L/Cpl 29255 William James Kelly

• Age: 25
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

William James Kelly was born in late 1890 in Liverpool and was the son of Charles Kelly and his wife Elizabeth (nee Beaty) who were married in 1888. Charles and William had another son called Charles Beaty in 1889. Sadly after only being married less than 3 years, Charles senior died at the age of 28 in late 1890 before Elizabeth gave birth to William.

At the time of the 1891 census Elizabeth is living at 28 Rockfield Road, Anfield with her two small sons, her brother Robert Beaty, and a domestic servant called Isabella Murgatroyd who is 18 years old.

Elizabeth married Harry Herbert Hall, who was a wholesale flour merchant, in 1899. In 1900 they had a son called Colin.

The 1901 census records Elizabeth, Harry and the three boys living at 42 Radnor Drive, Liscard.  His stepfather is a wholesale flour merchant working on his own account. Charles B. K., is 12, and William J. K., 10,  and are both listed as Hall;  Colin Herbert is 1 year old. Isabella is still living with them as their domestic. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 36 The Summit, Liscard. Elizabeth is recorded as married, so Harry must be away on business. She is living with her three sons. Charles aged 22, and William aged 20 are both book clerks for a provisions merchant and Colin Hall aged 11, who was born in Liscard is at school. Domestic servant Isabella Murgatroyd aged 38, has been working for Elizabeth now for over 20 years.

He enlisted in Liverpool in about May 1915 joining in the 17^th Battalion (C Company), The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 29255.  

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. It is likely that William joined them at Belton Park. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

He arrived in France with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 07th November 1915.

William had reached the rank of Lance Corporal when he was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 25, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive. 

17^th Battalion Diary 

The Bn was in support to 19 & 20 Bn K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20^th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.

Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.

Casualties in the 17^th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks

Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917

The 17^th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions)  in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.

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. 

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.       

Having previously been reported as Missing, William's death was announced in the Wallasey News on 23rd September 1916;

GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOY KILLED 

PLAYED FOR NEW BRIGHTON TOWN AMATEURS

The death is announced - killed in action - of Lance-Corporal William James Kelly, of the King's Liverpool Regiment. He was reported missing on July 30th. He is the second son of Mrs .F. Hall, 36, The Summit, Liscard. Lance-Corporal Kelly was seen to go over the first line of the parapet, and was last seen jumping into a German trench with two other comrades. He was educated at Wallasey Grammar School, and played for the school football team which won the Shield, season 1905-06. He also played for the New Brighton Tower Amateurs. He was employed as a clerk with the Morris Beef Company, Liverpool, and joined the colours June 1, 1915. 

Second-Lieutant C.B.Arnold writes :

"Dear Mrs. Hall, - Re your letter. I was not in charge of this company at the time, but have made inquiries after your son, Lance-Corporal W. J. Kelly. The last seen of him he was well out in the front in the attack on the 30th July, and he, and, in fact, the entire party he was with, were wiped out. Some bodies were eventually identified, but there was a great number of missing in that particular fight. I am afraid the chances of your son still living are nil, and hope that the knowledge that your brave boy went out to his death nobly doing his duty under terrible conditions will help to soften the blow. In his death the company lost a fine soldier, and many people lost in him a good friend". 

Mr. H.E.Vipan, headmaster of the Wallasey Grammar School,writing to his brother, who is also with the Colours, says :- 

"My Dear Hall, - I cannot tell you how unutterably grieved I am to receive your letter telling me of your brother's death. It is heart-breaking to hear day after day of boys whom one has had under one's charge, crossing the border, and now you tell me another in your brother. I know how useless mere words are in a trouble such as this must be to your mother, but I feel I must write just this line to say how deeply and sincerely I sympathise with you all in your great grief. With kindest regards and deepest sympathy". 

William's body was not recovered or was subsequently lsot 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.”

William is also commemorated on the following Memorials -

Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 67

Victoria Central Community Hospital, Wallasey

His mother received James’ Army pay (his brother Charles’ share went to his mother at his request) and a War Gratuity of £4-10s.  Pension Cards, giving his name as James, and James William [“see William James”] show that his mother was awarded a pension of 10/- a week from September 1917.

On the first anniversary of his death his mother paid tribute to her son in the Liverpool Echo, on 30th July 1917 under the heading Lost At The Battle of Guillemont, his mother paid a moving tribute to Will:

“In ever-loving memory of my dearly-loved son, Lance-Corporal William James Kelly (1st Pals), killed in action July 30, 1916. (Always with me, dear Will.) – His sorrowing Mother, 36, The Summit, Liscard.” 

He was also remembered on the second anniversary of his death in 1918:

"In sad remembrance of my dearly-loved son Lance-Corporal William James Kelly (1st Pals), killed in action, July 30, 1916.  (Always with me, dear Will.) - His sorrowing Mother. 36, The Summit, Liscard."

Probate was granted to his mother, Elizabeth Hall, in the amount of £258-19s-7d.

His mother lost her husband, and both her other sons. Charles died in 1934 aged 44, and Colin in 1941, at the age of 41.

In 1939 his mother, now 74 and widowed, is still at 36, The Summit, living on private means. Isabella Murgatroyd, 66, is still with her.  

His mother died at the age of 82 in 1947.

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