Pte 17722 William Joseph Shortall

• Age: 22
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

17722 Private William SHORTALL, 19^th Battalion, KLR.

William Joseph was born on 29^th March 1894 at 145 Upper Huskisson Street, Liverpool and was baptised on 08^th April 1894 in St Anne's Roman Catholic Church, Liverpool. He was the sixth of eight children born to Nicholas Shortall who worked as a clerk in the cotton trade, and his wife Elizabeth (nee Woods). They were married on the 1st August 1882 at St Nicholas, Liverpool, Nicholas was from 75 Peach St and Elizabeth from 28 Great Orford St.

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 43 Egerton Road, Wavertree, Liverpool.

William is 7 years old and lives with his parents and six siblings. His father, Nicholas, in 43 years of age and is a commercial clerk, whilst his mother, Elizabeth, is 41 years old. His siblings are recorded as; Nicholas Jr aged 17 and a GPO telegraphist, Helen aged 16, John 14, Johanna 12, Elizabeth 10 and Joseph 3.  

William was educated at St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic School, and at St Edwards College, Sandfield Park, West Derby, Liverpool.

The 1911 Census shows that the family have moved to 26 Rutland Avenue, Liverpool.

William is now 17 and employed as a commercial apprentice in the shipping trade. He lives with both parents and six siblings. His father is now 53 years of age and a produce salesman in the West African trade. His mother is 51 and they state that they have been married for 28 years and have had 12 children of which 8 have survived. William's siblings recorded at home on the Census are; Helen aged 26 and a school teacher with Liverpool Education Committee, John a 24 year old clerk in the coal trade, Johanna a 22 year old teacher with the Bootle Education Committee, Elizabeth Mary aged 20 and also a teacher with the Bootle Education Committee, Joseph is 13, and Mary aged 6. 

William enlisted in Liverpool on 11^th September 1914, joining the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 17722 giving his age as 20 years 161 days, his occupation as clerk and his next of kin as his parents of 26 Rutland Avenue. He is described as being 5' 9" tall, weight 138lbs, 36” chest, with a sallow complexion, brown eyes and hair. He gave his religion as Roman Catholic.   

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.

On 21^st October 1915 he was given 3 days CB for having a dirty rifle on parade and just over two weeks later arrives in France on 07th November 1915, earning his three medals.

He was admitted to 98^th Field Ambulance for 3 or 4 days in early February 1916 as “sick” and from 10^th to 29^th February 1916 was attached to 21^st Brigade Sanitary Section before rejoining his unit, 19^th Battalion.

He was killed in action during the attack at Montauban on 01^st July 1916 with No 2 Company.

19^th Battalion Diary

Zero Hour 7.30am First day of the attack. The Battalion used up entirely in “carrying parties” for the Brigade. Battalion H.Q. in the “Chateau”, Maricourt. Total casualties 01 -04/07/1916: 1 officer wounded, 12 other ranks killed, 53 wounded and 3 missing.

William has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

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.”

Liverpool Daily Post 17th July 1916 

SHORTALL - Killed in action, aged 22 years, William Shortall (Pals), the deary-beloved third son of Mr and Mrs Shortall, 26 Rutland Avenue. R.I.P. Requiem Mass at St Clare's, Arundel Avenue, today (Monday) at 9:00 a.m.  

Mother Elizabeth Mary died aged 57 on the 20th Oct 1916 and was buried on the 23rd October at Allerton Cemetery.

Liverpool Echo 23rd October 1916 

SHORTALL - October 20, at 26 Rutland Avenue, Elizabeth Mary, the dealy beloved wife of Nicholas Shortall. Fortified with the rights of Holy Church R.I.P. Requiem Mass at St Clare's, Arundel Avenue, today (Monday) at 9:00 a.m. Interment at Allerton cemetery at 10:15 a.m. 

Soldiers Effects to father Nicholas, no Pension record found. 

Personal items returned included:- disc, pkt letters, photos, cards, wallet, steel mirror, cig case, pouch, prayer book, companion, French book, handkerchief, tinder lighter, tooth brush, a few army forms, 1 hasp, clasp and medallion. 

Liverpool Echo 23rd May 1918 

ROLL OF HONOUR. 

Killed in Action. 

SHORTALL - April 29, killed in action, Private JOSEPH SHORTALL (K.L.R.) - Deeply regretted by his colleagues on the staff of the United Alkali Company Limited (sales department).  

Liverpool Echo 28th May 1918 

ROLL OF HONOUR. 

Killed in Action. 

SHORTALL - April 29, killed in action, aged 20 years, Private JOSEPH SHORTALL K.L.R., the deary-beloved youngest son of Nicholas and the late Elizabeth Shortall, 26 Rutland Avenue. Requiem Mass at St Clare's, Arundel Avenue, tomorrow (Wednesday), at 8 a.m. R.I.P. 

He is also remembered on the war memorials of:

St Clare Roman Catholic Church, Arundel Avenue, Sefton Park

St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic School

St Edward’s College, Sandfield Park, West Derby, Liverpool.

Three of his brothers also served. John enlisted as Private 17720 in the 19^th Battalion, no doubt joining with his brother William. John’s medal card shows that he survived the war, attaining the rank of Sergeant and then being attached to 16^th OTC as a 2^nd Lieutenant. He too served in France from the 07th November 1915.

Joseph enlisted as Private 64834 and was serving in the 18^th Battalion KLR when he was killed in action on 29^th April 1918. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. CWGC records show that both of his parents had died before his name appeared on the Memorial and that his brother William also fell.

Their eldest brother, Nicholas Joseph, enlisted in Nottingham as 56623 in the Royal Engineers - he had been working in Nottingham with the GPO - on 3^rd November 1914 and served with 17 District Signalling Company. He arrived in France on 12^th July 1915 and in 1917 was promoted to Corporal. On 27^th October 1917 he was awarded a Military Medal in 1918 and was demobilised in 1919 after a pre-discharge medical at Hallencourt on the Somme.

Father died aged 62 on the 11th April 1920. 

Probate:- 

SHORTALL Nicholas of 26 Rutland Avenue, Sefton Park Liverpool produce salesman died 11 April 1920 Probate Liverpool 4 June to Helen Shortall spinster and Nicholas Joseph Shortall Post Office official. Effects £4863 7s 3d. 

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