Pte 15618 David Charles Jardine

• Age: 22
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• Drowned Monday 14th January 1918
• Commemorated at: Cerisy-gailly Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.A.7

David Charles Jardine was born on 05th May 1895 and baptised on 26th May 1895 at St Joseph’s Liverpool, the son of Thomas Jardine and his wife Margaret (nee Murray) who were married 26th September 1879. Thomas was born in Liverpool and Margaret in Scotland. David Charles (Charlie) was the youngest of their five children. His siblings were Margaret Mary, Thomas William, Elizabeth (who died in infancy), and John.

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 4 St. Chrysostom Street, Everton. His parents Thomas and Margaret together with four children Margaret is 19, and is a dressmaker, and Thomas William is aged 17, and an assistant in a glass and china shop. John is 11, and David 5. 
His father is a labourer in a sugar refinery. 

David was educated at St. Francis Xavier School.

On the 1911 census David is aged 15 and an apprentice joiner living at 4 St. Chrysostom Street, Everton with his parents and three siblings. His father, Thomas, is a 63 year old sugar boiler, whilst his mother, Elizabeth, is 57. His siblings are listed as; Margaret Mary aged 29 and a dressmaker, Thomas William aged 26 is a sugar labourer, John 21 assistant for glass and china merchant.

David’s service record shows that he enlisted on 31st August 1914 at St George's Hall in Liverpool joining the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 15618. He gave his age as 19 years and 120 days, he was a clerk. He was described as being 5’4” tall, weighed 112 lbs, with a fresh complexion, hazel eyes, and brown hair. He gave his religion as Roman Catholic and his father as next of kin.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th 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 was hospitalised with influenza from 24th to 26th February 1915.

Whilst in training his brother Thomas William died on 10th January 1915, aged 31. Further tragedy was to blight the family in the same year as his father died on 04th November 1915 aged 67. 

Whilst at 89th Brigade Depot on 28th June 1915 he was admonished and forfeited one day's pay for a day's absence.

He was again absent overnight on 30th September 1915, 2 days confined to barracks and forfeited 1 day's pay.

Still at Knowsley he was again absent overnight on 02nd February 1916, 2 days confined to barracks and forfeited 1 day's pay.

David apparently remained at Knowsley when his battalion left for further training, the 17th Battalion reached France 07th November 1915. David did not ship to France with his battalion, but remained in the U.K. and was posted to the 21st (Reserve) Battalion.

He embarked at Folkestone on 09th February 1916 and joined 30th I.B.D. at Etaples the next day. He joined the 2nd Entrenching Battalion in the field on the 25th February and was posted to the 17th Bn in the field on 30th April 1916.

On 03rd September 1916 he was admitted to 98 Field Ambulance with I.C.T. (leg), and rejoined his unit early in October.

He was awarded a Good Conduct Badge for completion of 2 years service on 31st August 1916.

David was attached to the 30th Division Salvage Company when he drowned on the 14^th January 1918, aged 22. There was an inquiry into the circumstances of his death and the report of witnesses is listed below:

Witness 1:

No.839 Segt Fenwick 2nd Yorkshires states: 

"On 13/1/18 Pte. Jardine was reported present to me at lights out by the orderly Sergeant. At 4.30am on 14-1-18 I was roused by Cpl.of Guard. At 5am I saw all men up. At 5.30 am Pte. Jones reported to me that there was a man in the river. I went to the river but saw no sign of any man in the river. I called the roll, Pte. Jardine was the only man absent. The men drew their water for washing from the river. The latrines are on the river bank. The morning was very dark. Pte. Jardine was a good and cheerful worker."

Witness 2:

39635 L/Cpl. Dean T.  16th Manchester Regt states:

"About 5.30 am on 14th inst. I saw Pte. Jardine dressing in the same room as myself in our billet in CORBIE. I was passing the cookhouse about 5.45 am. when I heard a cry "there's a man in the water". I went to the river side - about 25 yards away - when a man struck a match, then I saw a body floating rapidly towards the mill race. The morning was very dark."

Witness 3:

No.23914 Pte. Bowen F. 20th K.L.R. states:

"About 5.45 am. on the 14th inst. near our billet in CORBIE I was drawing water from the river. I heard a splash. I struck a match and saw a man struggling in the river. I tried to reach him but failed. He appeared to be swimming towards centre of river. I shouted "are you allright" but got no reply. Some one then gave me a torch, by its light I saw the body drifting towards the mill. I was stood by the urenal (sic) when I heard the splash about 5 yards up the river. I did not recognise the man in the water. He was fully dressed."

Private A.T. Buckley 20th Bn K.L.R. states:

On morning of 14th inst. I was detailed to stay behind to look for a body seen in the river, I was looking for it below the bridge. I heard that it had been found. I saw the body and recognised it as Pte. Jardine 17 K.L.R. late of 21st K.L.R. The body was fully dressed. I knew Pte Jardine in civil life, he was of a cheerful nature. He could swim.   

Signed A J Buckley 

His body had been examined by Captain M N Binie RAMC at 41 Stat. Hospital who concluded:

"I have this day examined the body of No.15618 Pte D Jardine, A. Coy., 21st Batt. K.L.R. att. Salvage Coy. 30th Div. and find the cause of death to be due to drowning. 

THE COURT having investigated the circumstances under which No. 15618 Pte. D. Jardine 17 K.L.R. attached to Slvage Coy. 30 Div. lost his life, make the following report.

Pte. JARDINE having dressed in his billet in CORBIE on morning of 14th inst, went either to wash or to the latrine, & in the darkness he walked into the river accidentally. He could swim, but the river current was strong & carried him under the bridge, where he was entangled with wire, & was thus drowned. 

(s) R E Roberts Major  President

     E N Ashe Capt

     J M Greer Capt


APPROVED

(s) G A Stevens B.G
cmdg.90th Inf. Bde.
18-1-18         

His next of kin was notified a few weeks later, his mother announcing her son's death in the local press on 28th February 1918:

"January 14, accidentally drowned in France, aged 22 years, Private David C. Jardine, K.L.R., the dearly-loved youngest son of Margaret and the late Thomas Jardine."

David now rests at  Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery. The Inscription on his headstone reads:

“THY WILL BE DONE R.I.P.”

Gailly was the site of the 39th and 13th Casualty Clearing Stations during the early part of 1917, and of the 41st Stationary Hospital from May 1917 to March 1918. The villages were then captured by the Germans, but were retaken by the Australian Corps in August 1918. Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery (originally called the New French Military Cemetery) was begun in February 1917 and used by medical units until March 1918. After the recapture of the village it was used by Australian units. The cemetery was increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of the Somme and other small cemeteries.

The cemetery now contains 745 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 114 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate five casualties buried at Maricourt and Ste. Helene whose graves could not be found.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

David was awarded the British War and Victory Medals and served in France from 09th February 1916 to 14th January 1918. His death was accidental drowning the court of enquiry 20th January 1918 stated that Private Jardine lost his life whilst on duty but was not to blame. This casualty should be reported as killed (Accidentally).

His family placed a Birthday Memorial notice in the Liverpool Echo on 04th May 1918:

JARDINE - In sad but loving 23rd birthday remembrance of my dear youngest son Private D. C. JARDINE (Charlie) K.L.R., who was accidentally drowned in France, January 14, 1918.

God has saved from weary strife,

In it's dawn, this fresh, young life.

(Sadly missed. R.I.P.)

His outstanding Army pay was shared between his mother, brother John, and sister Margaret.  A War Gratuity of £15-10s was paid to his mother, who was awarded a pension of 3/6d a week.

David’s brother, John, enlisted on 10th December 1915 and served with the 7th Yorkshire Infantry 38777 Private was discharged 19th September 1917 and was pensioned as having been wounded in the left calf and thigh. He was given the silver war badge and certificate and an 80% disability pension due  to shrapnel wounds, no longer fit for service.