Pte 21820 Robert Ambrose Horrocks

• Age: 28
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Peronne Rd Cem Maricourt
  Panel Ref: II.G.31

21820 Private Robert Ambrose HORROCKS, 19^th Battalion KLR.

Robert was born in Liverpool on 22nd July 1887 and was baptised at St Dunstan’s Church, Edge Hill on 25th September 1887. He was the son of Robert Horrocks and his wife Cecilia (nee Kent) who were married on the 21st February 1886 in at St Mary's Church, Edge Hill, Liverpool. Robert was a 25 year painter of 17 Gladstone Road, father Robert, whilst Cecilia was aged 22 of 45 Baines Place, father Ambrose deceased. 

On the 1891 Census the family are living at 60 Barnet Street, Liverpool. His father, Robert, is aged 30, a house painter, mother Cecilia is aged 28, children Robert A. is aged 3 and Frances  is aged 1. They have two boarders, James and George Rose. 

By the time of the 1901 Census the family are at 14 Solon Street, Edge Hill, Liverpool with their seven children. Robert is 13 years of age. His father is a 40 year old house painter born in Liverpool, whilst his mother is 37 years of age and was also born in Liverpool. His siblings, all born in Liverpool, are listed as; Frances aged 11, Frank aged 9, Thomas 7, Alfred 4, John 1 and new born Cecilia aged 1 week.    

By 1911 the family is living at 19 Gladstone Road, Edge Hill, Liverpool when Robert Ambrose is a 23 year old lithographer. Both parents are resident in the property and his father is a 50 year old house painter, mother is 47 years of age and they advise that they have been married for 25 years and have had 7 children, all of whom have survived. They are joined by all seven children including Robert, his sister Frances, aged 21 is employed as a printing machine feeder; his two brothers Frank 19 and Thomas are apprentice house painters, presumably with their father; Alfred, 11 years, is an errand boy with a baker; and the two youngest children John aged 11 and Cecilia aged 10 are still at school.

Robert enlisted in Liverpool on 19th December 1914, joining the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 21820. He gave his age as 27 years and five months, at which time he was employed by the Lithographic Printing Department of the Liverpool Courier Newspaper Printing Works, address 2 College Street North, Shaw Street, and he named his next of kin as his father. He was described as being 5' 4" in height, weighed 112lbs, 34” chest, and stated his religion as Church of England. 

He was billeted in 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. His record shows that on 24^th August 1915 at Belton Park he was given 4 days CB for ‘leaving the rifle range without permission’. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

Robert sailed to France with his Battalion on 07th November 1915 on board the SS Invicta, thereby earniong his three medals.

He was killed in action during the attack at Montauban on the 01^st July 1916, aged 28.

19^th Battalion Diary

Zero Hour 7.30am First day of the attack. The Battalion used up entirely in “carrying parties” for the Brigade. Battalion H.Q. in the “Chateau”, Maricourt. Total casualties 01 -04/07/1916: 1 officer wounded, 12 other ranks killed, 53 wounded and 3 missing.

Robert was one of the other ranks referred to in the Battalion Diary. 

His death was reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on 13th July 1916:

"Private R.A.Horrocks, of the Pals, eldest son of Mrs.R.Horrocks, 2,College-street North, killed on July 1. He was formerly employed in the lithographic printing department of the "Courier" printing works".

He was reported as killed in action in the Liverpool Echo on 02nd August 1916: 

Killed. 

Horrocks, 21820, R. A. (Liverpool);  

Robert now rests at Peronne Road Cemetery, Grave II G 31.

Maricourt was, at the beginning of the Battles of the Somme 1916, the point of junction of the British and French forces, and within a very short distance of the front line; it was lost in the German advance of March 1918, and recaptured at the end of the following August.

The Cemetery, originally known as Maricourt Military Cemetery No.3, was begun by fighting units and Field Ambulances in the Battles of the Somme 1916, and used until August 1917; a few graves were added later in the War, and at the Armistice it consisted of 175 graves which now form almost the whole of Plot I. It was completed after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from the battlefields in the immediate neighbourhood and from certain smaller burial grounds. 

There are now 1348, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, 366 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 26 soldiers from the United Kingdom known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of three soldiers from the United Kingdom, buried in other cemeteries, whose graves could not be found.

The cemetery covers an area of 3,787 square metres and is enclosed on three sides by a low red brick wall.

He was remembered by his family in the Liverpool Daily Post on 02nd July 1917: 

IN MEMORIAM. 

HORROCKS - In loving memory of Robert Ambrose (Bob), the dearly-loved son of Mr and Mrs Horrocks, 2 College Street N., who was killed in action, July 1, 1916, aged 28 years. (Fondly remembered by Mother, Father, also Frank and Tom(with the colours), Fanny in Montreal, Alf, Jack and Jude.) 

A son, a brother, a soldier, a friend. 

One of the best that God could lend. 

 Also in the Liverpool Echo on 02nd July 1918: 

IN MEMORIAM. 

HORROCKS - In loving memory of Bob, killed in action, July 1, 1916, aged 28 years, K.L.R., the dearly-loved son of Mr and Mrs Horrocks, and loving brother of Fanny (in Montreal), Frank (in India), Tom and Jack (in Navy); also Alf and Judy. (One of the best.) - 2 College Street North. 

Soldiers Effects and Pension were sent to his father Robert. 

In a sworn declaration dated 20^th July 1919, his father declared that Robert was survived by his parents, at 2 College Street North, Everton, 4 brothers all living with their parents, a sister who lived in Canada, and a sister living with his parents.

On 06^th March 1921, Robert’s father wrote to the military enquiring about his son’s memorial plaque and their reply assured him that this would be dealt with but “some time may elapse”. 

Robert is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 55 Left.

He is also remembered on the family headstone at Kirkdale Cemetery in Liverpool:

ALSO ROBERT A. (OUR BOB)

19TH LPOOL PALS

ELDEST SON OF ABOVE

KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE 1ST JULY 1916

AGED 28 YEARS 

His father died on 05th September 1922 aged 60 and is buried at Kirkdale Cemetery.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on the 08th September 1922 

HORROCKS - September 5, at Royal Infirmary, aged 60 years, Robert, the faithful husband of Cecilia Horrocks. 8 College Street North. (No flowers by earnest request.) 

Robert was remembered in the Liverpool Evening Express on the 18th October 1926 

HORROCKS - In loving memory of BOB, dearly loved son of Cecilia and the late R. Horrocks, 8 College Street North, killed in action, July 1, 1916, 3rd Pal's. Fondly remembered by all at home. also Fanny and Alf in Montreal. 

His mother Cecilia, date of birth 01st February 1862, is found on the 1939 Register at 8 College Road North, with daughter Cecilia.

His mother died, aged 79, in 1942. 

We currently have no further information on Robert Ambrose Horrocks, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.