L/Cpl 17816 Thomas Railton Davidson

• Age: 28
• 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.

Thomas Railton Davidson was born in Liverpool on 02nd February 1888, the son of George Davidson and his wife Ann (nee Povey). George was born in Liverpool and Ann in Marbury, Cheshire, north of Whitchurch. They married on the 1st Sept 1886 at St Paul, Low Moor, Clitheroe, Lancashire, where her family was living. George was a 27 year old scripture reader of Liverpool, father John a warehouseman, whilst Ann was aged 22 of Clitheroe, father Thomas a plate layer. 

Thomas was the eldest of their nine children, three of whom died young. He had younger sisters Mary Emma, Ann Povey Greaves (who died at age 3), Hannah Grace Beatrice, Elizabeth Gertrude, Martha Annie Victoria (died at 18 months), and Eva Mabel Povey, and younger brothers William George Edward and Samuel Merrick (who died in infancy). Thomas was baptised in Emmanuel Church, Everton the following month on the 25th March 1888. His father George is listed as a scripture reader and the family are living at 63 Phoebe Anne Street, Everton.

The 1891 Census, shows the family are living at 26 Vandyke Street, Toxteth.

Father George is aged 32, a scripture reader, mother Ann is aged 27, and Thomas R. 3. The couple have another child called Mary who was born in 1890.

The family are living at 48 Northumberland Terrace by 1901.

George is 42 and a scripture reader which he would remain all his life, his wife Ann is 37. Thomas is 13 and has the following siblings: Mary aged 11, Hannah 8, Elizabeth 6 who are all at school and William who is aged 3.

Thomas attended Sefton Park County Primary School, (the family lived at 108 Webster Road in 1897), then St. George's School, Everton, and Arnot Street School. He left school when he reached the age of 14 in 1902.

The 1911 records the family at the same address. His father is 52 and his mother 46, they have ben married for 24 years, had nine children, only six of whom have survived. Their older children are now working – Thomas, aged 23, is a wholesale drapery salesman, Mary, aged 21, is a dressmaker, Elizabeth, aged 16, is a tailoress. William aged 13 and Eva (Mabel) aged 6 are both at school. 18 year old Hannah is living with her grandparents Thomas and Emma Povey and working in Clitheroe as a drapers assistant in the Co-Op.

Thomas married Ada Kibbey in St Georges, Everton on 23rd July 1913. Thomas was a 25 year old salesman, whilst Ada was aged 27, both of 27 Northumberland Terrace, her father John a dock employee. 

The couple had a baby daughter called Audrey Enid Elizabeth born on 25th May 1914. Prior to the outbreak of the war Thomas was a devoted worker in St George’s Church, Everton and organist for 11 years at the Mission Church. He was employed at Rylands and Sons, textile manufacturers, before enlisting.

He enlisted at St George's Hall, Liverpool on the 04th September 1914, joining the 19th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 17816. His Attestation Papers show that he gave his  age as 26 years and 216 days, and his occupation as salesman. He was described as being 5ft 6 inches tall, weighing 114 lbs, 34” chest, had a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair with a scar on the right side of his neck and gave his religion as Church of England. He gave as next of kin his wife Ada at 78 Herschell Street, Everton.

Formed on 07th September 1914 the 19th 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. He arrived in France on 7th November 1915.

He was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 21st July 1916.

Thomas was killed in action on the 30th July 1916, aged 28, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive. 

19th Battalion Diary 30th 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 30th 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 55th Division during the early hours of the 31st July.

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

The events of 30th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89th 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.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 25th August 1916:

"Lance-corporal Thomas Railton Davidson ("Pals") was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. George Davidson, 36, Wyresdale Road, Aintree.  A worker at St. George's Church, Everton, and organist for eleven years at the mission church. Leaves a widow and one child. Employed by Rylands and Sons."

His daughter was two years old when Thomas was killed.

Thomas' 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.”

Ada received his outstanding Army pay and a War Gratuity of £8-10s, and was awarded a pension of 15/- a week from February 1917, by then living at 30 Esmond Street, Anfield.

His wife paid tribute to Thomas in the Liverpool Echo on 30th July 1917, under the heading, “Lost at Battle of Guillemont”:

“In sad but loving remembrance of my dear husband, Lance-corporal Thomas Railton Davidson (“Pals”), killed in action, July 30, 1916. For memory is the only friend that grief can call its own. - Sadly missed by his Wife and little Girlie, 30 Esmond Street, Anfield.”

He was also remembered on the second anniversary of his death in 1918: 

"In affectionate and honoured memory of Lance-Corporal Thomas Railton Davidson (3rd Pals), who died for his King and country in the Battle of Guillemont, July 30, 1916.

  When justice stands triumphant,

    And comes the peace we crave,

  There still shall be remembered

    Our unreturning brave.

From his loving Father, Mother, Sisters, and Brother (Gunner W.G.E. Davidson, Tank Corps). - Fondly remembered by all."

His brother William enlisted on 30th August 1916 in the Royal Engineers. He was transferred to the Tank Corps in January 1918 and arrived in France on 10th September 1918. He suffered a gunshot wound on 29th September and returned to the U.K. in January 1919 for demobilisation.

The Liverpool Daily Post reported the death of Thomas’ father on the 21st December 1918:

The death of Mr George Davidson scripture reader, deprives Liverpool of one who has for thirty three years done untiring service in connection with various city churches, including Emmanuel Everton; St Clement's Toxteth; St George's Everton and St Paul's Princes Park, and who will be very much missed. 

He was buried on the 21st Dec 1918 at Toxteth Park Cemetery, he was aged 60. 

Probate 1919:- 

DAVIDSON George of 151 Kingsley Road Liverpool died 17 December 1918 at the David Lewis Northern Hospital, Liverpool Administration Liverpool 21 August to Ann Davidson widow. Effects £228 6s. 

In 1919 Ada provided information on Thomas' living relatives. She and daughter Audrey lived at 30 Esmond Street; his mother Ann was at 151 Kingsley Road, with Mary, 28, Hannah, 26, Gertrude, 24, William, 21, and Mabel, 14.

Ada remarried in 1921 to William Richard Roberts and died in 1938, at the age of 52. 

His mother died on the 4th December 1936 aged 73.

Probate 1936:- 

DAVIDSON Ann of 151 Kingsley Road Liverpool died 4 December 1936 Administration Liverpool 31 December to William George Edward Davidson gas fitter. Effects £261 18s 6d. 

His daughter Audrey married in early 1939 and in September that year was living at 235 Pilch Lane, Huyton. She died in 1978.  His four sisters lived together in Childwall, and William was married and lived in Allerton.

Thomas is remembered on the following Memorials:

Holy Trinity Church, Anfield, Liverpool

Hall of Remembrance in Liverpool Town Hall at Panels 5 & 6 

Thomas earned his three medals, his 1914-1915 Star and Victory Medal were offered for auction in 2014 for £40-60.

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