged as being no longer physically fit for service. This was caused by illness which was attributed to his prior period of service with the South Lancashire Regiment.
William MORAN Address not known
Sergeant 241185, 1/5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
Listed in the “Prescot Weekly Times” of 27th May 1915 in the list of “Catholic men of Prescot serving with HM Forces”.
The London Gazette of 19th October 1917 listed Sgt Moran amongst the men awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. He was then pictured in the Prescot Reporter with a caption of “South Lancs (Prescot) awarded the DCM”. Finally, on 25th January 1918, the London Gazette published the following citation:-
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in the face of heavy machine gun fire and very active sniping. At a very critical moment he advanced firing his Lewis gun from the hip at an enemy machine gun 150 yards away, knocking out the enemy gunners and enabling our line to get forward and achieve its objective. By his untiring cheerfulness during two days of hostile counter-attacks and heavy bombardment, he was of the greatest value in keeping up the spirits of his gun team”.
I have so far been unable to positively identify William Moran in the 1911 census as there are several “possibles”.
Walter Ernest MUTCH 10, Chester Street, Prescot
Sergeant 2125 (later 240428), 1/5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
Born in 1889 in Prescot, Walter was the eldest son of William and Hannah Mutch. He worked as a House Painter
To France 13th February 1915. Listed in the Prescot Reporter “List of all local men who have enlisted” in 1915.
He was pictured in the Prescot Reporter of 16/12/1916 with a caption “South Lancs (Prescot) awarded the Military Medal”
Demobilized 16th March 1919
Walter married Florence Smith in Prescot in 1920 and it appears that they had 8 children. Walter died in Prescot in 1972 at the age of 82
Charles Furlong NEAVES Ackers Street, Prescot
Pte 25542, King’s (Liverpool) Regiment, later Pte 187042, Royal Air Force
Born 1896, son of Halkett and Elizabeth Neaves (see below).
Listed in the Prescot Reporter “List of all local men who have enlisted” in 1915., Pictured in Prescot Reporter of 28/07/1916 with caption “Ackers St. Prescot, KLR, wounded”
Medal Entitlement - British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Married to Kathleen Griffiths in 1925, Charles died in Liverpool in 1974 at the age of 78
Halkett Nicholas NEAVES
21, Station Road, Prescot
39388, Royal Navy
Halkett Nicholas Neaves was the eldest son of Halkett William Neaves (see below)
Halkett was born on 29th September 1892 in Liverpool. The 1911 census shows that he worked as an Electrical Fitter at the Wire works, and his occupation when he joined the navy on 15th June 1915 was Machine Tool Maker.
He was listed in the Prescot Reporter in May 1915 as serving with the colours.
He spent the first two years of his service assigned to HMS “Vivid” which was a shore based station, and at Dartmouth. In July 1917 he was assigned to HMS “heather”, where he remained until he was demobbed in July 1919.
In 1923, he married Bertha Clay and they had two children; Beryl (b. 1924) and Gordon (b. 1926)
Halkett died in Windsor in 1972, aged 80
Halkett William NEAVES 31, Campbell Street, Prescot
Sapper 7976, West Lancs Division, Royal Engineers
Halkett William Neaves was father of Halkett Francis Neaves (see above). He was born around 1871 in Liverpool.
He married Elizabeth Turner in 1891.
The 1911 census entry shows the family as living at RopersBridge in Whiston, but by the time of the war the Neaves family were living at 21, Station Road, Prescot. The census shows Halkett to be single and working as a Cast Iron Pipe Fitter at the Wire works.
He was listed in the Prescot Reporter in May 1915 as serving with the colours, having joined the Royal Engineers as Sapper 7976 at St Helens on 13th May. He recorded his next of kin as his wife, Elizabeth. He lied about his age, stating that he was 34 years and 8 months old, when in fact he was 44! He stated that he had three dependent children at the time; Charlotte (b.10/06/1902), Nicholas (b. 27/06/1904) and Catherine (b. 30/10/1908).
He was charged with “Inattention to Duty” on 13th November 1915 and was fined 2 days pay and ordered to do an extra guard. He was then fined 1 days pay for being AWOL for 24 hours in January 1916.
On 14th March 1917, without having seen overseas service, he was transferred to Class “W” of the Army Reserve with instructions to report to the BI&HC Company at Prescot where he was to undertake munitions work.
He was demobilised from the army on 15th January 1919.
Halkett died in Liverpool in 1946, aged 76
Thomas NULTY, MM & Bar 11, Stone Street, Prescot Prescot
Private 13100, King’s (Liverpool) Regiment
Thomas Nulty was my grandfather.
Born in Prescot on 1st January 1895, he joined the 11th Battalion of the King’s (Liverpool) Regiment on 24th August 1914 in Liverpool. He crossed to France with the battalion on 19th May 1915. He was later transferred into the 1st/5th Battalion of the same regiment and remained with them until he was demobilised in February 1919.
Late in 1918 as the war moved towards an end, Thomas was awarded the Military Medal and Bar for gallantry. His citations read "For gallantry whilst one of a patrol on 7th/8th September, 1918 near Festubert. The party coming under heavy machine gun fire from immediate front and flanks, he was foremost in encouraging others about him to rush the Pill Boxes, helping to make good our positions in the captured Posts at a distance of 800 yards from our original line. On the night of 7th/8th September he conveyed important messages to Company Headquarters through a heavy bombardment of the trench system." and 'At Canteleux during a minor operation on 17 and 18 September 1918. For gallantry and devotion to duty. In the attack on Canteleux Trench on the morning of 18 September 1918, showed great resource and was mainly instrumental in capturing nine of the enemy in a small dug-out in a portion of Strong Point. Having secured them, this man took them across the open to the original point of departure and then immediately returned to advanced positions, where he continued to do good work until the relief of his Company 36 hours afterwards.'
After the war, Thomas returned to civilian life and his pre-war occupation as a Coal Miner before working for Prescot Urban District Council on road-making. In 1926, he married Mary White in the chapel of Whiston Workhouse (now Whiston Hospital) and they went on to have 11 children between 1927 and 1945. On the outbreak of the Second World War, Thomas enlisted once again with the King’s (Liverpool) Regiment, enlisting on 2nd December 1939. But by now being aged 45, he was discharged on 3rd March 1941 as no longer being fit for military service.
He worked for the remainder of the war on Liverpool Docks, then after the war worked for BICC until he retired in 1960.
He died in 1970 and is buried in Prescot Churchyard in the same grave as his son Robert (Bobby), who was killed in a below ground accident at Cronton Colliery in 1948 at the age of 15.
