L/Cpl 21786 Matthew Henry Stead

• Age: 22
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 18th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Matthew Henry (Harry) Stead was born at Kirkdale on the 01st October 1894, the son of Matthew Henry Stead and Ellen (nee Johnson) who were married in 1892 in the Toxteth Park Registration district. Matthew Henry junior was a stores clerk in 1911. His father was a foreman mason at the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board and was born at Welshpool, Wales. His wife was a native of Liverpool. Prior to the outbreak of war he was employed in the Stores Office of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company. He was a talented musician and was deputy organist at Christ Church, Bootle.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 84 Antonio Street, Bootle cum Linacre. His father, Matthew Henry, is aged 37, a stone mason born in Welshpool, his mother Ellen is aged 35, born Liverpool, with children all born in Liverpool, Matthew Henry 6 and Albert 9 months.   

By the time of the 1911 Census, the family have moved to 240 Gloucester Road, Bootle. His father, Matthew Henry aged 47, is a foreman mason for Mersey docks and Harbour Board, his mother Ellen is aged 45. They advised that they had been married for 19 years and had four children, two of whom have survived. Matthew Henry is aged 16,and is a stores clerk, and Albert aged10 is at school.  

He enlisted on the 10th November 1914 at Liverpool joining the 19th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 21786. He was aged 20 years and one month and was a clerk. He was described as being 5 foot seven inches tall, weighed 108lbs,with a 34" chest, a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England and he gave his next of kin as his father Matthew Henry Stead, of 240 Gloucester Road. He had been previously rejected for military service, failing on "chest measurement". 

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. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

His service record shows the following:

21.8.16 - Admitted to F.A. with defective vision.  

03.9.16 - Appointed unpaid L/Cpl. 

15.9.16 - To Musketry Course. 

21.9.16 - Rejoined Bn. 

Harry was killed in action on the 18th October 1916, aged 22, during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

19th Bn Diary  

18^th October 1916

Zero hour for attack 3.40am. The 21^st Brigade attacked on our left, the Battalion immediately on our left being the 2^nd Battn. Yorkshire Regiment, to whom 2^nd Lieut Rendell was sent as Liaison Officer. The 12^th Division attacked on the right, the Battalion immediately on our right being the 5^th Battalion Royal Berks Regiment, from whom Lieut Debono was sent to us as Liaison Officer .  Advances were made on the far right and far left of the attack, but the Brigades immediately on our left and right were held up. The Battalion was not called upon to advance, merely to hold its position. Two tanks went into action, one got into the German trenches, remaining there for about 25 minutes, killing many Germans and causing many others to run away. Casualties 4 O.R. killed and 4 O.R. wounded. Late in the evening orders were received for the Battalion to take over a portion of the line held by the 21^st Infantry Brigade, and No.1 Company, under Captain Dodd, was brought up to effect this, his Company being relieved at Factory Corner by 2 Companies of the 20^th Battn K.L.R.       

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 01st November 1916: 

STEAD - Killed in action, Lance Corporal M. H. STEAD (Harry), K.L.R., the dearly loved eldest son of Matthew and Ellen Stead, 240 Gloucester Road, Bootle.  

His death was also reported in greater detail in the Bootle Times on 03rd November 1916:

Deputy Organist of Christ Church.

Lance-Corporal Harry Stead Killed in Action.

The sympathy of a wide circle of friends in Bootle will we extended to Mr. and Mrs. M.H. Stead, of 240, Gloucester-road, in the bereavement they have suffered by the death of their eldest son, Lance-Corporal Matthew Henry Stead, K.L.R., who was killed in action.

 A career full of promise was before the young soldier, when shortly after the outbreak of war he decided that it was his duty to offer himself for service. He voluntarily resigned his position in the stores office of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, although at that time no arrangements had been formulated as to reinstatement or salary allowances in the case of men joining the army. On the first occasion that Harry - as he was affectionately known to his friends - offered himself for enlistment, he was rejected owing to his chest measurement being half-an-inch under the required standard. He then went in for a course of physical exercises, and in November, 1914, again presented himself. This time he was successful, and a year later was drafted to France. He had gone through numerous engagements, and had seen many of his friends fall on the field of battle, but himself came through unscathed, until early this week the parents received a letter from his officer and another from a comrade conveying the sorrowful news that, a gallant soldier to the end, he had made the ultimate sacrifice.

Matthew Henry Stead was 22 years of age on October 1st. He was educated at Bedford-road school, Bootle, and at Beaumaris Grammar School, and subsequently entered the service of the Dock Board. He was an able and painstaking young man, and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his superiors. A devoted student of music, he studied under Mr. Frank Dibb, Mus. Bac., F.R.C.O., and his exceptional ability led to his appointment as deputy-organist of Christ Church, Bootle. All who knew the late Lance-corporal Stead, and especially the congregation of Christ Church, will join in offering their sincere condolence to the parents who have lost so gallant and promising a son.

Lieut. Fox has written to Mr. Stead as follows:- "Will you please tell his mother how much I miss him. He always did his job, and was one of the coolest men in the company under fire. Please accept the sympathy of myself and the other officers of the company." 

 A comrade, Corporal H. Pugh, wrote:- "As one who was present, and also an old school chum of Harry's,  I thought you would like to know the circumstances of his death. I can assure you it was instantaneous, and that he suffered no pain whatever. At the time the platoon was standing to under heavy shell fire, expecting a counter-attack by the Germans. Harry was struck by a piece of shell, and died doing his duty as a true British soldier. We buried him as the first opportunity in a soldier's grave on the battlefield. As a soldier and a non-commissioned officer, he always turned out smart and clean, and did his work well without hesitation or fear, liked by officers and the rank-and-file and all who knew him in the course of duty. As a man and a chum he was a true friend, and though out-spoken would never willingly give pain to anyone. I think it will please you to know that Harry was always glad of the opportunity to attend church parade, and whenever discussion arose he was never afraid to express his own opinion and belief. He very often mentioned Mr. Dibb to me, and I should like you to let Mr. Dibb know the circumstances."

Harry's grave referred to by Corporal Pugh was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, France.

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.”

Soldiers Effects to father Matthew, Pension to mother Ellen, 240 Gloucester Road. 

Personal items returned: 2 books, postcard and letters. 

On the 1919 Relative Declaration brother Albert aged 19 was with Q. Office, 10th Corps, British Army of the Rhine. 

Harry is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Bootle Civic Memorial

Christ Church C. of E. Church, Bootle

Bedford Road Council School

Also on the family grave where the headstone reads:- 

IN LOVING MEMORY OF 

MATTHEW STEAD 

The beloved husband of ELLEN, 

Who passed away 23rd March 1923, aged 53 years. 

Also MATTHEW HENRY (HARRY) 

L/Cpl 19th K.L.R. 

Eldest son of the above, 

Who was killed in France Oct 18th 1916. 

Greater love hath no man than this 

That he lay down his life for his friends. 

Also ELLEN 

The beloved wife of the above 

Who died 16th May 1942, aged 76 years 

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