Pte 332672 Francis Harrington

• Age: 22
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 23rd July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Francis Harrington was born on the 04th June, 1895 in Liverpool and was baptised on the 16th June, 1895 at St Michael's Roman Catholic Church, West Derby Road, Liverpool. He was the son of Miles and Margaret (née McIntyre) Harrington who were married on the 10th May 1881 also at St Michael’s Church. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 62, Farnworth Street, West Derby, Liverpool.

The father Miles aged 48, occupation hairdresser and his wife Margaret is aged 38 with no occupation listed. They have nine children. Miles aged 19 is a fruit shipping clerk, Philip aged 16 is a joiner, Ellen, aged 14 is a dressmaker, Annie aged 12, John aged 10, Edward aged 8, Francis aged 6, William aged 3 and James born 1901.

The 1911 Census shows the family now living at 20 Farnworth St Kensington Liverpool. 

His father Miles aged 59, born in Liverpool in 1862, occupation retired hairdresser and his wife Margaret is aged 49, born in Liverpool in 1862 no occupation listed. They have been married for thirty years and have had ten children. Miles aged 29, born 1882 is a book-keeper, Philip aged 27, born 1884 is a porter, Ellen, aged 25, born 1886 is a ladies hairdresser, Annie aged 23, born 1888 no occupation listed, John aged 20, born 1891 is a lift attendant, Edward aged 18, born 1893 is an apprentice house painter, Francis aged 16, born 1895 is a Grocer’s shop boy, William aged 13, born 1898, James aged, born 1900, and Vincent aged 8, born 1903 are at school. Also living at the address is a boarder, John Deary aged 39, born 1872 and occupation House Painter.

He enlisted on the 23rd March 1916 at Seaforth as Pte 6148 into the 1st/9th The King’s Liverpool Regiment and joined the B.E.F. on the 22nd September 1916. Following a transfer he was serving in the 19th Battalion, of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 332672 when he was killed in action on the 23rd July, 1917.  

19th Battn. War Diary in the area of MUNCQ NIEURLET. 

CANAL RESERVE CAMP.  

23rd July 1917 - During the longer part of the day the Battalion rested, a few parades being held during the morning under Company arrangements. In the evening the battalion proceeded to the line, relieving the 6th Battalion of the Royal West Kents. 

TRENCHES. 

24th July 1917 - Relief was complete by 3.15 a.m. During the day the artillery on both sides were very active, special attention being paid by the enemy to the front and support lines. A few shells also dropped in RITZ STREET and in the vicinity of Battalion headquarters (DORMY HOUSE). 

His body was not recovered or was subsequntly lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres:

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

He was reported Missing in the Weekly Casualty List (War Office & Air Ministry) on Tuesday 18 September 1917: 

Missing. 

King’s Liverpool Regiment) - Harrington, 332672, F. (Liverpool); Morris, 33134(sic), L-Cpl. A. (Wellington); 

He was reported as killed in the Liverpool Echo on the 17th July 1918:

HARRINGTON - July 23, 1917 Private FRANCIS HARRINGTON K.L.R., in his 22nd year, reported missing now presumed killed on that date. The dearly beloved son of Miles and Margaret Harrington, 12 Huntly Road, Fairfield.

His brother William was sadly killed on the 17th April 1918 whilst serving as a Driver 678638 in the Royal Field Artillery. 

Liverpool Echo - Thursday 25 April 1918 

HARRINGTON—ApriI 17, killed in action, in his 20th year Driver WILLIAM HARRINGTON (R.F.A.), the dearly-beloved son Miles and Margaret Harrington, 12, Huntly-road, Fairfield. R.I.P. 

Soldiers Effects, army pay of £4 15s 8d, war gratuity £7 10s went to his father Miles. The pensions of Francis and William went to their parents. 

His father, Miles, died, aged 77, in 1929 and was buried on the 16th September at Yew Tree Cemetery, his address still 12 Huntly Road. and his mother, Margaret, died, aged 70, in 1932 and was buried on the 03rd December with her husband, her address at the time of her death was 176 Utting Avenue, Liverpool.  

We currently have no further information on Francis Harrington, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.