Sgt 23078 Herbert Lawrenson

• Age: 25
• From: Bootle, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Herbert Lawrenson was born in Bootle in the first quarter of 1891 the son of Nathaniel Lawrenson and his wife Clara (née Flenley). His parents married on the 27th June 1880 at St James' Church, Toxteth Park. Nathaniel was a widowed 31 year old flour dealer of 23 Carter Street, father Thomas a corn broker, whilst Clara was aged 21 of 76 Hill Street, father George a publican. They had eight children, Herbert had older siblings Thomas George, Nathaniel Hesketh, Clara, Alfred William, and Edgar, and younger siblings Janet and Frederick.

At the time of the 1891 Census the family is living in Bootle, at 45 Hawthorne Road. His father is aged 42, a bread and flour dealer, mother Clara is aged 32. They have six children; Thomas G. 10, Nathaniel H. 8, Clara 6, Alfred 4, Edgar 2, and Herbert 4 months old. 

By 1901 they have moved to south Liverpool and are living in Toxteth Park, at 21 Carter Street with eight children and a boarder. His father, 52, is a manager (bread trade), his mother is 44. They have eight children in the household; Thomas, 20, is a confectioner’s van man, Nathaniel, 18, is a clerk for a dry colour manufacturer, 16-year old Clara has no occupation, and Alfred, 14, is a grocer’s assistant. Edgar is 12, Herbert 10, Janet 8 and Frederick 5 years old. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 55 Tunstall Street, Liverpool. His father, Nathaniel, is aged 62, born in Liverpool in 1849, he has no employment listed, his mother, Clara, is aged 54, born 1857 no occupation and was also born in Liverpool.  They have been married for thirty one years and have had eight children. They have six children in the household; Nathaniel Hesketh aged 28, born 1888 is a commercial traveller, Clara aged 26, born 1885 no occupation, Alfred William aged 24, born 1887 is a grocer’s shop assistant, Herbert aged 20, born 1891 is a typewriter salesman, Janet aged 18, born 1893 is a draper’s shop assistant and Frederick aged 15, born 1896 is an assistant dairy and cow keeper. 

Thomas, 30, is married with two children and lives in Webb Street, and Edgar 22, is an inmate in Walton Prison (for house-breaking and stealing £5). 

Herbert was employed for a time with the Salter Typewriter Company. A letter dated 04th February 1911, which was on display in Liverpool Museum, shows an indication of Herbert's good character:

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

We have very much pleasure in stating that Mr H Lawrenson has been in our employ for a period of 4 months, and during this time, we have always found him punctual, hard working, honest and willing.

We feel sure he will do his best to give his employer every satisfaction, and we wish him every success.

Yours very truly

Salter Typewriter Co. 

District Manager 

Also on display are Herbert’s 1914-15 Star, Victory Medal, and British War Medal, as well as his Pals badge and Memorial Plaque. They were displayed in Liverpool Museum during the Somme centenary.

Herbert had previously served four years in the Territorials. 

He enlisted on the 09th November 1914 in Liverpool joining the 20th Battalion as Private 23078. He gave his age as 23 years and 11 months and occupation as a barman. He was described as being five feet four and half inches tall, weighed 134lbs, with a 39” chest, a sallow complexion, brown eyes and black hair. He stated his religion as Church of England and his next of kin as his father Nathaniel, of 55 Tunstall Street. . He advised of his previous 4 year service in the Territorials (wireless telegraphy).

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 09th March 1915 he was Promoted on probation to Corporal. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. On 01st July 1915 he was appointed acting Sergeant. The battalion remained at Grantham until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

He was wounded on 28th June 1916 but remained at duty. His name appeared in the list of wounded in the Liverpool Daily Post on 24th July 1916. 

The 20^th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20^th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 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. 

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.  

Herbert'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 death was reported in the Liverpool Courier on 22nd August 1916:

“News has been received that Sergt. H. Lawrenson of the King’s Liverpool Regiment (Pals) was killed in action while gallantly leading his platoon in a charge on July 30.  He was one of the first to join the “Pals” and had done four years in the Territorials.  He resided with his parents at 55, Tunstall, Street, Liverpool, who have four more sons serving.”

An article in the Liverpool Echo on the 26th August invites people the next day to attend :

A Memorial Service at St Dunstans, Earle Road at 11am: Memorial Service for Robert Glynne Davies, Gilbert Pelling, Arthur Collett, Herbert Lawrenson, and Joseph Henry Martin.

All five of these men's names are remembered on the war memorial in the churchyard of St Dunstan's Church, along with another 107 men from the same parish.

His father was notified in November 1916 that there were no personal effects of Herbert’s to be sent.  He received Herbert’s Army pay of £9-0s-2d.

His father died in March 1917, aged 67.

The War Gratuity of £10-10s went to his mother, who was awarded a pension of 5/- a week from March 1917, increased in September to 15/- until 1919.

Herbert earned his three medals. His British War Medal was incorrectly engraved and returned for adjustment.

A tribute to Herbert was published in the Liverpool Echo, on the first anniversary of his death 30th July 1917 under the heading Lost At The Battle of Guillemont:

“In loving memory of Sergeant H. Lawrenson, fifth son of Mrs. and the late Mr. Lawrenson. We have lost, Heaven has gained One of the best the world contained. (Fondly remembered by all.) – 55, Tunstall Street.”

In 1919 his mother provided information on Herbert’s living relatives.  She was still living at 55 Tunstall Street with Frederick, 33 and Janet, 26.  Thomas 38, Nathaniel 36, Alfred 32, and Edgar 30 were living in Liverpool.  Clara, 34, was married and living in Toronto.

His four serving brothers all survived the war:

Nathaniel served as a Corporal in the Royal Garrison Artillery.

Alfred served in the 4th and 1st K.L.R. and was discharged on 26th January 1917 with a 20% disability pension (shell shock and valvular disease of the heart).

Edgar served as a Driver in the Royal Field Artillery.  He arrived in France on 23rd November 1915.

Frederick enlisted in the K.L.R. on 03/08/1915, served overseas as a Sergeant, was later transferred to the Labour Corps, and was discharged on 01st September 1919 (sickness).

Herbert is commemorated on the following Memorials:

St Dunstan WW1 Roll Of Honour, Edge Hill, Liverpool 

Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 65 Right.

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