Pte 22247 Thomas Pemberton Saul

• Age: 27
• From: Preston, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Wednesday 9th August 1916
• Commemorated at: St Sever Cem, Rouen
  Panel Ref: B.28.17

Thomas Pemberton Saul was born in the March quarter of 1889 in Preston and was baptised on the 10th March 1889 at St Saviour's Church, Preston. He was the son of Robert Saul and his wife Mary Jane (nee Pemberton). His parents were married at St Mary's Church, Preston on 03rd March 1887. Robert was 24 and his occupation is listed as a Tackler (fitter), whilst Mary Jane is 22. 

The 1891 Census finds 2 year old Thomas living with his parents and two siblings at Spa Road, Preston. His father is 27 years of age, born in Preston and his occupation is listed as a cotton loom overlooker, whilst his mother is 26 and was born in Leyland. He has an elder sister Beatrice aged 3 and a younger brother Frank who is new born. 

The 1901 Census finds their address listed as 23 Spa Road, Preston. Thomas is now 12 years of age and lives with his parents and five siblings who are listed as: Beatrice a 13 year old cotton weaver, Frank 10, Harold 6, Gladys 4 and Norman aged 1.   

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 38 New Road, Higher Walton, Walton-Le-Dale.  His father, Robert, is aged 48, his occupation is listed as a cotton weaving manager (Spa Mill), whilst his mother, Mary Jane, is aged 46. They have been married for 24 years and have six children, all of whom were born in Preston. They are all listed on the record as follows;  Beatrice aged 23, born 1888 is a cotton weaver, Thomas Pemberton aged 22, born 1889 is an Architect’s clerk with the County Council, Frank aged 20 born 1891 is a clerk with the County Council, Harold Banister aged 16, born 1895 is also a clerk for a hot water engineer, Gladys aged 14, born 1897 is a cotton weaver and Norman aged 11, born 1900 is at school.

Thomas was a good sportsman. He played inside left for Fleetwood before signing for Preston North End in July 1913 as an amateur. He didnt make a first team appearance for Preston but played for the reserves. He also played Cricket for Fulwood and Penwortham in the Palace Shield. 

He enlisted on the 05^th November, 1914 in Liverpool joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 22247. He obviously attested alongside his brother Frank as their service numbers were consecutive with Frank's being 22248. He gave his age as 25 years and his occupation as a surveyor. He was five feet five and half inches tall, weighed 132lbs, had a fresh complexion, blue eyes, brown hair and gave his religion as Church of England.

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.

Thomas married Amy Howard on 07th April 1915 at Christ Church, Preston. Amy was born in 1891 and was employed as a postal and telegraph clerk. She was the daughter of Amos and Alice Howard of 24 Grafton Street Preston (1911 Census.) Her father was a Police Inspector. After their wedding they lived at 50 Grafton Street, Preston. During the war Amy volunteered as a nurse.

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 07^th November 1915.

Thomas was wounded during the attack on the village of Guillemont on the 30^th July 1916 with a gunshot wound to the shoulder and was transferred to 5th Casualty Clearing Station on the same day.

The 20^th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20^th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 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. 

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.     

Thomas succumbed to his wounds at No. 10 General Hospital, Rouen on the 09^th August 1916, aged 27.

He now rests at St Sever Cemetery, Rouen, France.

During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city.

Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross, one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension.

The Cemetery and the Extension adjoin each other but have separate Registers.

St. Sever Cemetery contains 3,082 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There is also 1 French burial and 1 non war service burial here.The adjoining cemetery extension contains 8,348 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (ten of them unidentified) and in Block "S" there are 328 from the Second World War (18 of them unidentified). There are also 8 Foreign National burials here.

The Commonwealth plots were designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

Thomas' death was reported in the Lancashire Evening Post on 12th August 1916

SAUL- On the 9th inst., at the 10th General Hospital, Rouen, France, from wounds, No. 22247 Private THOMAS PEMBERTON SAUL, 20th King's Liverpool Regiment ("Pals" Batt.), beloved husband of Amy Saul, 50 Grafton Street, and eldest son of Mr and Mrs R. Saul, 23 Spar Road Preston. 

His brother remembered him in the Lancashire Evening Post 9th August 1919

SAUL - In memory of THOMAS P. SAUL, who was wounded a Guillemont, July 30th 1916, and died at Rouen, August 9th 1916 - From his brother Frank, 24 Langton Street South, Preston.

Probate of his estate was awarded at Lancaster on the 26^th September, 1916 to his widowed wife Amy of £107 and 6s.

His brothers Frank and Harold also served in the Liverpool Pals and survived the war.

Frank served as Private 22248. He was awarded the Military Medal which was awarded whilst serving with the 1st Battalion of the K.L.R. After the war Frank became the chief clerk to the Lancashire Architects department. He died on 14th February 1961, aged 70. 

Harold served in the 19th Battalion as Private 30285. He received a regimental appreciation of Good Services. The citation stated:

For conspicuous gallantry in action when, as company runner, he carried messages from his company commander to and from his platoons and Advanced Battalions HQ during the whole operations across the open, under heavy shell and machine gun fire on April 09th 1917.

Remarks by G Rollo, O.C. "The work done by this man was of great value to me". Remarks by F.C. Stanley, Brigadier General commanding 89th Infantry Brigade "A fine performance worthy of all praise".

The 09th April 1917, Easter Monday, was the attack on the Hindenburg Line, a front of 18 miles including Vimy Ridge. The 19th Battalion was at Henin & St Martin sur Cojeul, South East of Arras. Harold died on 04th February 1940 of Pneumonia in Preston Royal Infirmary. 

Thomas is commemorated on the following Memorials;

Christ Church, Preston

Preston North End FC

His widow Amy never remarried. 

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