Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. There follows an extract from The History of the 89 th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day. The events of 30 th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. On this line the division was relieved by the 55 th Division during the early hours of the 31 st July. When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30 th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood, southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.Ĭasualties for 20 th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 Other Ranks
The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.Īround 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.Īt 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.Īt 6.30am, 2/Lt. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”Īt 6am, Lt. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. “At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. The 20 th King’s Battalion Diary records: He arrived in France on 7 th November 1915. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. He enlisted in Liverpool and joining the 20 th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 23115.His regimental number and the amount of the War Gratuity indicate that he enlisted in November 1914.įormed in November 1914 the 20 th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29 th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. Prior to the war he was employed by Messrs A Mawdsley and Co, Timber Merchants, Bootle. Nora 12, Doreen 10, and Arthur 8, are at school. John is 16, an apprenticed clerk for a tobacco merchant, and Norman, 15, is an apprenticed clerk for a timber merchant. Both parents are 42, his father is an assistant teacher for the County Council. By 1911 they have moved to Blundellsands, living at 17 Hastings Road.
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