A/CSM 22181 Reginald William Moulton

• Age: 28
• From: Seacombe, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Friday 20th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

William Reginald Moulton was born on the 24^th August, 1888 in Seacombe, Cheshire and was baptised on the 21st October, 1888 at St Stephen’s C. of E.Church, Liverpool. He was the son of William Moulton and his wife Charlotte (nee Barraclough). His parents married at St Stephen's Church in Liverpool in 1886. 

The 1891 census finds William aged 3 b.Seacombe living at 33 Kenilworth Rd, Seacombe with his parents and one brother. His father William is a 29 year old book keeper Chancery Court born in Liverpool, his mother Charlotte is also 29 and was born in Liverpool, brother Arthur B. is aged 11 months born in Seacombe. Servant Maud Whalley 13, Charlotte's sister Elizabeth Barraclough 30 b. Leeds.

On the 1901 Census he is aged 12 living at 16 Elmbank Road, Toxteth with his parents and three brothers. His father William is now a 39 year old book keeper  at Chancery Court, mother Charlotte 39, brothers Arthur B. 11, Samuel P.  6 b.Blackburn, and Cyril G. 1 b.Liverpool

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 13 Willowdale Road Liverpool. His father, William, is aged 49, and is a Book Keeper at the Chancery of Lancashire, Liverpool District. His mother Charlotte is aged 49, his parents advised that they had been married for 25 years and have had six children of which five had survived. Reginald William is aged 22, born 1889, occupation Assistant Cashier, Solicitors, Arthur Bertram aged 20, born 1891 is a Bank Clerk, both were born in Seacombe. Samuel Percival is aged 16, born 1895 occupation Apprentice Plumber and was born in Blackburn, Cyril George aged 10, born 1901, and Florence Agnes aged 8, born 1903 are still at school.

He married Florence Catherine Williams ( date of birth 09/06/1889) on the 09^th September 1912 at St Michael's Church Liverpool. 

Prior to the outbreak of war he had been employed as a bank clerk.

He enlisted in Liverpool joining the 20th Battalion of THe King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 22181. 

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 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. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915. 

He was serving as Company Sergeant Major when he was killed in action on the 20th October 1916, aged 28, during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

William Reginald has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, France.

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 local press:

A LIVERPOOL SOLDIER

Company Sergeant-Major Reginald Moulton, K.L.R., of 25 Great George Place, Liverpool, has been killed in action. Previous to the war he held a responsible position in the employ of Messrs. Laces, Wilson, Todd and Company, Solicitors, Union Court, Castle Street, and was held in high esteem by all connected with that firm. For some years he had been a member of the 6th (Territorials.) After the outbreak of hostilities, he joined up and during the 12 months he was in France, he rose from the rank of corporal to company sergeant-major. He was 28 years of age, and is the second son that Mr and Mrs W. Moulton of 13 Stalbridge Avenue, have lost in this war.

Also in the Liverpool Daily Post on 4th November 1916 (very faint)

MOULTON - October 20, killed in action, aged 28 years, Comp. Sergeant Major Reginald William Moulton K.L.R., the daily beloved husband of Florence Catherine Moulton (Dolly) of 25 Great ?. 

 "... taken from sight, to memory ever dear."

MOULTON - October 20, killed in action, aged 28 years, Comp. Sergeant Major Reginald William Moulton K.L.R., eldest son of Mr and Mrs W. Moulton, 13 Stalbridge Avenue, Sefton Park,

Anniversary notices were placed in the Liverpool Daily Post on 20th October 1917

MOULTON - In loving memory of my darling husband, Reg. (C.S.M.) R. W. Moulton, killed in action, October 20, 1916. (Till we meet again). - Dolly

MOULTON - In loving memory of our dear son, C.S.M. R. W. Moulton, K.L.R., killed in action, October 20, 1916.

His wife Florence Catherine was awarded a pension of 18s and 9d from 14.05.17.

2 Soldiers Effects records to widow Florence C.

He is also commemorated on St Barnabas’ C. of E. Church, Mossley Hill and Birchfield Council School, Fairfield, Liverpool.

His brother Arthur Bertram, referred to in the newspaper report was killed in action on the 05^th May, 1915 whilst serving with the 6^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment. He now lies in Ypres Resevoir Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium. The Inscription on his headstone reads:

“DUTY NOBLY DONE”. 

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