Pte 300244 John James Warren Digby

• Age: 22
• From: Birkenhead, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 28th March 1918
• Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
  Panel Ref: P21-23

John James Warren Digby was born in the fourth quarter of 1895 in Birkenhead and was baptised at St Paul's Church, Birkenhead on 12th January 1896. He was the son of John Henry and Margaret Ann Digby (nee Evans), who married in 1890 at Christ church, Everton. 

The Census of 1901 finds the family living at 51 Stanley Street, Birkenhead, Cheshire.
John James Warren is recorded as being 5 years of age and lives with his parents and 2 siblings. His father, John, is a Town postman born in Ireland in 1863, whilst his mother Margaret Ann was born in Lancashire in 1871. His siblings, both born in Birkenhead are listed as Percival b.1894 and Elsie Margaret b.1899.

The family are still at 51 Stanley Street at the time of the 1911 Census. John James Warren is listed as 15 years of age and at school. His parents are both present as are his 5 siblings; Percival, Elsie Margaret, Arnold Vincent b.1902, Mabel b1904 and Ethel Maud b.1909.

Prior to the war he was an employee of the Postal Service having joined in September 1911. 

He was originally Private 250725 Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry and was serving in the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 300244 when he was killed in action on the 28^th March, 1918, aged 22, during the German Spring Offensive. 

The Battalion Diary gives an insight into the chaotic events of the day

28^th March

At about 6am the enemy commenced to shell heavily the whole of the forward line and brought Trench Mortars and MACHINE Guns into action.

FOLIES was shelled and the area in the rear of the village as far back as LE QUESNEL.

Rations were received at dawn and parties were organised to carry them to the Companies on the right. Owing to the heavy fire, however, it was not possible to get them up.

Heavy fighting was in progress on the right from soon after dawn and at 8am the enemy was reported to be in possession of BOUCHOIR and progressing towards the BEETROOT FACTORY. About 10am  the 59^th Infy Brigade was notified that it was relieved by the French and the Battalions of that Brigade were at once withdrawn in the direction of LE QUESNEL.

At noon the enemy was bombarding the village and vicinity heavily and reports were received that he was in occupation of WARVILLERS on the left and ARVILLERS on the right.

The front line East of FOLIES continued to resist until about 2pm when the order was received from the 89^th Infy Brigade to the effect that the Battalions were relieved by the French and would withdraw at once to MEZIERES, where the men would be fed. Companies withdrew under some shelling and very heavy M.G. and rifle fire from the left , through K10 -K3 – North side LE QUESNEL to the main ROYE road and reorganised about D.29 c. The march from this point was conducted in good order despite the congested roads.

At MEZIERES it was decided to continue a rearward movement and the march was resumed via VILLERS-MOREUIL – MORISEL – ROUVREL, which village was reached about 7pm and the Battalion billeted. The men had marched 13 miles from the left position in good order and with practically no straggling. They were exhausted on arrival at ROUVREL, but in good heart.

Echelon ‘A’ of the Transport joined the Battalion at this village and the men were fed immediately on arrival. The night passed without incident.  

John has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial.

The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.

The cemetery and memorial were designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, with sculpture by Laurence A. Turner. The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930.

The amount of the War Gratuity suggests that he served for 34 months, enlisting in May or June 1915.

John was initially declared Missing on 21st March 1918.  His father, at 51 Stanley Street, Birkenhead, contacted the International Red Cross but received a response on 4th June 1918 they they held no information on John.  However, information received from Private Pemberton of the K.L.R., held as a POW at Mannheim, stated that John had been severely wounded in the lower abdomen and been taken prisoner.  According to Pte. Pemberton, there “did not seem much hope of his recovery”.  This information was conveyed to John’s family on 21st September 1918.   This prisoner was Stanley Pemberton, Pte.300340, 18th Bn, from St. Helens, captured on the 23rd at Ham. He survived the war.

John's father received his Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £16.  The pension card in the name of his mother, appears to show that a pension was refused.  However, in many cases of soldiers declared Missing, a pension was later awarded.

John is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Birkenhead Post Office War Memorial originally in the Post Office, Argyle Street, now located in the lobby of the Callers Office, Letter Delivery Office, Pacific Road

Birkenhead War Memorial in Hamilton Square. 

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