Pte 22577 Frederick Whitehead

• Age: 25
• From: Liverpool
• 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.

Frederick Whitehead was born in Liverpool in early February 1891 the son of Samuel Whitehead and his wife Amelia (nee Mitchell) who were married on the 13th April 1884 at St Mary’s Church, Kirkdale. Samuel was labourer of Kirkdale, father Samuel a book keeper, whilst Amelia was also of Kirkdale, father Peter a mariner. Frederick was the third of five children; his siblings were Mary Mitchell, Jane Fairless, Peter Mitchell, and Amelia Ethel. 

The 1891 Census shows the family living at 97 Evelyn Street, Kirkdale, Liverpool. His father Samuel is aged 32, born 1859 in Waterford, Ireland and is a fitter’s labourer, whilst his mother, Amelia, is aged 26, born in South Shields, Durham with no occupation listed. They have three children, born in Liverpool;  Mary aged 6, Jane aged 3 and Frederick born 1891. 

Frederick's father Samuel died in 1899 at the age of 40, when Frederick was eight years old. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 75, Gordon Street, Everton, Liverpool. His mother Amelia is a 38 year old widow, whose occupation is charwoman She has five children at the time of the Census, Mary aged 17, is a general domestic servant, Jane aged 14, is a domestic nurse girl, Frederick aged 10, Peter aged 6 and Amelia aged 2. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 165a Rose Vale, Everton, Liverpool. Frederick's mother Amelia is a widow aged 46, and whose occupation is now shown as a laundress ironer. Frederick is aged 21, and is a machinist in an oil mill, he has two siblings still living at home; Peter aged 16, born 1895 is an apprentice plumber and Amelia aged 13, born 1898.  

He enlisted on the 11th November 1914 in Liverpool joining the 20^th Battalion, of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 22577. He gave his age as 24 years and 276 days and his occupation as a clerk. He was previously in the 9th King's Territorial Force (time expired).  He was described as being five feet eight inches tall, and weighed 140 lbs, 38” chest, with a fresh complexion. He stated his religion as Church of England and as next of kin, his mother Amelia, of 104a Roscommon Street. 

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. 

His service paper record that on 06th March 1915 at Knowsley he was absent from parade and was confined to barracks for three days.

He was the husband of Rose Ann Whitehead (nee Johnson) who was born on 12th March 1892. They were married at Our Lady and St Nicholas Church, Liverpool on 01st September, 1915. Frederick's occupation listed as miller, and his residence Collingwood Street. They had a child also called Frederick born 31st October 1915 who sadly died the same day.  

O4th September 1915 whilst at Grantham he was absent from 10pm until 7.45am on 06th September and was confined to barracks for ten days and had to forfeit three days pay. The was three days after his wedding!

Frederick shipped to France with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 07th November 1915.

He was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916 at the village of Guillemont, France, aged 25, during the Somme Offensive.

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.

Frederick was reported missing in the Liverpool Daily Post on 14th September 1916:

King’s (Liverpool Regt) - Whitehead, 22577, F.; 

Almost two years later, Rose Ann's brother wrote on her behalf to the Infantry Records Office, Preston dated 20th July 1918 asking for assistance.

Sir

I am writing on behalf of my sister seeking information about her husband Private Whitehead Regt No 22577 20th Batt Lpool Pals I would be very glad if you could let me know as anything been heard of him he has been missing for 2 years this month July the last I heard was a field card dated 30/07/16.

Yours William Johnson

P.S. Her late address was 104a Roscommon Street, Liverpool.

It is not known when Rose Ann received news of her husband's death but notices appeared in the Liverpool Evening Express on Monday 30 July 1917 on his first anniversary. 

Frederick's body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as 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."

His Army pay of £2 14s 5d and a War Gratuity of £7-10s went to his widow Rose Ann, who was awarded a pension of 13/9d a week from April 1917.  Another pension card in the name of his mother Amelia at 104a Roscommon Street shows that she also applied for a pension and was awarded 10/- a week from August 1919.  Rose Ann lived with her mother-in-law until later moving to 48 India Street. 

His widow Rose Ann remarried to James Smith at Christ Church, Everton in 1919 and had a family. She died in 1951, aged 58. 

His mother Amelia died, aged 62, in 1923.

His brother Peter served in the 1st Bn. K.L.R. and went to France on 09th February 1915. He survived the war. 

Frederick is commemorated in Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 32 Right 

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