Pte 21479 Edward Catherall

• Age: 19
• From: Chester
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

21479 Private Edward CATHERALL, 19^th Battalion KLR.

Edward was born in July 1896, the fifth of eight children born to Edward Catherall and his wife Mary Jane (nee Evans) who were married on the 1885 at St George, Everton. Edward was a 29 year old painter of 13 Adelaide St, father John, whilst Mary was aged 19 of 14 Boyd St, father James. He was baptised at Christ Church in Chester on 19th August 1896. 

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 62 Talbot Street, Chester. Edward is 4 years old and is living with his parents and six siblings. His father is a 44 year old house painter born in Chester, whilst his mother is 34 also born in Chester. His six siblings, all born in Chester, are listed as; Cecil J. aged 13, William F. 12, Beatrice 10, May 7, George 2 and Albert just one month old.

By 1911 the family are living at 7 Talbot Street, Chester. Edward is now 14 and described as an apprentice house painter. His father, Edward, is now 54, his mother Mary is 44 and advise that they have been married for 26 years and have had eight children all of whom have survived. There are six siblings resident and they are listed as; Cecil J. a 23 year old pork butcher,  William F. a 22 year old house painter,  Beatrice aged 20, George 12, Albert 10 are both at school and Mildred is aged 7. 

On 01^st September 1914 Edward enlisted at St. George's Hall in Liverpool joining the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 21479. He gave his age as 19 years 2 months, increasing his age in order to enlist. He stated his occupation as a railway carriage cleaner and his next of kin as his father, 26 Lightfoot Street, Chester. He was described as being 5'8" tall and weighed 138lbs, 36” chest, was of fresh complexion with brown eyes and hair. He gave his religion as Church of England.

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th 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. 

On the 11th March 1915 at Knowsley he was absent from the 7am parade and was given 2 days C.B.  

On the 15^th June 1915 whilst in training with his Battalion at Belton Park he was disciplined for ‘highly improper conduct on Guard Mounting parade’ and ordered to do 2 extra guard duties.

He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915, and was killed in action during the attack at Montauban on 1^st July. 1916.

19^th Battalion Diary 

Zero Hour 7.30am First day of the attack. The Battalion used up entirely in “carrying parties” for the Brigade. Battalion H.Q. in the “Chateau”, Maricourt. Total casualties 01 -04/07/1916: 1 officer wounded, 12 other ranks killed, 53 wounded and 3 missing.

Edward was one of the casualties of the day. His body was not recovered 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 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 death was reported in the Chester Chronicle on 22nd July 1916 under the header: 

HOOLE SOLDIER KILLED. 

'A Splendid Fellow' 

"Mrs. Catherall, 26 Lightfoot Street, Hoole, has received a letter from an officer at the Front stating that her son, Pte. Edward Catherall, has been killed in action. 

Pte. Catherall, who was 20, joined the Liverpool “Pals” and was previously employed in the Great Western carriage department at Chester. 

He was an old scholar of George Street Council School. The commander of his platoon, writing to the soldier’s mother says: “Please accept my sincere sympathy in the loss of your son. He was a splendid fellow, and always did his work cheerfully and well. Needless to say his loss is felt very keenly by the platoon of which I was platoon commander. From the Sefton Park days until I got my captaincy I have known and liked your son. He was sent up with a party of 40 men to strengthen a position taken from the enemy and met his death, which was instantaneous, by shell fire.” Mrs Catherall has another son serving with the colours."  

His father received his personal effects consisting of just 1 photo.  

Soldiers Effects to father Edward, Pension to mother Mary.

He is also commemorated on the following memorials:

Chester War Memorial, housed in the Town Hall, Chester,

Great Western Railway memorial in the ticket clerks office at Chester Railway Station 

Civic War Memorial located at the junction of Gladstone Way and The Highway, Hawarden, Flintshire.

His father died, aged 69, on the 06th December 1925 and was buried at Overleigh Old Cemetery, Chester. 

His mother died, aged 74, on the 16th November 1940 and was buried on the 19th November also at Overleigh Old Cemetery. 

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