Pte 17206 John Lloyd Pierce

• Age: 21
• From: Liscard, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

17206 Private John Lloyd PIERCE, 18^th Battalion KLR. 

John Lloyd Pierce was born on 04^th June 1895 in Liscard, Cheshire, the eldest of four children born to Robert David Lloyd Pierce, an assistant chemist, and his wife Alice Ann (nee Dilworth) who were married on the 01^st April 1894 at St James' Church, Birkenhead. Robert was aged 33, father John, whilst Alice was also aged 33, father William.  .

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 2 Mount Pleasant Cottages, Liscard. John is aged 5 and lives with his parents and two sisters; Mabel L. aged 4 and Nora A. aged 2. His father is 37 years of age and is an assistant chemist born in Oswestry, whilst his mother Alice Ann is 40 and was born in Aigburth, Liverpool.

By 1911 the family address is shown only as Mount Pleasant, New Brighton. John is aged 15 and is shown as an office boy for a cotton broker Both parents are in the household with his father's occupation now shown as a retail chemist's assistant, born in Llansilin, Denbighshire, mother Alice is aged 50. His parents have been married for 17 years and two of their four children have survived.  His sister Mabel Lloyd is 14 and born in New Brighton.

John was a member of the 3^rd Wallasey Boy Scouts and a keen footballer who played outside left for Lyndhurst in the Wallasey Invinsia League. 

John was employed as a clerk with Messrs Ravenscroft & Co, cotton brokers, of Liverpool when he enlisted in Liverpool on the 01^st September 1914, joining the 18th Battalion as Private 17206. He gave his age as 19 years 90 days, his occupation as clerk and his next of kin as his father of 66 Belvidere Road, Wallasey. His enlistment papers describe him as being 5' 5" tall, weighed 118lbs with a 35" chest and was of fresh complexion with green eyes and fair hair. His religion was stated as Church of England. 

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th 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. 

After a period of training in the UK, in which he specialised as a signaller, he crossed to France with No. 4 Company on the 07^th November 1915, and between 04^th and 14^th December that year was admitted to 98^th Field Ambulance and 21^st Casualty Clearing Station suffering from a minor ailment (piles). In June 1916 he spent a few days in 97^th and 96^th Field Ambulances suffering from influenza. He rejoined his unit on 11^th June 1916.

John was killed in action during the attack at Montauban on 1^st July 1916, aged 21.

18^th Battalion Diary

At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great spirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks.

Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:

As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.  

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter  wrote in the conclusion of his account of the days action:

I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:

“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”.    

Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18^th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257.

John’s body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

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.”

The Liverpool Echo  reported on the 02^nd August 1916:- 

ANOTHER COTTON "PAL"

The flag is halfmast at the Cotton Exchange today in memory of Private John L. Pierce, King's (Liverpool) Regiment, who was killed in action July 1. He was formerly with Messrs: Strauss and Company, cotton merchants, Liverpool. 

His death was reported in detail in the Wallasey News on 05th August 1916:

"We regret to record the death of Private John Lloyd Pierce, of the Liverpool Pals, of 66, Belvedere-road, Liscard. In a letter received by Miss Pierce (sister) from a comrade it is stated that her brother was wounded in the body and was last seen lying in a shell hole. Mr.R. Pierce has received a letter from Captain W.K.Stoddart,in which he says :- "On behalf of the officers and men of No.4 Company,18th K.L.R., I wish to express our deep sympathy on the loss of your son, killed in action on July 1st. Ever since he joined us he has been liked and respected by his comrades, and he has invariably done his duty on every occasion in the most splendid manner. The company will miss the fine devoted boys who have fallen. In the wonderful charge they made so successfully it was their devotion to duty that won the battle. It may help you a little to know how nobly your son died and how much he was loved and respected by all." The late Private Pierce was formerly in the employ of Messrs. Ravenscroft and Co., cotton brokers, Liverpool, and celebrated his majority in the trenches in June last. Up to a few years ago he was an enthusiastic member of the 3rd Wallasey Boy Scouts. A well known local footballer, he played outside left for Lyndhurst in the Wallasey Invinsa League, his partner being Private J.Brotherston (also of the Liverpool "Pals"), who recently died from the effects of wounds. Private Pierce was likewise an expert bowler, and had played for Rake-lane P.S.A. and Harrison Park. It will be remembered that he played at the Quarry against the great bowler, W. Parr, in the Owen Merit Competition the year the first prize was won by Mr.Brixton, who played Parr in the final. His father also shines at the pastime, playing for Wallasey Central Conservatives in the Borough League."

John’s effects viz. cig case, letters, photos, postcards, and pouch, were sent to his mother who wrote to the War Office to the effect that she had “not received my son’s wristlet watch or gold signet ring with his initials and an inscription inside. It’s not the value of the above but just that he was wearing them at the time of his death”.  She later received his medals.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Alice Ann. 

John is also remembered on the following Memorials:

Liverpool Cotton Association Ltd, Liverpool

Wallasey War Memorial (Roll of Honour now located in Wallasey Library, Earlston Road)

Wallasey War Memorial which is located in the hospital on Mill Lane, Wallasey

Christ Church, Free Church of England, Martins Lane, Liscard, Wallasey.