Pte 25302 Harold Deane

• Age: 17
• From: Liverpool
• 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.

25302 Private Harold DEANE, 19^th Battalion KLR.

Harold Deane’s birth was registered in Liverpool in October 1898 by his parents Francis Deane and his wife Martha (nee Faulkner)  who were married in 1890. 

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 24 Lennon Street, Kensington, Liverpool. Harold is declared to be 2 years of age and lives with his parents and five siblings. His father, Francis, is a 44 year old mariner's mate born in Liverpool, whilst his mother is 29 years of age and also born in Liverpool. His five siblings, were also born in the city and are listed as follows: Francis Charles aged 9, Bertram aged 8, Edgar Oswald aged 6, Mabel aged 4 and Patrick aged 10 months. 

By 1911 the family have moved to 7 Roby Street, Wavertree, Liverpool. Harold is now 12 and is a schoolboy. His mother is declared as married and as the head of the household, so his father is presumably away at sea. She advised that they have been married for 20 years and that 11 of their 12 children have survived. Harold has eight siblings in the household, they are listed as; Bertram aged 18 is a boiler scaler for P.S.N.C. Co., Mabel aged 14, Partick 10 at school, William 8 at school, Ethel 7 at school, Norah 6 at school, Maggie 4 and Arthur 2.  

Another sister Ada Alice was born in 1912. 

Harold enlisted in Liverpool on 09th January 1915, joining the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 25302. 

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. 

Harold crossed to France with his Battalion on 07th November 1915 on the SS Invicta.

He was killed in action during the attack at Montauban on the 01^st July 1916.

19^th Battalion Dairy 

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.

Harold was one of those other ranks killed or missing as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France.

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.”

Liverpool Daily Post 2nd July 1917 

DEANE—In affectionate remembrance of Harold, killed action, July 1, 1916.- Norman (in France) and Lizzie.  

DEANE—In loving memory of our darling boy Harold, who was killed in action on the Somme, July 1, 1916, aged 17 years. (Never forgotten by his Father, Mother, Brothers and Sisters. He gave all so nobly and bravely.) —5. Fingland-road, Wavertree. 

Soldiers Effects to his father Frank and pension to his mother Martha, 5 Fingland Rd, Wavertree. 

Harold is commemorated on the following Memorials:

St Bridget’s Church, Bagot Street, Wavertree, Liverpool

Liverpool Hall of Remembrance Panel 6.

Harold’s great friend and fellow Liverpool Pal, Private Stanley Booth, was also killed on the 01st July with the 19^th Battalion.

His parents appear on the 1939 register at 5 Fingland Road, Martha, date of birth 06^th April 1871, and Francis, date of birth 08^th June 1855.   

His father died, aged 84, in 1939 and was buried on the 07^th November at Holy Trinity Church, Wavertree.

His mother died, aged, 74 in 1945 and was buried on the 04^th December also at Holy Trinity Church, Wavertree. 

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