Prescot Roll of Honour

© Warrington Guardian

Service Details

Although the battalion initially arrived in France within about a week of the start of the war, L/Cpl Kenwright only arrived as part of the reinforcements of 31st May 1915, as shown on his Medal Index Card below.

The 1st Battalion of the King's (Liverpool Regiment) had its baptism of fire on the Somme as late as 27th July, almost three weeks after the onset of the battle. From 6 a.m. on that date, the battalion had been 'standing to' as the 99th Brigade was then attacking Delville Wood. Two hundred prisoners had already been passed down when the C.O. and two companies went up to carry stores to Longueval, close to the wood. They had to pass through a very heavy German barrage, with the result that 2/Lt. Seth Smith was wounded and 2/Lt. Crossley gassed, and about 40 other ranks became casualties.

Official dispatches for the day record that 'the remainder of Delville Wood was recovered by the 2nd Division'.

It would appear that Lance-Corporal Kenwright was one of the casualties of the German barrage. His body was never identified and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.

(Additional information, courtesy of Joe Devereaux)
The Warrington Guardian of 16th June 1917 reported:-

'Lance-Corporal Albert Kenwright, of the King's (Liverpool) Regiment, who has been missing since July 27th 1916, is now reported killed.

A single man Lance-Corporal Kenwright who lived with his sister, Mrs. Ellison of 1, Cobden Street, Warrington was an old soldier having completed seven years service in India five months before the outbreak of the war when he was called up as a reservist. He received his education at Silver Street School and during the five months he was at home was employed by Messrs. Joseph Crosfield and sons. Two of his brothers are serving with the forces Gunner Frederick Kenwright of the Royal Field Artillery and Quarter-Master Sergeant Walter Kenwright who is on active service with the Gloucester Regiment. A brother-in-law and two nephews are also serving.

Albert's link with Prescot is limited to his place of residence on SDGW being recorded as 'Prescot'. The Warrington Guardian article suggests that this is incorrect. It has been known for this 'Place of residence' to be that of his next of kin, so it is possible that his sister had moved to Prescot by the time the records were collated in the early 1920's.

The Medal Index Card of L/Cpl Kenwright

Albert Kenwright's inscription on the Thiepval memorial
Picture taken on Monday 21/02/2011