1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
Pte 17052 Alfred Edward Fazakerley (MM)
- Age: 22
- From: Liverpool
- Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
- K.I.A Monday 9th April 1917
- Commemorated at: Wancourt Brit Cem
Panel Ref: V.G.4
Alfred Edward was born on 24th September 1894 the son of William Henry Fazakerley and his wife Elizabeth Matilda (nee O’Brien) who married in Liverpool in 1890 at Our Lady & St. Nicholas & St. Anne. His father was born in Formby, whilst his mother was born in Liverpool. He was baptized at Christ Church, Kensington, Liverpool on 28th October 1894. His parents are living at 7 Sykes Street, Liverpool and his father's occupation is shown to be a clerk.
The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 6 Mortimer Street, Birkenhead. His father, William H. is aged 40, employed as a forwarding clerk for a cotton company and was born in Formby, mother Elizabeth M. is 28 was born in Liverpool, as were all their children, Helena M. 10 a scholar, William H. 8 a scholar, Alfred 5 a scholar, and Percy aged 4.
The Birkenhead News, 29th June 1907 reported that whilst at Birkenhead St Paul's School, Alfred successfully passed the entrance exams for Higher Elementary School.
The 1911 Census shows the family are still at 6 Mortimer Street, Birkenhead. His father, William Henry, is aged 52,and a forwarding clerk, his mother, Elizabeth, is 41, they have been married for 21 years and have had 6 children, 5 of whom have survived. All of the surviving children are in the household; Helena Maud 20 a commercial clerk, William Henry 18 a confectionery apprentice, Alfred is 16 a commercial clerk for soap manufacturer, Percy 14 at school, Frederick 9 at school b.Birkenhead. They also have a boarder Margaret Hamer who is aged 48.He enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 03rd September 1914, joining the 18th Battalion as Private 17052. He gave his age as 20 years and 11 days, (which doesn’t match with the date of birth we have recorded for him) he gives his occupation as a clerk. Next of Kin is shown as his father William at 6 Mortimer Street. He is described as being 5’5 and a half inches tall, weighing 136 lbs, he has brown eyes and brown hair. He states former military service in R.E. Vol. Reserve, discharged 1912.
From the 23rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. Alfred's service record shows he was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 14th July 1915 whilst stationed at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. Whilst there he was appointed paid L/Cpl on 11th September 1915 . He arrived in France on 7th November 1915.
He reverted to rank at his own request on the 01st February 1916. From the 6th to 20th May 1916 he was attached to 30th Division grenade school.The Birkenhead News, Saturday, 14th October 1916 reported:
JUNIOR CHAMPION SWIMMER WINS THE MILITARY MEDAL
Mr William Fazakerley of 6 Mortimer Street, has received news that his son Private Alfred Fazakerley has been awarded the military medal for "gallantry and devotion to duty" during the operations on the Somme. Private Fazakerley was educated at the Higher Elementary School where he was very popular. After leaving school he was for a short time employed in the offices of Sir William Lever at Port Sunlight, but later went to sea as an apprentice in the firm of R.P. Houston. His last ship was the Hypatia. He joined the King's Liverpool Regiment at the outbreak of the war and has been in France since October 1915. Private Fazakerley is well known in Birkenhead as a swimmer, he was a member of the Birkenhead Swimming Club, was champion swimmer of the Higher Elementary School for two consecutive years, and junior champion of Birkenhead in 1910. He was a member of the Y.M.C.A. where he was known as a good gymnast.
[The Houston Line - Robert Patterson Houston, MP for Toxteth West]
The award of the MM was Gazetted on 16th November 1916.
In February 1917 he was granted professional pay class I.
On 14th April 1917 Alfred was listed as Missing.
On 29th April 1917 he was declared as killed in action on 09th April 1917, aged 22.
Arras 09th April 1917
Details of the circumstances the 18th Battalion had to contend with are illustrated below:
The battalion formed the left assaulting battalion of the brigade, the 2nd Wiltshire Regiment being on the right, the 19th Manchester Regiment being in support and 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment furnishing “moppers -up” for the two assaulting battalions. The brigade advance was timed to begin at ---- hour after “Zero”, suited to conform with the movements of 56th Division and other divisions on our left further north (near Arras). This battalion’s objective was the front-line system Lion Lane on the left (exclusive) to Panther Lane on right (exclusive). This sector included the strongpoint known as “The Egg”.
The brigade advanced at prearranged time, i.e., 11.38 a.m, from position of assembly trenches south of Neuville Vitasse to German front line. This necessitated an advance across the open of at least 2,000 yards. This area up to Neuville Vitasse- Henin road was crossed in artillery formation; after this, owing to machine-gun fire and considerable resistance from German posts forward in the sunken roads, it was found necessary to deploy. During the whole movement across the open the advancing columns had been under considerable artillery fire from guns of all calibres. On gaining the position immediately in front of German line it was found that the wire was practically uncut; this wire formed two strong belts in front of German trenches. Two small gaps were eventually discovered and Second-Lieut H.F.Merry gallantly led a bombing party through them, but his three remaining men were killed as they reached the German trenches.
From the moment the battalion was “held up” in front of German wire Capt. R. W. Jones, the senior company commander on the spot, at once began the work of consolidating in front of German wire. The battalion held on in this position for the remainder of the day, until relieved by the 16th Manchester Regiment about 3 a.m. on the 10th of April, all the time under intense machine-gun and rifle fire.
Between 9th-10th April, 1917, the 18th King's lost 2 officers 2nd Lt. F. Ashcroft and 2nd Lt. H.G. Ewing and 59 other ranks killed. 8 other officers were wounded.
Family notice's were placed in the Liverpool Echo on 07th May 1917.
FAZAKERLEY - April 9, killed in action, Alfred Fazakerley, King's Liverpool Regiment, the dearly beloved son of W.H. and E. Fazakerley. 6 Mortimer Street, Birkenhead.
Alfred now rests at Wancourt British Cemetery where his headstone bears the poignant epitaph:
"IN MEMORY OF OUR BELOVED SON HIS DUTY NOBLY DONE"
Wancourt was captured on 12 April 1917 after very heavy fighting and the advance was continued on the following days. The cemetery, called at first Cojeul Valley Cemetery, or River Road Cemetery, was opened about ten days later; it was used until October 1918, but was in German hands from March 1918 until 26 August, when the Canadian Corps recaptured Wancourt. At the Armistice, the cemetery contained 410 graves, but was very greatly increased in the following years when graves were brought in from other small cemeteries and isolated positions on the battlefields south-east of Arras including HENIN-SUR-COJEUL, about 800 metres North of the village, contained the graves of 29 British soldiers who fell on 9 April 1917, almost all of whom belonged to the 2nd Wilts or the 18th King's Liverpools. The cemetery now contains 1,936 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 829 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 76 casualties known or believed to be buried among them, and to 20 who were buried in Signal Trench Cemetery whose graves were destroyed in later battles. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.
His personal effects were sent to his mother on 19th October 1917 and included: 1 disc, 1 medal ribbon, 1 revolver, 1 Rosary, 1 bandle, 1 flask.
Alfred's medals were sent after the war to his mother at 78 Magazine Lane, New Brighton. His mother wrote to the Anglican Cathedral in 1921 to ensure that Alfred's name was recorded on their Scroll Of Honour, now situated in the Cathedral.
He is commemorated on the Birkenhead Civic Memorial, Hamilton Square, Birkenhead.
His older brother William served in the Army, then transferred to RFC/RAF in 1918. Whilst his younger brother Percy served in the merchant navy. His sister Helena named her son after Alfred.
His parents were still living at 78 Magazine Street in 1939. Alfred's father died on 06th March 1941, aged 83, and his mother died in 1951, aged 80.
His father's probate record shows:
FAZAKERLEY William Henry of 78 Magazine Lane, Wallasey, Cheshire died 6 March 1941 at 27 Delmorton Road, New Brighton, Wallasey Probate Llandudno 29th May to Elizabeth Matilda Fazakerley widow. Effects £1497 4s 5d.
We currently have no further information on Alfred Edward Fazakerley , If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.
Killed On This Day.
(108 Years this day)Sunday 16th June 1918.
Pte 57615 Fred William Preddy
23 years old
(105 Years this day)
Thursday 16th June 1921.
Captain Leonard George Duncan
43 years old