Pte 59289 Hugh Patrick McCambridge

• Age: 37
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 29th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Hugh Patrick McCambridge was born 30th August 1880 in Liverpool. He was the son of James McCambridge and his wife Roseann (nee McCluskey) who married in 1870. He was baptised on the 01st Sept 1878 St Albans Church, Athol Street. 

On the 1891 Census the family have moved to 90 Millers Bridge, Liverpool. His father, James, aged 47 is still a dock gatesman, his wife Lizzie is 25 born in Birkenhead, children James 18 a seaman, John 16, Mary 14 a scholar, and Hugh 12 a scholar. Also staying are Lizzies children born in Bootle, Mary A. Carney 9 a scholar, Margaret Carney 5 a scholar, and Lizzie Carney 2. 

He joined on 18th March 1899, Pembroke II (shore base), 5'2", brown hair, blue eyes, fresh complexion, last entry 13th Sept 1899 with a comment to his character as "Indiff."

Deserted:-

Name H. McCambridge Age 19 Birth Year About 1880 Birth Place Liverpool Desertion Date 1899 Publication Date 3 Oct 1899

He is on the crew list in 1900 of the Rowanmore, a trimmer. Address 30 Peel Road, Bootle

He is on the crew list in 1904 of the Haverford, a trimmer. Address 69 St John's Road, Waterloo.

There is no trace of Hugh Patrick on the 1901 and 1911 Census and he is probably at sea. His father aged 70 was living with his married daughter Mary Ann Kirby at 78 Gray St, Bootle, whilst his step-mother aged 48 was living with the married daughter Ellen McCourt at 36 Milton St, Bootle. 

Hugh enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 59289 when he was killed in action on the 29^th April 1918, aged 37, during the German Spring Offensive. Details of the action were recorded in the battalion diary:

By the 25^th April the battalion had taken up positions of readiness in the Voormezeele sector. According to the battalion War Diary, on the night of the 27^th, at 8.30 p.m. they moved to the line to relieve 4^th Bn, relief completed about 1 a.m.

28^th – At about 1 p.m. a company of composite battalion gave way on the left of our line and the Bosche penetrated from the Canal Bank to the left of my battalion front, which position he maintained despite 5 hours fighting. My reserve company was ordered to counter-attack and restore the position at 7.45 p.m. but enemy laid down a barrage at 7.43 a.m. and the counter attack was unable to proceed. The enemy bombardment lasted until 10.30 p.m. and I then organised a defensive flank.

29^th – At 3.30 a.m. heavy enemy bombardment opened, followed later (9.00 a.m.) by enemy attack and our line was forced back to G.H.Q.1 where I organised and held on to the position. The enemy got through on both flanks practically surrounding 2 of my companies. ‘A’ company was actually surrounded and after severe fighting were captured.

Hugh's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

Hugh is commemorated on the St James Parishioners Memorial, Bootle.

Soldiers effects to his father James and pension to his step- mother Elizabeth. 

His father died in the December quarter of 1922, aged 82.

His step-mother died in the March quarter of 1945, aged 80.

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