L/Cpl 24822 Harry Sheppard

• Age: 24
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Harry was born in Liverpool on 24^th September 1891 to George Alfred Sheppard and Kate Emily Potter who were married in Bristol in 1883.  His father was from Somerset, and his mother from Bristol.  Harry was the fourth of five children; his siblings were Kate, George, (born in Bristol) and Ellen and Ernest (born Liverpool).  Based on the children’s birth records, the family moved from Bristol to Liverpool in 1887-89.  Harry was baptised in St. Peter’s, Liverpool, on 26^th October 1891, parents’ residence Kensington, father’s occupation cutter.

In 1901 the family is at 107 Saxony Road, Low Hill, with five children.

His father is a tailor’s foreman. Kate, 16, is a tailoress. Harry is 9.  

The 1911 Census shows the family have moved to 24 Oxford Street, Liverpool. 

His father is a factory manager (tailoring);  George, 24, is a tailor’s cutter, Ellen is 22, Harry is 19, an insurance clerk, Ernest, 17, is a marine engineer’s apprentice.  A newspaper notice placed by his parents states that Harry was employed by the Royal Insurance Company.  Between 1911 and 1914 he sailed to Peru to work for Messrs. Beausire in Lima and when war was declared he returned to the UK to join up.

A passenger manifest for 25^th October 1914 shows Harry Sheppard, age 21, clerk, arriving at Liverpool from New York, on the “St. Paul”, previous residence South America.  Whether or not this is the right Harry Sheppard (the age is not exact), the delay in coordinating travel from Peru to Liverpool would explain his place of enlistment.

Unfortunately Harry’s service record has not survived, but SDGW shows that Harry enlisted in Prescot, which is where the Pals battalions would have been training at the end of October. He served as Private 24822, ‘A’ Company, 17^th Bn, King’s (Liverpool) Regiment.  After training locally, the battalion moved to Belton Park Camp in Grantham in Lincolnshire, then for final infantry training at Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.  Harry shipped to France with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 7^th November 1915, and in the new year the battalions take up positions in the south of the Somme line near Carnoy.  After specialist training for the ‘Big Push’, the battalions move to the front line near Maricourt.  Harry, now a Lance Corporal and attached to the machine gun section, survives the deadly days of July 1916 on the Somme, including the capture of Montauban and the murderous fighting in Trones Wood, until the end of the month when the Pals battalions are involved in the attack on the village of Guillemont, held by the Germans.  The attack fails, and 30th July proves the costliest day of the war for the Pals battalions and the City of Liverpool.  Private Harry Sheppard is one of the nearly 500 killed on that day.  His body was never recovered, he has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. He was 24 years old. 

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.”

17th Battalion Diary 30th July 1916

The Battalion was in support to 19 & 20 Battalions K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.

Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.

Casualties in the 17th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks

Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917

The 17th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions) in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30th 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 55th Division during the early hours of the 31st July.

The events of 30th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89th 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 family placed notices in the Liverpool Echo on 14^th August 1916: 

“July 30, killed in action, Private Harry Sheppard, “Pals”, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Sheppard, 24, Oxford Street.” 

“July 30, killed in action, Lance-Corporal Harry Sheppard, Machine Gun Section, “Pals”, dearly-loved brother of Mrs. Algeo, Stanley Road, Hoylake.” [sister Kate]

One year later, in the Liverpool Echo, on 30^th July 1917 under the heading ‘Lost At The Battle of Guillemont’:

“July 30, at Guillemont, Lance-corporal Harry Sheppard, 1/17 K.L.R., second son of Mr. and Mrs. G. Sheppard, “Methven”, Allerton Drive, Mossley Hill.  At outbreak of war with Messs. Beausire, Lima, Peru; previously the Royal Insurance Company.  (Harry – A Son, a Brother, a Pal.)”

“In loving memory of Lance-corporal Harry Sheppard (Pals), who was killed July 30, 1916. Ever remembered by Ida and Gertie.”

Harry earned his three medals; his effects went to his father George but no Pension record found. 

Sadly, Harry has not been found on any memorial.

Probate: SHEPPARD Harry of Oxford Street, Liverpool, Lance- Corporal 17th battalion K.L.R. died 30 July 1916 in France. Administration Liverpool 13 November to George Sheppard tailor's foreman. Effects £167 8s.

His mother died at home on the 14th June 1936, aged 75, and his father in 1952, aged 89. 

Liverpool Daily Post - Wednesday 17 June 1936 

SHEPPARD— June 14, at Methven, Allerton-drive, Liverpool 18 in her 76th year, KATE EMILY, dearly-beloved wife of George A. Service at home; interment at Allerton to-day (Wednesday) 12 o'clock. 

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