Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
Pte 26548 Charles Doolan
- Age: 20
- From: Warrington, Cheshire
- Regiment: 13th KLR
- Died on Monday 9th April 1917
- Commemorated at: Tilloy Bc
Panel Ref: I.G.7
Charles was born in Warrington on the 27th March 1897, the son of Charles Thomas Doolan and his wife Ann(née Slater) who were married on the 21st February 1892 at St Mary, Kirkdale. His father was born in Cannock, Staffordshire, and mother in Liverpool. He was baptised on the 9th May 1897 at St Elphin, Warrington, his father an electrician of 58 Fairclough Avenue, Warrington.
On the 1901 Census the family are living at 25 Cockerell Street, Kirkdale. His father, Charles T. is aged 30, an inspector for telephone company, born in Cannock, his mother, Ann S., is aged 28, born Liverpool. They have three children in the household; Ellen 9, born Liverpool, Margaret 6, born Liverpool, and Charles 4, born Warrington.
On the 1911 Census the family have moved to 85 Barry Street, Kirkdale. His father Charles T. is aged 39, a dock labourer, his mother Ann is aged 38. They advised that they had been married for 19 years, and have had 7 children, 6 of whom have survived. All six children are in the household: Ellen 18, Margaret 16, Charles 14, at school, Edward 9, Benjamin H. 3, and William 3mths. His sister Maud died in infancy in 1905.
Before joining up, Charles, was employed by the Allen Steamship Line.
His service record has not survived so his military career can only be estimated.
Charles enlisted in Liverpool as Private 26548, most probably with the 20th Battalion, King’s Liverpool Regiment. (Pte 26549 Edward Russell enlisted on the 18th April 1915 in 20/KLR).
As he did not receive the 1915 Star he must have arrived in France in 1916.
His was listed as wounded amongst over 100 KLR men in the Liverpool Daily Post - Saturday 30 September 1916.
King’s (Liverpool) - Doolan, 26548, C.
After recovery he was transferred to the 12th, then 13th KLR and was killed in action near Arras on the 9th April 1917.
13th Battn. War Diary
ARRAS.
8th April 1917 - Battalion commenced to move up to the assembly trenches by companies at intervals; first company left at 9 10 p.m. and the others at 10 minutes intervals; Battalion headquarters established in ICELAND TRENCH. 2/Lt A. Wynne was killed in assembly trenches by a shell.
9th April - At 7 a.m. the Battalion attacked. The right assaulting company took HARFLEUR TRENCH without difficulty, but the left company owing to the heavy fire were first unable to enter the trench. The fact that they did so eventually is due to the sound leadership of the officers and the undeniable spirit of the men. Difficulty was experienced in advancing through TILLOY WOOD due to the fact that it was strongly wired, and little of the wire had been cut. Hostile snipers caused a number of casualties owing to their good shooting and good positions which could not be readily discovered. The barrage put up by our artillery was very effective and greatly assisted the men to gain their final objective i.e. the village of Tilloy by 8:30 a.m. 19 officers and 449 men of the enemy were taken prisoners by this Battalion, also 7 machine guns, two trench mortars, 1 bomb thrower, and vast quantities of M.G. ammunition in belts, S.A.A. bombs, and trench mortar ammunition. The following officers was killed: 2/Lts E.G. Racine, E.B. Flenley, and the following where wounded: 2/Lts G.K. Price. G. Carson, A.E. Little, L.A. Bane, H.O. Foot, H.D. Faragher; casualties in the other ranks 170. [cwgc record 47 deaths]
Battalion H.Q. was moved off to the captured German third line at 9 a.m.
Liverpool Weekly Courier - Saturday 12 May 1917
FALLEN HEROES.
Private C. Doolan, K.L.R., who was killed on Easter Monday, had been previously wounded. He was the son of Mr and Mrs Doolan, 85 Barry Street, Walton Road, and before joining up was employed by the Allen Steamship Line.
His was listed as Killed in the Liverpool Daily Post - Wednesday 16 May 1917.
Liverpool Regt. - Doolan, 26548, C.
He now rests at Tilloy British Cemetery, Tilloy-les-mofflaines in France.
Tilloy-Les-Mofflaines was taken by Commonwealth troops on 9 April 1917, but it was partly in German hands again from March to August 1918. The cemetery was begun in April 1917 by fighting units and burial officers, and Rows A to H in Plot I largely represent burials from the battlefield. The remaining graves in Plot I, and others in the first three rows of Plot II, represent later fighting in 1917 and the first three months of 1918, and the clearing of the village in August 1918. These 390 original burials were increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from a wide area east of Arras and from smaller burial grounds. The cemetery now contains 1,642 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 611 of the burials are unidentified, but there are special memorials to 14 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials commemorate 11 men of the 6th Bn. K.O.S.B., buried in Tees Trench Cemetery No.2, whose graves were destroyed by shell fire. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.
Charles earned his two medals.
His Soldiers Effects, Army pay of 6s 4d, £9 War Gratuity and Pension of 11/- pw went to mother Ann.
Further family notices followed in the Liverpool Evening Express - Tuesday 09 April 1918:
DOOLAN — In loving memory of Private C. Doolan, killed in action, April 9, 1917. (Never forgotten by Flo, Aggie and all at 16 Varthen-street.)
O, God, how mysterious and strange are Thy ways,
To cut him adrift in the pride of his days.
Liverpool Weekly Courier - Saturday 13 April 1918:
DOOLAN - In loving memory of our dear son Private Charles Doolan(our Charl), K.L.R., killed in action, April 9, 1917, aged 20 years. (Sadly missed by his father, mother, sister and brother. 85 Barry Street, Kirkdale.)
He didn't stop to reason when the war began;
But went and did his duty like a soldier and a man;
But when the last reveille sounds and when the battle’s won
His Maker, whom he's gone to meet, will smile and say “Well done.”
DOOLAN - In loving memory of our dear brother Private Charles Doolan (our Charl), K.L.R., killed in action, April 9, 1917, aged 20 years. (Sadly missed by his sister Nel, Nelly Bly, brother-in-law Will, H.M. Navy.)
We cannot yet realize his death,
It seems a hateful dream;
He died for all of us at home -
A sacrifice supreme.
Liverpool Evening Express - Thursday 10 April 1919:
DOOLAN - In loving memory of our dear son Private Charles Doolan 13th K.L.R. (late Pals), killed in action, April 9, 1917. (Sadly missed by his sorrowing father, mother, sister Mag and brother Ben. 85 Barry Street, Kirkdale.)
God knows how much we miss him,
He sees the tears we shed.
When to help to free our land from strife
He nobly went and risked his life.
DOOLAN - In loving memory of our dear brother Private Charles Doolan 13th K.L.R. (Pals), killed in action, April 9, 1917. (Sadly missed by his sister Nel and brother-in-law Will and Nelly Bly - 73 Barry Street, Kirkdale.)
Two years have gone and still to memory dear
We breathe his loving name and wipe away a tear.
DOOLAN - In loving memory Private C. Doolan 13th K.L.R., killed in action, April 9, 1917. (Sadly missed by Flo, Aggie and all at 16 Varthen Street.)
Liverpool Evening Express - Friday 09 April 1920:
DOOLAN - In loving memory of our dear son Private Charles Doolan 13th K.L.R. (late Pals), killed in action, April 9 1917 at Arras. (Sadly missed by father, mother, sister Maggie and Ben, 85 Barry Street, Kirkdale.)
Could we have only seen him,
If only he had come home to die,
To kiss the face we loved so well,
And whisper dear Charl, good-bye.
DOOLAN - In cherished memory of our dear brother, Charles, who made the supreme sacrifice at Arras, April 9, 1917. (Never forgotten by his sister Nell, Will and Nelly Bly - 73 Barry Street.)
Liverpool Evening Express - Tuesday 12 April 1921:
DOOLAN - In loving memory of our dear son Private Charles Doolan 13th K.L.R. (late Pals), killed in action, April 9 1917 at Arras.
His young life was taken amidst sorrow and strife ,
But his soul it is glorified by the supreme sacrifice.
(Not forgotten by father, mother, sister Maggie and Ben, 85 Barry Street, Kirkdale.)
Sweet memories are oft recalled
With many as silent tear and thought.
(Our hero) - Sister Nell, brother Will, Nellie and Billy, 73 Barry Street, Walton.
On the 1921 Census at Barry St, father Charles is aged 49, a dock labourer with Canadian Pacific Railway, mother Ann is 47, and Ben 14.
On the 1939 Register, still at Barry Street, Charles, dob 8th July 1871, is retired and Ann has a date of birth of 07th February 1873.
His mother, died aged 67, in 1940 and was buried on the 04th December 1940 at Anfield Cemetery.
His father, died aged 73, in 1946 and was buried on the 16th December 1946 at Anfield Cemetery, his address at the time of his death was 73 Barry Street.
Killed On This Day.
(109 Years this day)Sunday 22nd April 1917.
Pte 52865 Hyman Barnett Gadansky
28 years old
(108 Years this day)
Monday 22nd April 1918.
Pte 136181 Edwin Williams
19 years old