Pte 15410 Alfred Joseph Kelsall

• Age: 20
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Alfred Joseph Kelsall was born at Cressington, Liverpool on 25th May 1896 and was baptised on 27th June 1898 in the Parish Church of St Peter's along with his twin brother Cyril Richard Adam Kelsall (who died in 1899). He was the son of Alfred Richard Kelsall and his wife Bessie Alice Ann (nee Whittaker) who had married in 1893 at Hyndburn Registrar Office, Preston..

The family firm of Kelsall Brothers (Fishmongers) was based at 25 Great Charlotte Street, Liverpool and also at St. John's wholesale fish market in Liverpool. 

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 20 Broughton Drive, Garston. His father is shown as a 30 year old fish salesman born in Liverpool, his mother is 33 and was born in Accrington. Alfred is 4 years of age and is joined in the house by his sister Mary B  aged 6, brother Gerald aged 1 both born at Cressington, Liverpool. Also present is Fanny Birchall a childrens nurse and Alice H Warburton a cook.

Alfred was educated at Hoylake College and attended Merchant Taylors School, Crosby between 1906 -1912.

By 1911 the family are reidient at Glenhurst, Eton Avenue, Blundellsands. Alfred is now 14 and a schoolboy. Mother and father are still present along with siblings Mary Beatrice aged 16, Gerald Richard aged 11 and Albert Ronald aged 3. Also present is Mary Hewitt described as a children's nurse and housemaid. His parents advise that they had been married for 17 years and had eight children, four of whom had sadly died.   

Alfred enlisted in Liverpool on 01st September 1914 and posted to the 17th Battalion as Private 15410.

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 sailed to France with his Battalion on the 07th November 1915.

Alfred was killed in action with "B" Company of the 17th Battalion on 01st July 1916 during the attack at Montauban.

17^th Battalion Diary 

3.30 am the Battalion in position in assembly trenches -Battalion frontage from Maricourt – Briqueterie Rd to 100 yards west of Maricourt – Montauban Rd – 1^st wave, 2 platoons of A Company on the right and 2 platoons of B company on the left. 2^nd wave remaining platoons of these companies. 3^rd wave C Company and 4^th wave D Company in parallel trenches at about 100 yards distance. 3^rd Battalion 153^rd French Infantry on our right and 20 KLR on our left. The Battalion’s objective was Dublin Trench from Dublin Redoubt exclusive to a point 400 yards west.

7.30 am – “Zero Hour”. The assault commenced, some shelling but very slight infantry resistance and little machine gun fire encountered, the work of our artillery having been very effective on the German trenches.

8.30 am – the objective was taken at 08.30 am the French on our right gaining their’s at the same hour. Lieutenant-Colonel B C Fairfax and Commandant Le Petit commanding 3^rd Battalion 153^rd Regiment arrived together in Dublin Trench. A and B Companies dug in almost 100 yards south of Dublin Trench which the Germans shelled intermittently all day hardly touching the new trench. Casualties up to 12 noon, Captain E C Torrey commanding C Company, Lt D H Scott commanding A Company and 2^nd Lieutenant P L Wright wounded 100 other ranks. Later in the day the 90^th Brigade took Montauban and the 20^th KLR captured the Briqueterie. Lt Scott died of wounds in a French hospital at Cerisy where Captain Mirascou commanding the left Company of the French also lay wounded. Perfect liaison existed between the French and ourselves the above two officers commanding respectively our right Company and the French left Company being in constant touch. Shortly after the attack commenced the Battalion Headquarters moved to a German dugout in Favieres Support under Briqueterie Road where Commandant Le Petit also established his H.Q. During the remainder of the day there was intermittent bombardment of Dublin and Casement and  Favieres Support trenches. Rations were brought up safely at night. Disposition of the Battalion – 2 Companies in Dublin and 2 in Casement.

He is listed as being killed in action between 1st and 2nd July 1916, however most of the men who were killed with the the 17th Battalion on the 1st July are officially listed as having died between 1st and 2nd July 1916. 

Alfred has no known grave, his name being commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. The family headstone refers to him being buried near Mariecourt, however, his grave was either subsequently lost or destroyed and as such his name is 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.”

Liverpool Echo 20th July 1916

KELSALL - July 1, killed in action, aged 20 years, Alfred Joseph Kelsall (Pals), dearly loved eldest son of Alfred and Bessie Kelsall, "Glenhurst", Elton Avenue, Blundellsands.

Liverpool Daily Post 19th April 1917

ST MICHAEL'S, BLUNDELLSANDS

The Rev. Gerald E. Jones presided and mentioned the loss of two members who have fallen at the front, Messrs. Alfred Kelsall and Oswald Parkinson. At the same time he felt it should be put on record that two other members who distinguished themselves, and had both won the military medal, Messrs. Percy Jackson and Jose Barras.

He is also remembered on the following Memorials

Garden of Remberance, Alexander Park, Crosby

St Michael's Parish church, Blundellsands

Merchant Taylors' School for Boys, Crosby,

The following transcription is from a headstone in Toxteth Park Cemetery, Liverpool:

"In loving memory of Alfred Richard Kelsall, the dearly loved husband of Bessie Kelsall, who passed from this life February, 15th 1917, aged 47years. Until the day break and the shadows flee away.

Also of Alfred Joseph, their dearly loved eldest son, of the 17th Battalion King's (Liverpool) Regiment (1st Liverpool Pals) killed in action in the Battle of the Somme, July 1st 1916 was buried near Maricourt, France, aged 20 years. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

Also of Bessie Alice, dearly loved wife of the above, called to rest April, 15th 1943, aged 78 years. "For gold is tried in the fire, and accepable men in the furnace of adversity."

Also of Cyril Richard Adam their 2nd son, who died March 29th 1899, aged 10 months.

Also of Muriel Alice, their 2nd daughter who died March 30th 1902, aged 7 months. "Sheltered from the storms of life."   


 

Father Alfred Richard, Glenhurst, Elton Ave, Blundellsands, retired fish merchant, died 15th Feb 1917, probate to widow Bessie Alice.

Soldiers Effects to father Alfred R., mother Bessie, sisters Mary. B. Boothroyd, and brother Gerald R., no Pension record found.

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