Pte 22849 Joseph Hilton Stringer

• Age: 29
• From: Runcorn, Cheshire
• 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.

Joseph’s family lived at 2 Heath Road, Runcorn, all his life, and his father, born in Runcorn, had his own grocery business, carried on by his widow after his death.

At the time of the 1891 Census the family is at 2 Heath Road, with four children and a domestic servant. Children. Lily M. 6, Joseph 3, Joseph W. 2, Edith 2 months, and servant Mary Dutton 16.  

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 2 Heath Road, Runcorn. The property has six rooms. His mother ,Mary, is a widow aged 60, born 1851 in Oldham, her occupation is shown as a grocer, working on her own account. She had been married for twenty nine years and had eight children of which four died. At the time of the Census she had three of her children living with her; Joseph aged 23 is a is a baker working for a grocer (possibly his mother), Edith aged 20, born 1891 has no occupation listed and Harold aged 19, born 1892 is a moulder in a foundry. The children were all born in Runcorn. His sister Lily is married.

Joseph enlisted on the 09th November 1914 at Liverpool joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 22849. He gave his age as 27 years and six months and his occupation as a machinist. He was described as being five feet three and three quarter inches tall, weighed 123lbs, 35” chest, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England and next of kin as his mother Mary, of 2 Heath Road. 

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. 

07.11.1915: Embarked for France with his Battalion.

His record shows that he served in No.3 Company, Qualifications: Scout.

He was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916 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.

Joseph's death was reported in the Runcorn Guardian on 24th August 1916

PRIVATE J. H. STRINGER

News has been received by Mrs M. Stringer of 2 Heath Road, Runcorn, that her son Private Joseph Hilton Stringer has been killed in France. He joined the Liverpool Pals in October 1914 and was drafted out to France on November 07th 1915. He was 29 years of age. In civilian life he was employed by Garston Tanning Company. He was a member of the Trinity Choir from a boy. He was also a member of the Holy Trinity cycle club. The first intimation of his death was received in a letter from Mrs Greenshields, the wife of his commanding officer, and reads as follows:- "I hardly know how to tell you how deeply grieved I am for you and how much I sympathise with you in this terrible trouble which has come to you. In a letter I had from Captain Greenshields he writes that Stringer was shot dead going to Captain Whiting's assistance. My husband is very sad, and he always thought as much of your son who was such an excellent orderly and a real good soldier. It is heartbreaking to think of these magnificent men and precious lives which are being lost."

This was followed by a letter from Captain Greenshields himself, who wrote in answer to inquiries:-  "In answer to your son's letter, your boy was killed dead going to Captain Whiting's assistance. He is buried on the field of battle. As you know he was my orderly until I went home sick in March, then he went to Captain Whiting. He was as fine a lad as ever put on khaki, always merry and bright and full of spirits. He often used to talk to me of you and I know you must miss him terribly, but remember he died doing his duty for his officer and country, and no man can do more than that."

The esteem in which he was held by his commanding officer may be gathered from the letter written by Mrs Greenshields some time before his death:-

"In a letter from Captain Greenshields, he made to write to you and I can't do better than copy this letter. 'Will you write to Mrs Stringer and tell her Private Stringer 22849 is doing splendidly. He is my personal orderly and works like a Trojan, always cheery and willing, and nothing is too much trouble, and looks after me splendidly.' I am sure you will be so pleased to hear such an excellent account and to hear how well he's doing. It is such a comfort when we hear from other people that those dear to us are well and cheerful. Captain Greenshields always writes full of praise of his men, they are so brave and their spirits marvellous. I do hope they that before long we may get them all home safely."

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.”

Joseph is also commemorated on the Runcorn War Memorial. 

His mother was awarded a pension of 5/- a week from March 1917, but sadly she died in June of that year, aged 66, and was buried on the 06th June at Runcorn Cemetery.

His Army effects of £5 5s 3d went to his mother Mary; the War Gratuity of £7-10s went to his brother Harold after her death.   

Joseph earned his three medals which his brother Harold signed for.

In 1919 Harold, 27, 2 was living at home at 2 Heath Road.  His sisters Lily Walker, 35, and Edith Stringer, 28, lived close by at no.35.  

Joseph was remembered in the Runcorn Weekly News on 26th September 1926: 

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