Pte 17314 Arthur William Dicks

• Age: 26
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Arthur William Dicks was born in 1891 in West Derby, Liverpool and was the son of James William and Mary Ellen (nee Parkinson) Dicks. He was baptised in St Philip's Church on the 17th June 1891 where the record shows his parents lived at 50 Gibney Road and his father’s occupation is restaurant manager.

At the time of the 1901 census they lived at 20 Chiswick Road, West Derby.

Arthur is 9 years old and has two sisters, Florence aged 13 and Janet aged 6. His mother Mary Ellen is 34, and his father 39 and is still working as a coffee house manager (everybody born Liverpool).

The 1911 census records the family living at 78 Fitzgerald Road.

James William aged 48, and Mary Ellen aged 44, have been married for 24 years and Mary Ellen had borne 4 children, one of which had sadly died. All three surviving children are living at home, Arthur 17 is now working as a shipping clerk and Florence 23 is a confectionary shop assistant. Janet Currie is 17, not working.

Arthur enlisted on the 31st August 1914 in Liverpool and his service papers record his age as 23 years and 3 months. His occupation was an importer of electrical goods and he had served an apprenticeship which had expired 1911. He was a single man with grey eyes and brown hair and his religion was C. of E. He was five feet six inches tall and weighed 112lbs. He appeared to have been ill on a number of occasions:

13/12/15: Sick sent to hospital.

13/12/15: Tonsillitis, admitted - 16/12/15 Return to duty.

22/12/15: Sick sent to hospital (Constipation admitted to hospital) – 23/12/15 Return to duty.

02/02/16: Sick (Bronchitis admitted to hospital) – He was then transferred to Etaples and was sent to Depot on the 11/03/16 and discharged 12/03/16.

He also faced Military justice on two occasions:

11/12/14: Untidy kit? Confined to Barracks for three days.

21/06/15: Absent from 11:55pm until 06:45am. Seven days field Punishment and two day’s pay.

He was serving in the 19th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 17314 when he was killed in action on the 31st July 1917 aged 26 on the first day of the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as the Battle of Passchendaele.

The 19th Battalion started the day in Divisional Reserve but were called forward in the early morning of 31st July and reached Maple Copse in late afternoon. It was originally detailed to continue with the morning’s attack but this was cancelled and they eventually relieved a Battalion of the 53rd Brigade in the newly captured line, sustaining casualties from shell fire.

The Battalion was relieved on the night of 3rd/4th August.

Although not actively engaged in the assault the Battalion lost 26 men were killed or died of wounds with four officers and 101 men wounded.

He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

Liverpool Echo 14^th Aug 1917 

KILLED IN ACTION

DICKS - August 1, killed in action, Arthur Dicks, only son of Mr and Mrs Dicks, 73 Florentine Road, Stoneycroft. Sadly missed by Pat and all at 40 Errol Street (St Michael's).

Liverpool Echo 15^th Aug 1917

DICKS - August 1, killed in action, aged 26 years, Private Arthur W. Dicks, K.L.R., the only son of Mr and Mrs Dicks 73 Florentine Road, Stoneycroft.

DICKS - A tribute to the memory of Arthur William Dick's, K.L.R., who fell in action, August 1, in the execution of his duty. Sincerely missed by his friends Charlie Hull, George Fitzsimmons, and Harold and John Bethel. (God moves in mysterious ways).

DICKS - A token of respect to the memory of Arthur W. Dicks who fell in action, August 1. - From Mr and Mrs Bethell and Edie.

Liverpool Echo 1^st Aug 1918

IN MEMORIAM

DICKS - In loving memory of our dear and only son and brother Private ARTHUR WILLIAM DICKS (3rd Pals), killed in action, August 1, 1917. Sadly missed by Father, Mother and Sisters, 73 Florentine Road.

Soldiers Effects to father James W., Pension to mother Mary.

His personal effects were sent to his father James William Dicks.

His parents died on the same day in the 15th September 1940 as a result of a German bombing raid.

From “The Liverpool Firebobbies” Volume two by Frank O’Reilly.

15/16 September 1940: H. E. on Anfield, Fairfield, Walton and Norris Green districts and also on Speke Air Port Field. Palace Ice Rink severely damaged. House in Huntley Road Demolished. Delayed action bomb exploded 12.00, 16-9-40, and killed one R.AE officer and two other ranks.

WW2 Civilian Deaths Register

DICKS James William, age 78; of 6 Huntley Road, husband of Mary Ellen Dicks, 15th September 1940 at 6 Huntley Road.

DICKS Mary Ellen, age 73; of 6 Huntley Road, wife of James William Dicks, 15th September 1940 at 6 Huntley Road.

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