Pte 21619 William Frederick Rawsthorne

• Age: 25
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Peronne Rd Cem Maricourt
  Panel Ref: II.G.29

21619 William Frederick RAWSTHORNE, 19^th Battalion KLR.

William Frederick Rawsthorne was born on the 13th November 1890 in Liverpool, the son of William Rawsthorne and his wife Elizabeth Eleanor (nee Robinson), who married at St Peter, Liverpool on the 3rd August 1886. William was a 28 year victualler, father John, whilst Elizabeth was aged 21, father John Campbell. He was baptised on the 8th February 1891 at St Matthew, Scotland Rd, father was a licensed victualler of 14 Mount Pleasant(The Bee Hive). 

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 14 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool. William is 10 years of age and is living with his parents and two siblings. His father is 41 years of age and is employed as a licensed victualler born in Liverpool, whilst his mother is 35 years of age and also born in Liverpool. His siblings are listed as; Jane aged 13 and George Edward aged 8. Also present is Emma A. Robinson his maternal aunt. 

His father, died aged 43, on the 22nd December 1902 in Harrogate, Yorkshire and was buried on the 26th December at Anfield Cemetery. 

Probate 1902:- 

RAWSTHORNE William of 14 Mount Pleasant Liverpool licensed victualler died 22 December 1902 at Harrogate Probate Liverpool 3 February to Elizabeth Eleanor Rawsthorne widow John Campbell Robinson Jewellers’ manager and Thomas Grace Tyler brewers manager. Effects £8735 11s 11d. Resworn December 1903 £8068 11s 11d. 

By 1911 the family are living at 4 Amberley Street, Liverpool. His father had passed away and the Census finds his mother described as a 43 year old widow living with her three children. William is 20 years of age and his employment status is not shown. His siblings are listed as; Jane aged 23 and George Edward aged 18.  There is also a servant declared in the household; Lily Jones aged 18.

William was educated at the Collegiate School in Shaw Street, Liverpool.

He married Dorothy Mary Ireland in Toxteth Park Register Office on 05th November 1914. After their marriage they lived at 35 Beaconsfield Street, Prince's Park, Liverpool. They had a daughter Constance Joan who was born on 23rd April 1916.

William enlisted on 11^th September 1914 in Liverpool, joining the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. He gave his age as 23 years 140 days, his occupation as traveller and his next of kin as his mother, Eleanor, Hunt’s Hotel, Mount Pleasant. He was described as being 5' 7" tall, weighed 110lbs, 34” chest, with a fresh complexion, brown hair and brown eyes. His religion is stated as Church of England. 

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.

He sailed to France with his Battalion on 07th November 1915.

In March 1916, he was treated for influenza at No 2 General Hospital, Le Havre, he subsequently developed tonsillitis and didn’t rejoin his Battalion until 19th June 1916.

William was killed in action during the attack on Montauban on the 01^st July 1916, aged 25.

19^th Battalion Diary

Zero Hour 7.30am First day of the attack. The Battalion used up entirely in “carrying parties” for the Brigade. Battalion H.Q. in the “Chateau”, Maricourt. Total casualties 01 -04/07/1916: 1 officer wounded, 12 other ranks killed, 53 wounded and 3 missing.

William now rests at Peronne Road Cemetery. 

Maricourt was, at the beginning of the Battles of the Somme 1916, the point of junction of the British and French forces, and within a very short distance of the front line; it was lost in the German advance of March 1918, and recaptured at the end of the following August.

The Cemetery, originally known as Maricourt Military Cemetery No.3, was begun by fighting units and Field Ambulances in the Battles of the Somme 1916, and used until August 1917; a few graves were added later in the War, and at the Armistice it consisted of 175 graves which now form almost the whole of Plot I. It was completed after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from the battlefields in the immediate neighbourhood and from certain smaller burial grounds.

There are now 1348, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, 366 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 26 soldiers from the United Kingdom known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of three soldiers from the United Kingdom, buried in other cemeteries, whose graves could not be found.

The cemetery covers an area of 3,787 square metres and is enclosed on three sides by a low red brick wall.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on the 13th July 1916: 

Killed in Action. 

Procter - July 1, killed in action, aged 25 years, William Frederick Rawsthorne of the “Pals.” 

His wife received his effects (three wallets, letters, cards and a blank cheque) and his three medals. She also received a pension of 15/- for herself and her daughter with effect from 15th January 1917.  

William is also remembered in the war memorial that once stood in St Athanasius Church, Kirkdale (which was destroyed by bombing in WW2) and on the war memorial of Liverpool Collegiate School, Shaw Street, Liverpool.

His widow, Dorothy, date of birth 07th Sept 1891, appears on the 1939 Register at Vera Villa, Long Lane, Aughton. She is living with her elder brother Herbert W. Ireland.  

His mother, died aged 88, on the 03rd April 1953 at Clatterbridge Hospital. 

Probate 1953:- 

RAWSTHORNE Elizabeth Eleanor of 2 Grange Drive Heswall Wirral Cheshire widow died 3 April 1953 at the Clatterbridge General Hospital Bebington Wirral Cheshire Probate Liverpool 5 June to George Edward Rawsthorne dental mechanic. Effects £1604 18s 4d. 

Probate 1953 for William:- 

RAWSTHORNE William Frederick of 202 Upper Parliament Street Liverpool died 1 July 1916 on war service Administration Bangor 23 November to Dorothy Mary Rawsthorne. Widow. Effects £792 10s 8d. 

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