Pte 16890 Walter John Brotherston

• Age: 21
• From: Woodford, Essex
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Monday 17th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Guildford, (old Stoke) Surrey
  Panel Ref: G377

Walter John Brotherston was born in Woodford, Essex on 02nd June 1895 and was the eldest son of Thomas James Brotherston and his wife Amy (nee Williams) who lived at 8 Imperial Avenue, Liscard during the war. His parents married in the June quarter of 1893, the marriage was registered in Kensington, London. 

The 1901 Census records that the family were living at 10 Fanthorpe Street, Putney, London. His father Thomas J. is recorded a s a 33 year old manager for a horse cloth company, born at Leyton, Essex. His mother Amy is 34 and was born in  Kensington, London. Walter is shown as 4 years of age and has an older sister, 6 year old Hilda M. b.Woodford, Essex. Also present is Eliza Ann Williams aged 68 and shown as a widowed maternal grandmother.

By 1911 the family have moved to Liverpool and are living at 163 Grove Street, Liverpool. Walter is aged 14 and employed as a clerk in a mineral agents office. His parents are both resident in the household and his father, now 43, is recorded as being an inspector of shops (dyers and cleaners). His sister Hilda Mary is 16 years of age and an assistant in a dyers and cleaning shop.There is also another child in the household, Thomas Percy, aged 4 born in Putney, Surrey. His parents are recorded as having been married for 17 years and all of their 3 children have survived.

Walter was a keen footballer who played alongside Private J. L. Pierce ( who was killed in action on the 01st July 1916 with the 18th Battalion) in the Lyndhurst team which participated in the Wallasey Invinsa League.

When Walter enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 31st August 1914, joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16890, he gave his age as 19 years and 90 days, his occupation was recorded as a metal broker. He was described as being 5' 5" inches tall, weighed 116lbs with a sallow complexion, brown eyes, brown hair and gave his religion as Church of England.

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th 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 embarked for France with his Battalion on board the SS Invicta on 07th November 1915, having specialised as a grenade thrower.

Between 6th March and 19th March he was attached to 30 Division Grenade School for additional training.

Walter was struck in the left leg whilst taking part in the attack on the 01st July 1916 with No.3 Company. He was admitted to 96 Field Ambulance, being transferred to 21 Casualty Clearing station  and then to No 8 Statioary Hospital at Wimereux. He was evacuated to the UK on the Hospital Ship Panama on 06th July 1916.

The 18^th Battalion Diary recounts the events of the day when Walter was wounded:

At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great spirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks.

Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:

As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.  

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter  wrote in the conclusion of his account of the days action:

I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:

“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”.    

Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18^th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257. 

Walter died of his wounds in the Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford on 17th July 1916, his left leg having been amputated from the thigh.

He now rests at Guildford (Stoke) Old Cemetery.

There are 84 First World War burials in the Cemetery.

News of his wounds appeared in the Wallasey News on 15th July 1916

"Private W.J.Brotherston, of 8, Imperial-avenue, Liscard, is at present lying in Guildford Hospital. He belonged to the Pals and took part in the advance. His left leg has been amputated from the thigh." 

Following his death it was reported in the local press under the header:

A Terrible Ordeal

All local football enthusiasts will deeply regret to hear of the death of Private Walter John Brotherston (20), of 8, Imperial Avenue, Liscard, who passed peacefully away in the presence of his mother at the Royal County Surrey Hospital Guildford, on Monday evening. It will doubtless be recollected that the popular Lyndhurst footballer received a machine gun wound in the left thigh on July 1st. At the time the spot where he fell was so swept by the enemy fire that he lay in sore straits for thirty-six hours before he could be rescued and removed to a base hospital. The doctors then said that but for his splendid constitution he would not have survived that terrible ordeal. He was afterwards removed to England, and at the hospital it was found necessary to amputate the left leg from the top of the thigh. The unfortunate young fellow showed little improvement in his condition, however and the end came as above stated. His father and mother were with him at the end, and they also attended the funeral, which took place at Guildford on Thursday with full military honours.
Deceased, who enlisted when the Liverpool “Pals” Battalions were initially formed, in August, 1914, was formerly in the employ of Messrs. Thompson Strachan & Co., tinplate merchants, Chapel Street, Liverpool. A member of St. Mary’s Church, Liscard, he was much esteemed by a large circle of friends.

Also his death was reported in the press in Guildford:

DEATHS AT THE COUNTY HOSPITAL

Two of the wounded men at the County Hospital died on Monday, namely, Pte W. J. Brotherston, aged 20 of the King's Liverpool Regiment and Pte James Downey, aged 25 of the Royal Irish Rifles. The former who belonged to Liscard, Cheshire was buried at Stoughton Cemetery on Wednesday with military honours furnished by The Queen's Depot. Downey was a Londonderry man, and his body was removed there for intement.  

Liverpool Echo 17th July 1917 he is referred to as "Jack"

ROLL OF HONOUR

BROTHERSTON - In loving remembrance of our dear son Walter John (Jack), 18th King's Liverpool Regiment (2nd Pals), who died July 17 from wounds received in action July 1, 1916, aged 20 years, and was buried with full military honours at Guildford Cemetery, Surrey - From Father, Mother, also Sister and Brother.

Soldiers Effects to father Thomas James Brotherston, no Pension record found.

Walter is also commemorated on the following Memorials;

St Mary and St Columba, Withens Lane, Liscard

Wallasey War Memorial located in the hospital on Mill Lane, Wallasey

Wallasey War Memorial Roll of Honour now in Wallasey Library, Earlston Road

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 14 left as W J Brotherson

His mother died in the June quarter of 1937 aged 69. Her death was registered in Chester

His father died in the June quarter of 1950 aged 82. His death was registered in Bournemouth.

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