Pte 24764 William Titley

• Age: 28
• From: Wolverhampton
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

William (Willie) Titley was born in Wolverhampton in the March quarter of 1888, the son of Isaiah Titley and his wife Mary Ann (nee Manning). His parents married on the 26th January 1874 at St John's Church, Wednesbury. William was the youngest of six children; his siblings were; Emily, Simeon, Ellen, Margaret Annie, and Isaiah. William was baptised on the 26th July 1890 at St George's Church, Wolverhampton. 

The 1891 Census shows the family living at Warwick Street, Wolverhampton. William is recorded as Willie aged 3, he is living with his parents and 5 siblings. His father Isaiah, is a forge roller and was born in Shropshire in 1849, whilst his mother Mary Ann was born in West Bromwich in 1853. His siblings are listed as Emily b.1874, Sim b.1876, Ellen b.1879, Annie b.1882 and Isaiah b.1886. There is also a lodger present at the property.

His mother died in 1897 aged 44.

In 1901 William, 12, is boarding with the Cope family at 146 Walsall Street, Wolverhampton.  Also present are his brother Sim, 23, a blacksmith’s striker, and Josiah Titley, 51, a general labourer born in Shropshire (probably his father Isaiah).  His brother Isaiah, 15, employed in the tin works, is living with married sister Emily.  Married sister Margaret Martin is living in Warwick Street.

The 1911 Census finds Willie boarding with the Edwards family in Wednesford, Wolverhampton. He is described as a Miner loader underground, aged 24.  

At the outbreak of war he was residing in Liverpool.

He enlisted in Liverpool joining in the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 24764. Based on the amount of the War Gratuity, he enlisted in about January 1915.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th 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.

Willie was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 28, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

17th Battalion Diary 30th July 1916

The Battalion was in support to 19 & 20 Battalions K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.

Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.

Casualties in the 17th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks

Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917

The 17th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions) in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30th 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 55th Division during the early hours of the 31st July.

The events of 30th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89th 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.       

Willie's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he 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.”

Soldiers effects were sent to his father Isaiah and a War Gratuity of £6-10s to his sister Margaret A. Martin. From the pension card in the name of his sister Margaret, at 33 Willenhall Road, Wolverhampton, it is not clear whether a pension was awarded. There seems to have been a delay in applying for the pension, as his documents were not received from the Paymaster until 04th December 1918 (probably because his father had just died aged 74.) .

His brothers, Simeon and Isaiah (as Josiah), enlisted together and served overseas with the Royal Scots. They both survived the war.

W. Titley is commemorated on the Mersey Iron Works Memorial, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.  (It is possible he was working here before the war, which would explain why he enlisted in Liverpool.) 

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