Pte 17926 Edward Pierce

• Age: 25
• From: Bootle
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Edward Pierce was born in Bootle in early 1891, the youngest son of William Pierce and his wife Ann (nee Jones) who married on the 01st February 1873 at St David’s Church, Childwall. William was a fireman of Liverpool, father William a farmer, whilst Anne was also of Liverpool, father Isaac a farmer. His parents were both born in St Asaph, North Wales.  They had nine children, three of whom died young. William, Isaac, and John were born in Liverpool; Robert, Thomas, and Edward in Bootle. 

19^th Battalion Diary 30^th July 1916

MALTZ HORN FARM

BATTLE begun. ZERO hour 4:45 am. The Battalion reached its objective, but suffered heavy losses, and had to evacuate its position owing to no reinforcements.

Everard Wyrall gives details of the attack in his book The History of The King’s Regiment; 

"The 2nd Attack on Guillemont- 29th July 1916 the 89th Brigade the 20th King's were to attack on the right and the 19th on the left. During the evening of the 29th the night was dark and foggy when the Battalions moved off and the 19th with Lt Col G Rollo commanding, when passing the South east of the Briqueterie they were heavily shelled first with H E and then with a new kind of asphyxiating Gas shell which had curious results, at first it had no nasty effect but about 8 hrs later men began to fall sick with violent headaches and pains in the stomach. All ranks had to wear gas masks which in the darkness and mist made the going terribly difficult. It was indeed wonderful that they were able to reach their Assembly point at all. But they did and by 2.45 a.m. on the 30th July 1916 the Btn was assembled having suffered about 30 Casualties on the way up ready for the Zero hour at 4.45 a.m.

It is known that the two left Companies of the 19th under Capt. Dodd and Capt. Nicholson advanced in touch with the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on their left although they suffered many casualties from Machine gun Fire did not encounter many Germans and reached their final objective about the time allocated, beginning at once to dig in south of the orchard on the South east corner of Guillemont.  

On the left of the 19th the Scots Fusiliers most gallantly forced their way through Guillemont to the eastern side of the village but were soon overwhelmed by the enemy and few returned. 

At 8 a.m. finding that the village was not held the two left Companies of the 19th received no word from the rear or either flank believed themselves to be totally isolated so were forced to fall back and dig in, their position being untenable.

At midday the effective fighting strength of the 19th Btn was just 7 Officers and 43 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.

Casualties in the 19^th Battalion were 11 Officers and 435 Other Ranks 

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.  

His brother Thomas wrote to Infantry Records seven months later, on 05^th March 1917:

“Dear Sir, I should be very glad if you could give me any further information of Pte Edward Pierce, 17926 19 Batt K.L.R. missing since last July 30^th.  I have had a letter from a friend of his saying that he was killed with a shell.  I could give you more particulars if you think it advisable.  Yours faithfully, Thomas Pierce.”  

He was informed that further enquiries were being made, the results of which will be communicated to him as soon as possible.  

Edward’s death was later presumed by Army Council for official purposes on or since 30^th July 1916.

His family evidently received official notification of Edward’s death after almost a year of unimaginable anguish; his brother Thomas placed a notice in the Liverpool Echo on 24^th July 1917: 

“July 30, 1916, previously reported missing but now reported killed on that date, aged 25, Private Edward Pierce (K.L.R.), youngest son of the late William and Ann Pierce. (Greater love hath no man than this.)  Deeply regretted by his Brother and Sister-in-law (Tom and Alice), 179 Worcester Road, Bootle.”

Edward’s body was never recovered or identified; he 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.”

An In Memoriam notice was placed on 30^th July 1918: 

 “In memory of Private Edward Pierce, K.L.R. (our Ted), who fell in action July 30, 1916 – Not forgotten by Tom and Alice, 179 Worcester Road, Bootle.”

Edward earned his three medals, which his brother William signed for.  Probate was issued in 1918 to his brother Thomas, effects  £200 6s 2d.  His Soldier’s Effects went to his brothers William, Thomas, Isaac, John, sister-in-law Winifred Pierce (at brother John’s request), and sister-in-law Agnes (the widow of his brother Robert who had died in 1918 from pneumonia, aged 34).

Edward is also commemorated on Bootle Civic Memorial and Christ Church C of E Church, Bootle.

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