Pte 24246 Henry John Appleton Roper

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• 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.

Henry John (Harry) Appleton Roper was born on the 24th June 1895 at Liverpool, he was baptised on the 28th July 1895 at St Anne's C. of E. Church, Cazeneau Street, Liverpool. He was the son of Henry Roper and his wife Margaret Webster (née Appleton). His parents married on the 06th October 1880 at Christ Church, Eccleston, Lancashire, and had five children. Their first child, William John, was born in 1881 in Thatto Heath. After his birth, the family moved to Liverpool, where Charlotte Margaret was born in 1884, Margaret Lavinia 1889, Harry in 1895, and John Henry Holliday (Jack) in 1898. 

At the time of the 1901 Census the family is living at 20 Holly Street, Islington, Liverpool. His father is aged 46, a lodging house keeper, mother Margaret is 43, Charlotte is 16, Margaret 12, Henry 5 and John 3.  Eldest son William has joined the merchant navy and is found on 1903 crew lists as a steward with the Canadian Pacific Line. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 119 Gregson St, Liverpool. His father Henry is aged 56, born in London in 1855 occupation, registered lodging house keeper, whilst his mother, Margaret Webster Roper is aged 53, born 1858 in Liverpool as were their children. They have been married for thirty two years and have had five children. At the time of the Census only two children were living at the address with them, Henry John aged 15, an office boy with a fruit merchant and John Henry aged 13, born 1898 who is still at school. His brother William is married and lives in Liverpool with his wife and children. Charlotte, married, lives in West Kirby, and Margaret is a tailoress boarding in Liverpool. 

His father died later that year, in November 1911, aged 57.

Harry enlisted Liverpool joining in the 19^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 24246. His regimental number as well as the amount of the War Gratuity suggests that he enlisted in about December 1914.

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.

Harry arrived in France with his battalion on 07th November 1915, disembarking at Boulogne.

He was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 21, at the village of Guillemont, France during the Somme Offensive. 

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.

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.”

Harry earned his three medals.

His family placed notices in the local press on 25th August 1916 and on the following days -

“July 30, killed in action, H. J. Roper, Pals.  Deeply mourned by Lottie and Billy.”

“July 30, killed in action, aged 21 years, Harry Roper, Pals.  (Sadly missed by his sorrowing Sister Maggie and all at 4, High Street, Wavertree.”

“July 30, killed in action, Private Henry J. Roper (Harry), Pals.  Deeply mourned by his loving Mother and younger Brother, 119 Gregson Street.”

In the Liverpool Echo, on the first anniversary of his death, 30th July 1917 under the heading ‘Lost At The Battle of Guillemont’ Harry's family paid tribute to him:

“In loving memory of Private Harry Roper, 19th King’s (Pals), killed in action July 30, 1916. (Deeply mourned by his sorrowing Mother and Brothers Will and Jack, on active service.) – 119, Gregson Street.”

“In loving memory of Private Harry Roper, K.L.R. (Pals), killed in action July 30, 1916. (Ever remembered by Lottie and Billy.) Oh, would it were not in the power of man to make man mourn.”

“In fond remembrance of Private Harry Roper, K.L.R. (Pals), killed in action July 30, 1916, aged 21 years. (Sadly missed by his Sister and Brother-in-law, Maggie and Richard, 4, High Street, Wavertree.) (“Time cannot teach forgetfulness.”)”

On the second anniversary of his death in 1918: 

“In fond remembrance of Private Harry Roper, 19th King’s (“Pals”), killed in action July 30, 1916.  Sadly missed by his Mother, brothers Will and Jack (on active service), sisters Lottie and Maggie and brothers-in-law Billy and Richard.”

His Army pay and a War Gratuity of £7 went to his mother, who was awarded a pension of 15/- a week. 

His mother suffered further loss when Margaret died in November 1918, at the age of 29, 10 days after giving birth to a son.  (Her son served in the Army in WW2.)

His mother died in 1935, aged 78 and was buried on the 18th May at Anfield Cemetery.

Harry is commemorated on the following memorials - 

St. Augustine’s Church, Everton, Liverpool

Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 45

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