L/Cpl 22038 William Chorley

• Age: 22
• From: Whiston Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Saturday 6th May 1916
• Commemorated at: La Neuville Cc Corbie
  Panel Ref: A.23

Born in 1893, William was the eldest of two sons born to Thomas Chorley and his wife Fanny (nee Fildes), who married at Prescot in 1893. 

In 1901, Thomas, a stoker at a colliery, lives with Fanny and their 2 sons, William (7 years) and Richard (5 years) at The Cross, Whiston.

In 1911 Thomas is a beer house keeper, living with his wife and 2 sons at The Ship Inn, Whiston. William is by now an apprentice fitter at an electric cable works (BICC).

William enlisted at Liverpool on 09^th November 1914, joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 22038. He stated his age as aged 21 years (less 3 days!) giving his occupation as clerk and his next of kin as his father, living at the Ship Inn, Whiston. His medical examination papers show that he had a tattoo of Buffalo Bill on his left arm!

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. 

On 02^nd October 1915 he went AWOL for 2 days and was subsequently given 14 days CB.

He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915 and on 22^nd January 1916 was appointed Lance Corporal (Unpaid).

On 6^th May 1916, he was admitted to 21 Casualty Clearance Station suffering from gunshot wounds to his head and both hands. That same day he died of his wounds and was buried in La Neuville Cemetery, Corbie, where 22 CCS was located, in Grave A 23. His headstone bears the epitaph:

"PEACE PERFECT PEACE"

In April 1916, No.21 Casualty Clearing Station came to La Neuville and remained there throughout the 1916 Battles of the Somme, until March 1917. La Neuville British Cemetery was opened early in July 1916, but burials were also made in the communal cemetery. Most of them date from this period, but a few graves were added during the fighting on the Somme in 1918. The communal cemetery contains 186 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. The graves form one long row on the eastern side of the cemetery.

His effects were sent to Thomas Chorley, Stank Lane, Whiston and in 1919 in his sworn declaration, Thomas gave his address, and that of his wife, as 12 Stank Lane. He also declared that William’s brother, Richard, aged 23 years, was serving as Bombardier 2023 with 8^th Battalion, Royal Field Artillery.

Richard enlisted on 02^nd December 1914 at Liverpool, giving his age as 20 years, occupation as farmer’s labourer and home address as the Ship Inn, Whiston. He served as a driver and arrived in France on 29^th November 1915 with 148^th (County Palatine) Brigade, RFA.  On 18^th November 1915, he was appointed Lance Bombardier. On 7^th August 1916 he was sentenced to 1 day Field Punishment No.2 for insolence to an NCO on 4^th August. He served throughout the war and was demobilized and placed on the Z Reserve List on 4^th July 1919, when he declared his home address as 12 Prescot Road, Prescot.

William is commemorated on the BICC Memorial in Prescot.

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