Pte 14489 Martin Timothy Delaney

• Age: 22
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 12th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Martin Timothy Delaney was born on 25th January 1894 in Liverpool and was baptised four days after his birth in Our Lady of Reconciliation Church on 29th January, the son of Denis Delaney and his wife Julia/Judith (nee Farrell) who were married on the 24^th May 1876 at the R.C. Chapel of Killasmeestia, Borris-in-Ossory, Queen’s Co., Ireland. Denis was a shopkeeper, father Lawrence, whilst Julia stated her father James, a farmer, was dead. 

The 1891 Census shows the family living at 1 in 4 Court, Portland Street, Liverpool.

The father, Denis, is aged 38, born in Ireland and labourer, whilst his mother Judith is aged 35, born also in Ireland. They have three children, Catherine aged 12, a scholar born in Ireland, James aged 5, a scholar born in Liverpool, and Denis aged 3 months, born in Liverpool. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at Court, 6, Eldon Street, Liverpool.

The father, Denis, is aged 47, born in Ireland in 1854 and employed as a sugar house labourer, whilst his mother, Judith is aged 42, born 1859 also in Ireland. They have four children, all born in Liverpool, James aged 15, born 1886, and employed as an assistant in a restaurant, Denis aged 10, born 1891, Martin aged 6, and Julia aged 4 born 1897. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 43 Mile End, Liverpool.

The father, Denis, is aged 57, and is a charge hand in a sugar refinery, born in Kyle, Queens Co. His mother, Judith, is aged 52(married 34 years, 10 children with only 5 still alive), and was born in Borris-in-Ossory, Queens Co. They have three children living with them, all born in Liverpool, Denis aged 20 and Martin aged 17, are both labourers in an Oil Mill and Julia aged 14 employed as an apprentice machinist. 

Martin enlisted on 01st Sept 1914 in Liverpool and gave his age as 19 years and 190 days, and his occupation as a labourer. He was 5' 5 7/8, weighed 123 lbs, chest 35", fresh complexion, blue eyes, brown hair and gave his religion as Roman Catholic.

06.3.15: Posted to France but returned on the 9th invalided with Dental Caries.

04.9.15: Forfeits eleven days pay for absence from 23.8.15-2.9.15 and given fourteen days Field Punishment No 2.

24.9.15: Declared a deserter.       

26.11.15: Sentenced to six months detention for when on active service deserting his Majesty's service. Losing by neglect Regimental neccessaries, found not guilty of desertion but absence without leave.  

28.2.16: Unexpired portion of detention remitted.

05.6.16: Forfeits six days pay for absence 27.5.16-1.6.16. 

06.7.16: Posted to Infantry Brigade.

He was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 14489 when he was killed in action on the 12th October 1916, aged 22, during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

Martin's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost 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.”

On the Statement of Family of the deceased his brother Denis was serving as Pte 132965 Labour Corps attached to the Australians. 

He was reported killed in action in the Liverpool Eveneing Express on 03rd November 1916: 

Pte. Martin Delaney K.L.R. 43 Mile-end, Scotland-road, Liverpool, killed in action. 

Reported killed in the Liverpool Daily Post 11^th Nov 1916 

Soldiers Effects to his father Denis and pension to his mother Julia.

The Electoral register in 1929-30 has Denis Snr and Jnr, Julia Snr and Jnr still at 43 Mile End, but the parents do not appear the following year. 

Mother died aged 71 in Walton Hospital and was buried in Ford Cemetery on the 6^th Feb 1929, father may have died a few weeks later also in Walton Hospital and was buried on the 19^th Feb 1929 aged 76. 


Grateful thanks are extended to Joe Devereux for his permission to use the photograph now shown on this site.

We currently have no further information on Martin Timothy Delaney, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.