Pte 21574 Henry McDowall

• Age: 25
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• D.O.W Friday 20th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Heilly Station Cem, Mericourt
  Panel Ref: V.C.27

Henry McDowall was born in Seaforth, Liverpool in the second quarter of 1891, ( a notation on his attestation paper states, “birth 11/4/1891”) the son of John Henry McDowall and his wife Annie (nee Kelly). His parents married in 1887 at St Silas' Church, Toxteth Park. Henry was the eldest son of four surviving children.  He had an older sister Janet, born in 1889, and younger siblings Harold, 1896, and Annie, 1900.  Another son, James Edward, was born in 1893 but died before his second birthday. His siblings were born in Toxteth Park.

In 1891, one month before Henry’s birth, his parents were living at 42 Akenside Street, Bootle.  Daughter Janet is 2.  His father is a railway porter.  His widowed grandmother Catherine Kelly, 70, born in Dublin, is also in the household.

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 30 Threlfall Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. Henry is 10 years of age and is living with his parents and 3 siblings. His father is shown as a dock labourer born in Liverpool in 1855, whilst his mother was born in Liverpool 10 years later in 1865. His siblings, all born in Liverpool are listed as: Janet aged 12, Harold 4 and newborn Annie.  

His father died in the workhouse, aged 47 in the first quarter of 1906.

On 1911 Census at 6 Miles St, Dingle, his mother Annie is widowed, aged 44, born Park Street. Her children in the household are recorded as; Harold 14 b.South St, Annie 10 b.Wellington Rd. Henry is not with the family, there is no sign of him. Janet, 23, is living with her aunt Janet Killip in Tuebrook, working in stationery/fancy goods.

On his service attestation form he quite clearly signs "Henry McDowall" however the records survive in the name McDowell as his true name of McDowall is crossed out. He attested in Liverpool on 11th September 1914, joining the 19th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 21574. He declared his age as 23 years 150 days, and his occupation  as a warehouseman. He is described as being 5' 6", weighed 136 lbs, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. His religion is stated as Church of England, although his parents were buried as non-conformists. His siblings were Harold, Annie and married sister Janet Kirk, 8 Inigo Rd, Stoneycroft. He states he has previously been rejected for military service, and gives the reason as  “eyes”.  (No record of previous military service has been found.)

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th 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 03rd August 1915 - he was late on parade at Belton Park, and recieved 3 days confined to barracks as a punishment.

He reached France on 07th November 1915.

On the 29th Jan 1916 in Chipilly he was attached to the RAMC for permanent fatigue duties, he returned to his Battalion on 02nd February 1916.

On 06th April 1916 he was given 2 days extra guard duty as a punishment

Henry died of wounds on the 20th October 1916, in 38 Casualty Clearing Station with Gun Shot Wounds to his neck. His wounds had been recieved during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

He now rests at Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt, France.

The 36th Casualty Clearing Station was at Heilly from April 1916. It was joined in May by the 38th, and in July by the 2/2nd London, but these hospitals had all moved on by early June 1917. The cemetery was begun in May 1916 and was used by the three medical units until April 1917. From March to May 1918, it was used by Australian units, and in the early autumn for further hospital burials when the 20th Casualty Clearing Station was there briefly in August and September 1918. The last burial was made in May 1919. There are now 2,890 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. Only 12 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 21 casualties whose graves in the cemetery could not be exactly located. The cemetery also contains 83 German graves. The burials in this cemetery were carried out under extreme pressure and many of the graves are either too close together to be marked individually, or they contain multiple burials. Some headstones carry as many as three sets of casualty details, and in these cases, regimental badges have had to be omitted. Instead, these badges, 117 in all, have been carved on a cloister wall on the north side of the cemetery. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

His death was reported in the local press on 17th November 1916.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Annie who is at 6 Miles Street (Dingle).

The CWGC Graves Registration form shows his surname as McDowell, later amended to McDowall.

Henry earned his three medals.  

His Army pay and a War Gratuity of £9 went to his mother Annie, who was awarded a pension of 12/6d a week from June 1917.

In 1919 Harold, 22, and Annie, 18, are living at home with their mother at 6 Miles Street. Sister Janet Kirk, 29, is living in Inigo Road.

Henry is commemorated in Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 20. 

His mother died in the September quarter of 1929, aged 65. 

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