Pte 25335 William James Edgerton

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

William James Edgerton was born 16th April 1895 in Liverpool, the son of Albert James Edgerton and his wife Mary Ellen (nee Connor). He was baptised 25th April 1895 at St Alphonsus Church, Liverpool. His parents married on Christmas Day 1885 at St. Mary's Church, Kirkdale and they had ten children.  

William had older siblings Albert John, Ellen (Nellie), William (who died at age 3), Catherine, and Margaret Ann, and younger siblings Alexander, Ada, Martin Edward, and Joseph. The surname also appears on records as Egerton. 

His father was a mariner, and is found with his wife and children on the 1891 Census, aged 24, a marine fireman, address 40 Lancaster Street, Kirkdale.  He is later found on a 1904 crew list as a greaser on the Ivernia.

At the time of the 1901 Census, his mother, Mary Ellen,  aged 33, is the head of household at 44 Lancaster Street, presumably his father was at sea. She has seven children at home; eldest son Albert is 15, working as a general carter, Ellen is 14, Catherine 10, Margaret 8, William is 5 years old, Alexander 3, and Ada 1. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 51 Lancaster Street, Kirkdale, Liverpool. His mother Mary Ellen is aged 43, born in Liverpool in 1868, and his father is once again at sea. She has been married for twenty five years and has had ten children of which one had died. Those children recorded in the houshold are; Margaret Ann aged 18, born 1893 occupation stitcher for a sack maufacturer, William James aged 15, born 1896 occupation, grocer's van lad, Alexander aged 13, born 1898, Ada aged 11, born 1900, Martin aged 8, born 1903 and Joseph aged 6, born 1905 are all at school. The children were all born in Liverpool.  

Albert John, Nellie, and Kate are all married.

William enlisted in Liverpool, joining the 20^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 25335. Based on the amount of the War Gratuity, William volunteered in about December 1914.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th 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. 

He arrived in France on 20th December 1915.

He was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 21, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

The 20^th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20^th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 Other Ranks

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July. 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.       

He was reported Missing in the Liverpool Daily Post on Thursday 14 September 1916; 

His mother contacted the International Red Cross in hopes that William had been taken prisoner, but was notified on 27th January 1917 that they held no information on him. Subsequent enquiries received the same response on 05th June 1917 and 05th October 1917.

His death was later presumed for official purposes as having occurred on or since 30th July 1916.

William's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

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 01st 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.”

He earned his three medals. 

His mother was awarded a pension of 13/- a week from May 1917.  Sadly, she died in January 1918 aged 50 and was buried on the 07th January at Ford Cemetery. 

The War Gratuity of £6-10s went to his sister Mrs. Ellen Makin in 1920.

His married sister Margaret died the day before the Armistice, at the age of 26.

His brother Albert served in the merchant marine, a fireman like his father, sailing before the war on the Carmania and Lusitania. Albert later had a son he named after William.

Sadly, William has not been found on any local memorial.

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