Pte 50044 Harry Dougherty

• Age: 23
• From: Keighley, Yorks
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 29th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Wytschaete Military Cemetery
  Panel Ref: III.A.35

Harry Dougherty was born as Henry in the first quarter of 1895 in Keighley and was the son of William  Dougherty and his wife Bridget (nee Gribben) who married in Keighley in December 1889.

His mother Bridget died in the first quarter of 1901 aged 35 and the Census shows the family are living at 8 Lydia Street, Burnley. Harry is 6 years of age and lives with his widowed father, 3 siblings and his grandmother and uncle. His father, William, is an upholsterer born in Rochdale in 1867. His siblings are listed as; William aged 10 and born in Keighley, Emily aged 8 also born in Keighley and  Kathleen born in Burnley in 1900. 

His grandmother is recorded as William's mother in law she is Mary Ann Gribbin born in Ireland in 1844 and his uncle Daniel Gribbin is recorded as brother in law, he was born in Chester in 1879.

His father remarried to widow Elizabeth Mulloy (nee Bird) in Burnley in 1907.

By 1911 the family have moved to 251 Padiham Road, Burnley.
Harry is 16 years of age and his occupation is listed as Billiard marker. His father aged 44, an upholsterer, is now recorded as having remarried to Elizabeth 39 (married 4 years 4 children) who was born in Burnley in 1872. Harry's siblings William 20 upholsterer, Emily 18 cotton weaver, and Kathleen 11, at school, are still in the household alongside new half siblings Janet 6 at school, John 3 and Julia 1. Also present are Elizabeth's children from her previous marriage Ellen 14 a cotton weaver, and Joseph 12 at school. 

Harry had three more step-brothers, Arthur Gerard in 1911, Thomas in 1913 and Bernard in 1915 

In 1915 at Burnley Municipal and Technical Institute Harry gained a Second Class in painting and decorating      

Harry enlisted in Burnley and originally served as T/37305 in the Royal Army Service Corps. Following a transfer he was serving in the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 50044 when he was killed in action on the 29^th April 1918 aged 23 during the German Spring Offensive. 

The Battalion diary entry for the day gives an insight into the events of the day. 

29 April 1918 

A 3 a.m. the Enemy opened up a very heavy Bombardment of High explosive and Gas shells on our covering Artillery and at 6 a.m.. launched a powerful attack , smothering our outpost line, but failing to pierce the Battalion front, being repulsed with heavy loss. At 8 a.m. the Enemy again attacked but was repulsed. Many Casualties were caused to him during the day, as numbers of the enemy were picked off as they endeavoured to get back to their own lines. 

Casualties were Capt E B Hough Killed, 2nd Lt W. Munro Killed and 12 Other Ranks Killed, 28 Wounded and 13 Other Ranks missing"

Harry was buried close to where he fell but after the war when graves were concentrated he was reburied. He now rests at Wytschaete Military Cemetery, Belgium, where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“PRAY FOR HIS SOUL BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL”

The cemetery was made after the Armistice when graves were brought in from isolated positions surrounding Wytschaete and the following small battlefield cemeteries. There are now 1,002 servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 673 of the burials are unidentified, but there are special memorials to 16 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials commemorate casualties known to have been buried at the Cemetery near Rossignol Estaminet, RE (Beaver) Farm and Rest and be Thankful Farm, whose graves could not be found on concentration. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

The Burnley news of 01st June 1918 reported Harry's death:

PTE. HARRY DOUGHERTY 

He joined the A.S.C., being later transferred to the King's Liverpool Regiment. The death in action of his brother William, on July Ist, 1916,. recalls that memorable action in which so many Burnley lads in the "Pals" Battalion fell. Harry was drafted from Salop, where he had been training, to France about twelve months ago. He was a member of St.Mary Magdalene's Roman Catholic Church choir, and was held in high esteem by all who knew him. As a youth, he was a sergeant in the Boys Brigade connected with the church. A third brother, Pte. Joseph Dougherty, has been twice wounded in France, while serving with the East Lancashires. He is now a clerk in the A.S.C. The sincere sympathy of the families numerous friends in the district will be extended to them in their second war bereveament.

As outlined in the above article Harry's death was not the only loss that the family had to endure as his brother Pte.16035 William Dougherty was killed in action on the opening day of the battle of the Somme 01/7/16 whilst serving with the  11^th East Lancashire Regiment, known as the Accrington Pals. William's body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as his name is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. 

A newspaper report following Harry's death detailed the two grievous losses and also advised that their father was also serving in the Royal Defence Corps:

Two Brothers Killed

Burnley father and another son still serving.

Private Harry Dougherty, King's Liverpool Regiment, son of Mr and Mrs Dougherty of 1 Magdalene Terrace, Haslam Street, Burnley, who is officially reported to have been killed in action on April 29th is the second of three soldier brothers to make the supreme sacrifice. Their father is patriotically doing his bit in Essex with the Royal Defence Corps. Private Harry Dougherty is 23 years of age and prior to enlisting in December 1915 was employed by Mr Dilworth, decorator, of Padiham Road, Burnley. He joined the A.S.C. being later transferred to the King's Liverpool Regiment. The death in action of his brother William on July 1st 1916 recalls that memorable action in which so many Burnley lads in the Pals Battalion fell. Harry was drafted from Salop, where he had been training, to France about 12 months ago. He was a member of St Mary Magdalene's Roman Catholic Church choir and was held in high esteem by all who knew him. As a youth he was a Sergeant in the Boys Brigade connected with the church. A third brother Private Joseph Dougherty has been twice wounded in France while serving with the East Lancashires. He is now clerk with the A.S.C. The sincere sympathy of the family's numerous friends in the district will be extended to them in their second war bereavement.

Soldiers Effects to father William, Pension to step-mother Elizabeth.

His step-brother Arthur G. died in December 1918 aged 7.

His father died in March 1926 aged 58.

His step-mother Elizabeth died in 1943 aged 71 in Nelson, Lancs.

Harry's brother William was killed in action  and the local press reported his death: 


The Burnley News of 16th July 1916 reported brother William's death:

“A SPLENDID CHUM.”

Official news has been received Mrs. Dougherty, 1. Magdalene-terrace, Burnley, that her son, Pte. Wm. Dougherty, the Burnley "Pals," is reported as missing from July Ist. Twenty-six years of age, was formerly an upholsterer, working for Mr. Turton of Westgate, and joined the "Pals" on the formation of the battalion. One his comrades has written:—"l am deeply grieved to have to tell you that at the time of writing nothing at all has been heard of your son, Willie. In the regimental casualty list he is posted 'missing.' It does not naturally follow, of course, that he has been killed. There is always the possibility of his having been taken prisoner, and I trust that the latter surmise may prove correct. Myself, the rest of the platoon miss his presence amongst us. He was always a cheery fellow and splendid chum, and we are anxiously looking forward for definite news on him. Maybe some of the fellows who are now wounded and are in hospital could give us some idea to what happened to him. It is terribly hard for you, I know, and this uncertainty will surely make the burden harder to bear."

Captain F. A. Heys wrote:- "On behalf of the officers and men of this company I send my deepest sympathy on your loss. There is some hope that your, son may be a prisoner, but no news has come to us, so very reluctantly I have had to post him 'missing'. He was a very cheerful comrade and gallant soldier, and if he has gone I hope you will find consolation in the fine record of great service he left behind him."

Pte Dougherty's father, also Pte William Dougherty, is serving with the National Reserve and his brother Driver Harry Dougherty is with the Army Service Corps. His step brother, Lance-Corpl. Joseph Mulloy of the 7th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment, has been wounded in action. He enlisted when he was only 16, being a tall, strong lad, and will only celebrate his 19th birthday next May. The official news of his being wounded came yesterday morning, and he is now reported to be in hospital at Cambridge. All the lads are connected with St. Mary Magdalene School.

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