Pte 24481 Harry Brady

• Age: 25
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Henry (Harry) Brady was born in Liverpool, on 07th August 1890, the youngest child of Michael Brady and his wife Mary (née Ferns), who married on the 25th May 1874 at St Patrick’s Chapel, Toxteth (from family tree). His father was born in 1846 in Cavan, Ireland, but was raised in Liverpool; his mother was born in the city in 1849. Harry was baptised in St. Anthony’s R.C. Church on 24th August 1890.  His parents had eight children, one of whom had died, according to the 1911 census; birth and baptism records have been found for six others: Caroline, born in 1875, James Edward 1877, Mary Elizabeth 1879, Arthur 1881, Harriet(?) Ann 1883, and Amelia 1886. 

At the time of the 1891 census the family is living at 208 Athol Street, with seven children and a boarder. Henry is 7 months old, his father is 46, employed as an elastic thread picker, his mother is 41. Other siblings are Caroline 15 an elastic thread drawer, James 13 a printers errand boy, Mary E. 12 a scholar, Arthur 9 a scholar, Harriet 7 a scholar, and Amelia 4 a scholar.   

His father died the following year at the age of 48. 

In 1901 his widowed mother is aged 48 and four of the children are found at 56 Doncaster Street.  His mother is working as a charwoman, Henry is 10 years old. Other siblings are Mary E. 11 a dry soap machinist, Ann 17 a shirt machinist, and Amelia 14. 

The 1911 census finds his mother as head of household at 19 William Moult Street.  Henry is 20, a hairdresser, James 33, is an upholsterer, Annie 27, is a blouse maker, and Amelia 24, manages a greengrocer’s. Living with them is married daughter Caroline McGair, 35, her husband and three children.  

Harry enlisted in the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 24481. The amount of the War Gratuity suggests that Harry served 18 months, enlisting in early 1915. Harry arrived in France on 29th December 1915, thus earning the 1914-1915 Star.

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

19^th Battalion Diary 30^th July 1916

MALTZ HORN FARM

BATTLE begun. ZERO hour 4:45 am. The Battalion reached its objective, but suffered heavy losses, and had to evacuate its position owing to no reinforcements.

Everard Wyrall gives details of the attack in his book The History of The King’s Regiment; 

"The 2nd Attack on Guillemont- 29th July 1916 the 89th Brigade the 20th King's were to attack on the right and the 19th on the left. During the evening of the 29th the night was dark and foggy when the Battalions moved off and the 19th with Lt Col G Rollo commanding, when passing the South east of the Briqueterie they were heavily shelled first with H E and then with a new kind of asphyxiating Gas shell which had curious results, at first it had no nasty effect but about 8 hrs later men began to fall sick with violent headaches and pains in the stomach. All ranks had to wear gas masks which in the darkness and mist made the going terribly difficult. It was indeed wonderful that they were able to reach their Assembly point at all. But they did and by 2.45 a.m. on the 30th July 1916 the Btn was assembled having suffered about 30 Casualties on the way up ready for the Zero hour at 4.45 a.m.

It is known that the two left Companies of the 19th under Capt. Dodd and Capt. Nicholson advanced in touch with the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on their left although they suffered many casualties from Machine gun Fire did not encounter many Germans and reached their final objective about the time allocated, beginning at once to dig in south of the orchard on the South east corner of Guillemont.  

On the left of the 19th the Scots Fusiliers most gallantly forced their way through Guillemont to the eastern side of the village but were soon overwhelmed by the enemy and few returned. 

At 8 a.m. finding that the village was not held the two left Companies of the 19th received no word from the rear or either flank believed themselves to be totally isolated so were forced to fall back and dig in, their position being untenable.

At midday the effective fighting strength of the 19th Btn was just 7 Officers and 43 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.

Casualties in the 19^th Battalion were 11 Officers and 435 Other Ranks 

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.     

Harry has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in 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 01^st 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 family learned of Harry’s death by 26th August 1916, when they placed a notice in the Liverpool Echo:

“July 30, killed in action, Private Harry Brady, 24481, King’s (Liverpool Regiment). R.I.P.  (Sadly missed by his sorrowing mother and all at home.)” 

Harry earned his three medals. 

His Army effects and a War Gratuity of £6 went to his mother Mary.  The pension card, giving her address as 7 Goldsmith Street, West Derby Road, shows that she was awarded a pension of 10/- a week from February 1917, increased to 15/-.

Harry was remembered on the first anniversary of his death, in the Liverpool Echo, on 30th July 1917 under the heading Lost At The Battle of Guillemont:

“In sad but loving memory of Private Harry Brady, K.L.R., killed in action July 30 1916 aged 26. (Never forgotten by his sorrowing Mother, Brothers, and Sisters, 7 Goldsmith Street, West Derby Road, Liverpool.) (On whose soul sweet Jesus have mercy.) One year has passed oh how we miss him, Friends may think the wound has healed, But little do they know the sorrow, That lies within our hearts concealed.”

“In loving remembrance of Harry Brady, who was killed in action July 28 1916, (sic) R.I.P. (Always remembered, M. Manning, 13 St. David’s Road, Anfield.” 

Harry is also remembered on the war memorial at St Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church, Scotland Road, Liverpool and in Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 13 Right and 14 Left. 

His mother died aged 71 in 1921.  

His eldest brother James enlisted in the 3rd Bn King’s Regiment on 23rd May 1916 at the age of 38, giving his address as 7 Goldsmith Street.  He was mobilised on 17th August 1916  but discharged in March 1917 as no longer physically fit for war service. 

His brother Arthur, married with children, served in the 1st/9th King’s, and was killed at Passchendaele between 31st July and 2nd August 1917.  Arthur, 35, has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, at Ypres. 

Arthur was remembered by his family in the Liverpool Echo on Monday 03 December 1917: 

ROLL OF HONOUR.  

BRADY—In ever-loving birthday remembrance of Arthur, the dearly-beloved husband of M. Brady, who fell action July 31, 1917; K.L.R. (On whose soul, Sweet Jesus, have mercy.)— Deeply regretted by Wife and Children, 15, William Moult-street.  

BRADY—In loving birthday remembrance of Arthur, the dearly-beloved son of Mrs. Brady, who was killed in action, July 31, 1917; K.L.R. (May he rest in peace.—Amen.)—Ever remembered by his sorrowing Mother and Sisters, 7, Goldsmith-street. 

Tragically, Arthur’s widow Mary Ellen suffered further loss in the next war when her brother, sister-in-law and their three young children were killed during the Christmas Blitz in the St. Anthony’s School shelter, hit on 22nd December 1940. 

During the same air raid Harry’s sister Caroline McGair, 66, her husband Henry, 69, and their son Henry, 36, were killed when their home at 62 Prescot Street was bombed. 

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