Prescot Roll of Honour

© Prescot Reporter

Service Details

The 18th (Service) Battalion of the King's (Liverpool) Regiment was formed by Lord Derby in August of 1914. They embarked for France on 7th and 8th November 1915 as part of the 89th Brigade of the 30th 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 22nd 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 18th involved was the Battle of Le Transloy, 1st to 18th October 1916. It was the 13th October before the 18th Battalion came into the action, relieving the 20th 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 18th/19th 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 18th Battalion moved into the front line on 27th 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 9th April, but were held up in front of the German positions by uncut wire. Despite this, they consolidated their gains until relieved on the 10th. After this, they were withdrawn from the line and billeted at Schlangen Redoubt.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 18th and 19th Manchesters in their attack. Due to the late issue of orders, the attack, which took place on the 23rd and 24th, was confused and although the battalion took their objectives, they suffered heavily. The battalion stayed in position until the 28th, 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.

His service is commemorated on the BICC Memorial and Methodist Church Roll of Honour

Prescot Reporter 14th September 1917.

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

William Robinson's Medal Index Card

Private Robinson's headstone at Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery

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