Pte 17248 Arthur Sheppey

• Age: 22
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Sunday 13th August 1916
• Commemorated at: Toxteth Park Cem Liverpool
  Panel Ref: L.CE.476

Arthur Sheppey was born at 38 South Hill Road in Liverpool on the 22nd September 1893 and was baptised in St Paul's Church, Princes Park, Liverpool on 15th October 1893. He was the eldest son of John Sheppey and his wife Christiana (nee Hounslea) who married in September 1888 at Toxteth Park.

The 1901 Census shows the family are still living at 38 South Hill Road. Arthur is seven years of age and is living with his parents and sister. His father is a 45 year old railway clerk born in Warrington, whilst his mother is 37 years of age and was born in Liverpool. His sister is Edith aged eight and born in Liverpool.

The family are still living at 38 South Hill Road at the time of the 1911 Census. Arthur is now 17 years old and is a bank clerk, he is living with both parents and two siblings. His parents advised that they had been married for 22 years and three of their six children had survived. The children who died in infancy are recorded as;  Ada who died 12th December 1890 aged two weeks, Elsie died 19th December 1890 aged 3 weeks and William who died 16th May 1899 aged 1 year. Those siblings recorded as living at the home address are listed as; Edith aged 18 and John Leslie aged 6.

Arthur was educated at Liverpool Collegiate in Shaw Street, Liverpool and later took up a career in banking (he was serving an apprenticeship with the Bank of England which was due to expire in May 1915).

Arthur enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 31st August 1914 joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 17248. He gave his age as 20 years and 343 days and his occupation as a bank clerk. He was described as being 5' 11" tall and weighed 132lbs with a fair complexion, grey eyes and brown 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. 

Arthur embarked for France with his Battalion on board the SS Invicta on the 07th November 1915.

He was slightly wounded in action on the 13th February 1916 but remained on duty.

In the attack at Montauban on the 01st July, 1916 Arthur was struck in the left knee and remained in the open for a number of hours before he was found by stretcher bearers who took him to 96 Field Ambulance. On the 02nd July he was transferred to 45 Casualty Clearing Station  where he had his left leg amputated above the knee. Once his condition stabilised he was admitted to No 12 general Hospital in Rouen and evacuated to the UK on the Hospital Ship St George on the 07th July. Two days later he was admitted to No 5 Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) Hospital, Exeter, Devon where he died of septicaemia at 10:00am on the 13th August aged 22.

The 18^th Battalion Diary gives an insight into the action on the day that Arthur was fatally wounded:

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. 

Telegram reporting his death on 13th Aug 1916 states he was with 2nd company, 18/KLR.

Arthur's body was taken to Liverpool and buried in the family grave at Toxteth Park Cemetery, Liverpool. He rests with his parents and three siblings who all died in infancy.

Soldiers Effects to his father John and pension to his mother Christiana.

His family paid tribute to Arthur in the Liverpool Daily Post - 14th Aug 1917

SHEPPEY - In ever loving memory of Private Arthur Sheppey, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Sheppey, 38 South Hill Road, who died from wounds received in action August 13th 1916, aged 22 years.

As of July 1919 his siblings were recorded as Edith aged 27 and John Leslie aged 14.

Arthur is also commemorated on the following war memorials:

Collegiate School, Shaw Street, Liverpool

Bank of Liverpool & St Martins, now in the foyer of Barclays Bank, Water Street, Liverpool

St Michael-in-the-Hamlet with St Andrew Parish Church, Church Road, Toxteth, Liverpool.

His father died on 05th July 1942 aged 86 

His mother died on 04th December 1944 aged 81.

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