Pte 21512 John Clifford Hilton

• Age: 30
• From: Crosby
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

John Clifford Hilton was born in Crosby in the third quarter of 1885 the son of John Hilton and his wife Louisa (nee Day). The couple were married on the 8th February 1871 in St Paul's Church, Liverpool. John was of Galton Street, father John a groom, whilst Louisa was a minor of Robert Street, father Charles a plumber. John’s profession was recorded as mariner on their marriage certificate. 

At the time of the 1891 Census the family were living at 9 Victoria Road, Crosby. John’s father is missing from the census and more than likely is away at sea. Louisa is 37 years of age and the couple have five children: Florence L. is 18 and an insurance clerk for the Royal Liver Friendly Society, Charles H. is 16 and an apprentice general merchant, at school are Gertrude A. is 13, Ada E. 10 and John Clifford is 5. 

Clifford was enrolled in the Collegiate School in Liverpool in 1898

Charles died in 1900 aged just 25.

The 1901 Census records the family still living in Crosby at 28 Rossett Road. John’s father is listed as a ships steward and is 50 years old born in Lancaster, Louisa is 47 born in Seaforth, and all five of the couples surviving children are born in Crosby and living at home. Florence is still an insurance clerk, Gertrude is a laundry manager, Ada is a laundry clerk, Clifford is a merchants clerk. The couple have another daughter Winifred aged 9. 

Florence married in 1901, and Gertrude in 1906.

His father, John, died between the 1901 and 1911 census but no civil record or “deaths at sea” have been found.  

By the time of the 1911 Census, Louisa is a widow, and the family are living at 11 Manor Road, Hoylake. Living with her are her three unmarried children, Ada Eveline 30, John Clifford now 25 and a manufacturers agent and Winifred Gabrielle 19 who is a typist for a stockbroker. They also have a boarder, a 26 year old teacher. 

Clifford enlisted in the 19th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 21512 (the original number 18113 is crossed out and replaced) on the 4th September 1914 giving his age as 29 years and 15 days and his occupation as a produce broker. He advised that he had previously been a cadet in the K.L.R. John was tall, recorded as 5' 11 inches and weighing 127lbs with a 36 inch chest. He was described as having fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. He stated his religion as Church of England and his next of kin as hisK his mother Louisa,  of 11 Manor Rd, later crossed out to 1 Birkenhead Road, Meols and 54 Manor Road.  

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

He was promoted to Corporal in March 1915 but reverted back to Private at his own request in June 1915. He served in the machine gun section. 

His service record shows the following disciplinary problems:

05.6.15 - Absent without leave, severely reprimanded. 

14.8.15 - Overstaying pass by 29hrs, 10 days C.B, deducted 3 days pay. 

12.10.15 - Overstaying pass by 15hrs, 5 days C.B, deducted 2 days pay.

Clifford was killed in action on the 30th July 1916, aged 30, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive. 

19^th Battalion Diary 30^th July 1916

MALTZ HORN FARM

BATTLE begun. ZERO hour 4:45 am. The Battalion reached its objective, but suffered heavy losses, and had to evacuate its position owing to no reinforcements.

Everard Wyrall gives details of the attack in his book The History of The King’s Regiment; 

"The 2nd Attack on Guillemont- 29th July 1916 the 89th Brigade the 20th King's were to attack on the right and the 19th on the left. During the evening of the 29th the night was dark and foggy when the Battalions moved off and the 19th with Lt Col G Rollo commanding, when passing the South east of the Briqueterie they were heavily shelled first with H E and then with a new kind of asphyxiating Gas shell which had curious results, at first it had no nasty effect but about 8 hrs later men began to fall sick with violent headaches and pains in the stomach. All ranks had to wear gas masks which in the darkness and mist made the going terribly difficult. It was indeed wonderful that they were able to reach their Assembly point at all. But they did and by 2.45 a.m. on the 30th July 1916 the Btn was assembled having suffered about 30 Casualties on the way up ready for the Zero hour at 4.45 a.m.

It is known that the two left Companies of the 19th under Capt. Dodd and Capt. Nicholson advanced in touch with the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on their left although they suffered many casualties from Machine gun Fire did not encounter many Germans and reached their final objective about the time allocated, beginning at once to dig in south of the orchard on the South east corner of Guillemont.  

On the left of the 19th the Scots Fusiliers most gallantly forced their way through Guillemont to the eastern side of the village but were soon overwhelmed by the enemy and few returned. 

At 8 a.m. finding that the village was not held the two left Companies of the 19th received no word from the rear or either flank believed themselves to be totally isolated so were forced to fall back and dig in, their position being untenable.

At midday the effective fighting strength of the 19th Btn was just 7 Officers and 43 other ranks" 

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. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July.

Casualties in the 19^th Battalion were 11 Officers and 435 Other Ranks 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. 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.

Guillemont

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. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.       

Clifford's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

His sisters paid tribute to John in the Liverpool Echo on 24th August 1916:

HILTON – July 30th aged 30 years J.Clifford Hilton (Pals) only surviving very dear son of Mrs Hilton, Manor Road, Hoylake (formerly of Blundellsands) and brother of Mrs Robins, Park Way, Meols. “Be still and know that I am God”

HILTON – July 30th Killed in action John Clifford the dearly loved and only surviving brother of Mrs Hancock, Beach Lane, Waterloo.”He that loveth his life shall lose it, and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal” St John xxi 25.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Monday 11 September 1916: 

Killed.  

King’s(Liverpool Regiment) - Hilton, 21512, J.C.(Hoylake); 

Also on the anniversary of his death in the Liverpool Echo, on 30th July 1917 under the heading Lost At The Battle of Guillemont, his family paid tribute to John:

“To the glorious and proud memory of John Clifford Hilton, 19th K.L.R., surviving son of Mrs. Hilton, Manor Road, Hoylake, who sacrificed his life for his country and fell in the battle of the Somme, July 30, 1916.” 

A further notice was placed on the second anniversary of his death in 1918:

Hilton 21512

"In proud and loving memory of John Clifford Hilton, who sacrificed his life for his country and fell in the battle of the Somme, July 30, 1916, only surviving son of Mrs. Hilton, 54, Manor Road, Hoylake. 

He earned his three medals.

On the 1921 Census at 54 Manor Road, Louisa is living with daughter Winifred Chamberlain and grandson Clifford. No suitable death record can be found for her. 

John Clifford is also remembered on the following Memorials

Hoylake and West Kirby War Memorial on Grange Hill, West Kirby

St Mary the Virgin Church, Waterloo and on a personal plaque also in the church.

Waterloo and Seaforth Civic Memorial.

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