Pte 22282 Charles Waring

• Age: 21
• From: Birkenhead, 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.

By 1891 she is a servant for the Rawdon family at 42 Rodney Street, Liverpool.  

The baptism of Margaret gives some insight into the family. She was born on the 29th April 1898 in Birkenhead, the daughter of John and Isabella Lydia Cowell of 27 Seafield Grove, Seaforth, and was baptised on the 06th July 1898 at St John the Evangelist Church, Birkenhead. 

There is some uncertainty as to the surname, as some of the birth records for the children can not be found, and evidently the Army had questions, given a letter his mother wrote after Charles’ death. His birth date has been inferred from Census and enlistment information.  

In 1901 the family is living at 16 Verdi street, Seaforth, with the four children. His father is aged 53, a marine engineer, mother Lydia is 43, John is 7, Charles 6, Margaret 2, and Mona 3 months. Sadly Mona died just a few months later. 

In 1911 they have moved nearby to 86 Schubert Street, Seaforth. His father is aged 63, listed as a seafaring stoker, born Douglas, Isle of Man, mother is aged 52, born Ramsey, Isle of Man. They advised that they had been married for 21 years and had 4 children, 3 of whom, have survied. His brother John, 17, is a dock labourer;  Charles is 16, an errand boy, and Margaret is 12 and at school. 

Charles enlisted in Liverpool on the 06th November 1914 joining the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 22282. He gave his age as 19 years and 247 days and his occupation as clerk. He was described as being 5’ 4 and a half inches tall, weighing 147 lbs, 38” chest, with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair. He gives his next of kin as his father, Charles(?) Waring, of 86 Schubert Street, Seaforth, and stated his religion as Church of England. (His father is still on the electoral roll 1914-16) 

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. 

Charles shipped to France with his battalion on the 07^th November 1915 and in the new year the battalion takes up position in the south of the Somme line near Carnoy. 

In May the battalion moves to Abbeville for specialist training for the ‘Big Push’. 

The Battle of the Somme began on the 01^st July 1916; the battalion suffers casualties throughout the month notably at Montauban and Trones Wood.

On the 29^th the Pals battalions take up their positions for the attack on Guillemont. For the city of Liverpool, 30^th July 1916 is the worst day of the war; the Pals battalions suffer losses approaching 500 killed.  

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.     

Private Charles Waring was one of the many lost that day.  He was declared Missing, and later declared killed in action. aged 21 years. 

His death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Monday 02nd October 1916: 

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED MISSING, NOW   

REPORTED KILLED.  

King’s (Liverpool Regt) - Waring, 22282, C.;   

Private Charles Waring was one of the many lost that day.  He was declared Missing, and later declared killed in action. aged 21 years. 

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he is remembered 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.”

For official Army purposes, there must have been some query as to the name or relationship, as his mother wrote to the Infantry Record Office in September 1916:  

“I don’t know if I have done the form right as I have done it in the same name as his recruiting papers that he left me before going away, Lydia Waring.” 

And in another letter:

“Dear Sir, As I am so upset about my son Charlie and to let you know my son John was born in Barrow in Furness.  I lived with my uncle and he told me that my birth certificate was Isabella …..[page missing]… gone to St. Thomas’ School Seaforth in the name of Waring for many years and they have been in good places and they have never been asked for their birth certificates so they would not take any other name but Waring.  My sons have been very good to me and wished me […] keep the home going. I have been in Seaforth over 20 years.  I remain Sir, Lydia Waring.”

His father died, aged 63 years old, in the June quarter of 1918.  

His Army effects of £4 17s 9d and a War Gratuity of £7-10s went to his mother Lydia, the pension card does not mention an amount. 

His father died, aged 63 years old in 1918.

In 1919, when his mother supplied information regarding living relatives, his father had died, and siblings John and Margaret, with their mother Lydia, were still at 86 Schubert Street.

Charles earned his three medals, which his mother signed for on 24^th June 1920 and 09^th November 1921. 

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