A/Sgt 22835 Henry Shercliff

• Age: 23
• From: Burton On Trent
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Henry Shercliff was born 18th June 1893 at Burton on Trent and was the son of John Robert Shercliff and his wife Margaret Matilda (née Willson). His parents married in 1888 and had seven children. Their firstborn, a boy, died at birth or soon after. Henry had an elder brother William, and younger siblings Grace, John, Arthur, and Margaret.

The family had lived in Wyggeston Street, Burton, since before Henry was born. 

In 1901 they are living at number 137, with six children. His father is aged 39, a joiner born Newark on Trent, the rest of the family born in Burton: Mother Margaret M. is aged 37, children William 10, Henry is 7, Grace 6, John 4, Arthur 2, and Margaret 5mths. 

He was educated at Burton On Trent Grammar School (Boys).

Henry attended evening classes, and passed his examination in typewriting in 1908.

The 1911 Census shows the family are still living at 137 Wyggeston Street, Burton Upon Trent. Henry's father, John Robert, is aged 49, born in Newark on Trent, Nottinghamshire in 1862 occupation is shown as joiner and van builder, his mother, Margaret Matilda, is aged 47, born in Burton on Trent in 1864 with no occupation listed. They have been married for 22 years and have had seven children of which one died. Their children were all born in Burton on Trent. Those present in the household are shown as; William aged 20, born 1891 is a university student, Henry aged 17, is a clerk with the Co-Operative Society, John aged 14, born 1897, Arthur aged 12, born 1899 and Margaret aged 10, born 1901 are still at school. Their other daughter is Grace born 1895 and is not living at the home address at the time of the Census, she is aged 16, and is a domestic servant not far away in Derby Street.

Henry enlisted in Liverpool on the 07th November 1914, joining the 20th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 22835. He gave his age as twenty one years and 155 days and his occupation as a clerk. He was described as being five feet eleven and half inches tall, weighed 140lbs, 36” chest, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair. He stated his religion as C.of. E on one form and “other Protestant” on another. He gave his next of kin as father John, 137 Wyggeston Street, later 99 Tarvin Road, Chester. 

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. 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.

(Henry’s name is not listed among the 30 fallen employees on the Burton Co-operative Society Memorial, unfortunately now lost, suggesting that he may have changed jobs before enlisting.)

His service papers show:

He served in no. 3 Company.

12.3.15: Appointed unpaid Lance-Corporal.

19.4.15: Promoted on probation to Corporal. 

6.7.15: Confirmed in rank.

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

23.5.16: Appointed paid Lance-Sergeant.

He was granted leave to the U.K. from 12th to 18th June 1916, so had a chance to see his family before the “Big Push” began on 01st July.

He was serving in the 20^th Battalion (No3 Company) K.L.R., as Acting Sergeant when he was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 23, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

30th July 1916

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.  

Henry's body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

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.”

Henry earned his three medals, which his mother signed for. She also received his Army pay of £4 1s 6d and a War Gratuity of £10-10s.  

His father wrote to the Record Office on the 22nd October 1916 confirming the receipt of the money order for £4 1s 6d, but asked if there was any of his private property to return.  

His brother, Arthur, enlisted after Henry’s death in about November 1916, when he was 18 years old. He served as Lance Corporal 203060 in the 1st/5th South Staffordshire Regiment and was killed in action on 03rd October 1918. He now rests in Montbrehain British Cemetery, Aisne, France. Arthur was 19 or 20 years old.

His parents received a pension for both sons, their address changed to 55 Dene Court Road, Alton, Birmingham.

In 1919 Grace, 24, John, 22, and Margaret, 19, were living at home, and William, 28 was living in Manchester.

William and John both became schoolmasters. 

His parents celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1938, and in 1939 were still living at 137 Wyggeston Street. His father died in 1945 aged 83 and his mother in 1948 at 85.

Henry is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Burton Boys Grammar School, Winshill, Burton-on-Trent

Henry and Arthur (Shercliffe) are both commemorated on the following Memorials: 

St. John the Divine, Burton-on-Trent.

Burton Town Hall, King Edward Place, Burton on Trent

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