L/Cpl 22168 John McCormick

• Age: 22
• From: Rochdale
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

22168 L/Corporal John McCORMICK, 20^th Battalion KLR.

John McCormick was born in Rochdale in July 1893 the son of John Harrison McCormick and his wife Alice Ann (nee Harrison) who were married in 1888 in St Edmund's Church, Falinge, Rochdale.  

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 48, Basil Street, Rochdale, Lancashire. His father, John H., aged 32 and born in Rochdale in 1869 is a loom jobber in a cotton mill, whilst his mother, Alice Ann, is aged 30, born 1869 in Rochdale and employed as a cotton weaver. They have four children at the time of the Census, William aged 11, born 1890, Fred aged 9, born 1892, John aged 7, born 1894 and Emily aged 2, born 1899, who were all born in Rochdale.  

The 1911 Census shows John living at 5 Lower Street, Rochdale, with his brother Frederick and family. Frederick is aged 19, born 1892 and employed as a cotton spinner and his wife Edith Jane is aged 18, born 1893 is employed as a cotton tenter and they have a daughter Florence Maisie who was born in 1911. John is aged 17 and employed as a cotton spinner.

His parents were living at 12 Basil Street, Rochdale. His father, John Harrison, aged 43, a loom overlooker, whilst his mother, Alice Ann, is aged 40. They state that they have been married for 23 years, and have had 6 children, 4 of whom have survived. William is a cotton weaver, daughter Grace is aged 9. 

John McCormick enlisted in Liverpool on 09^th November 1914, giving his age as 21 years 4 months, and his occupation as barman, and his next of kin as his uncle, John Paterson, 129 Robson Street, Liverpool which was subsequently changed to his aunt, Mary Paterson, same address, and finally his eldest brother, William Harrison McCormick. He was described as being five feet seven inches tall, weighed 132lbs, 37" chest, with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion as Presbyterian.

His uncle John Paterson was the manager of the Liver Hotel, Brownlow Hill, so we can surmise that John was working there.

Formed in November 1914 the 20th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. 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. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.

On 29^th August 1915 at Belton Park, he forfeited 2 days pay for being absent without leave for 2 hours.

He arrived in France on 07th November 1915.

On 20th January 1916 he was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal and on 17^th March 1916, he was appointed paid Lance Corporal.

John was killed in action during the attack at Montauban on the 01^st July 1916, aged 22 years.

20^th Battalion Diary

Maricourt

Zero Hour 7.30am.  After 65 minutes intensive bombardment the Battalion advanced to the attack of the German trenches. The Battalion advanced in four lines each of the two leading Companies on a frontage of 2 platoons – No’s 1 & 2 Companies (in that order from the right) leading. No.3 Company in the 3^rd wave. No.4 Company in the 4^th wave. There being a distance of about 100 yards between each line. The lines advanced through the enemy’s artillery fire as though on parade in quick time. The leading waves went on without a pause to Alt Trench and Casement Trench which were secured at (time not stated) am. The casualties up to this being small. Our barrage lifting Dublin Trench (the 1^st Objective) was captured and consolidation immediately proceeded with. Captain Whiting with the 3^rd wave entrenching about 150 yards in the rear. Captain Robinson was wounded and No.2 Company was commanded during the day by Lt C P Moore. Casualties up to now were killed 2 officers – 1 wounded and 49 other ranks casualties killed and wounded. At 11.50 am orders were received for the assault of the Briqueterie. The Battalion operation orders for this were issued from NW of Germans Wood. Our barrage lifted at 12,30 pm and No. 4 Company under Captain E C Orford assisted by a section of bombers under 2^nd Lt Baker who went up Nord Alley and Chimney Trench to secure his left flank, who had got right forward under cover of the fire of our guns rushed it almost without opposition. On the far side a party of the enemy were found in deep dug-outs. They brough a machine gun into action and some close fighting ensued in which Lt Gooch and Lt Williams were wounded. Opposition was however speedily overcome and the garrison consisting of the H.Q. of a Regt, one Colonel and 4 other officers – 40 rank and file , 2 machine guns together with maps, orders, documents and material fell into our hands. Steps were immediately taken for consolidating the ground won, which however owing to the destruction wrought by our “heavies” was a matter of great difficulty, what had been trenches being almost unrecognisable as such and the earth so pulverised that cover could only be made by aid of sandbags. The garrison was heavily shelled through the afternoon and most of the night and casualties were many. Battalion H.Q. were at the junction of Glatz Alley and Casement Trench north west of Germans Wood and this together with Dublin Trench received considerable attention from enemy guns. Casualties during the day 2 officers killed (2^nd Lts F Barnes and JC Laughlin) and 3 wounded (Captain H H Robinson, Lt S Gooch and 2^nd Lt F J Williams). 75 other ranks killed and wounded.  

John's death was reported in the local press under the header:

LANCE - CORPORAL MCCORMICK KILLED

News has been received from the War Office that Lance Corporal John McCormick whose parents reside in Basil-st, Rochdale was killed in action July 1st. He enlisted in the King's Liverpool Regiment (Pals) in November 1914 and proceeded to France in November of the following year. He was in his 23rd year. Previous to joining the Army, he was in business for six years in Liverpool. He was connected with St Peter's Church, Newbold.  

His death was also reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on 19th July 1916:

Lance-Corporal J.McCormick, 22 years of age, killed in action ,July 1. He was the nephew and adopted son of Mary Grace, and the late J.Patterson,129,Robson-street.

Also in the Liverpool Courier on 22nd July 1916: 

Mrs.Paterson, late of 129 Robson-street, has received word of the death in action of her nephew and adopted son, Corporal John McCormick,who was with the Liverpool Pals.  

In a letter to John’s family his officer wrote:

“He was my best Corporal, and I miss him very much. He was killed instantly if that is any consolation for you to know, so he knew no pain. We had reached our objective when the shell burst, killing him and five of his comrades.”   

John'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.