Pte 17827 Frederick Albert Fitzsimmons

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Frederick Albert Fitzsimmons was born in Liverpool on 03rd October 1894 and was the son of Frederick Fitzsimmons and his wife Frances (nee Dunmore) of 30, Leopold Road, Kensington, Liverpool. He was baptised on 28th October 1894 in St. Anne's R.C. Church, Liverpool. His parents, both born in Liverpool, married on 25th January 1891 in St. Peter's Priory R.C. Church. Frederick was of 44 Juniper St, father John, whilst Frances was of 22 Cornwallis St, father James. Information provided on the 1911 census states that they had ten children prior to the census, three of whom had died; birth records have been found for nine: elder sister Frances Ruth, and younger siblings Evelyn Margaret, George, Doris, Charles (who died in infancy), Gerard Patrick, Eileen (also died in infancy), and Henry James. 

At the time of the 1901 Census the family were living at 42 Ritson Street.

The 6 year old Frederick has an older sister Frances aged 9, and younger siblings Evelyn aged 3 and George aged 1. Frederick senior is a chair maker aged 32, a chair maker, mother Frances is aged 29. 

By 1911 the family has moved to 30 Leopold Road, the family have three more children, Doris aged 9, Gerrard aged 6 and Henry aged nearly 2. Frederick is 16 and is working as a hairdresser. His father, 42, is a chair maker, his mother is 39.  Elder sister Frances, 19, is a milliner.

Another daughter, Veronica, was born in 1913 but sadly she only lived for one week.

Frederick enlisted on the 03rd September 1914 at St George's Hall in Liverpool, joining the 19th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 17827. He gave his age as 19 years and 337 days and his occupation as as a clerk. He was described as being five feet five and one quarter inch's tall, weighed 115lbs, 36” chest, fresh complexion, brown eyes, brown hair and gave his religion as Roman Catholic and NOK father Frederick, 30 Leopold Rd. 

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th 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. 

His service records show:

13.2.15: At Knowsley: Neglect of duty (Mess orderly). Two days confined to barracks.

29.7.15: At Belton Park: Neglect of duty.  Three days confined to barracks.

07.11.15: Embarked for France from Folkestone with his battalion.

23.1.16 Attd. A.S.C. Vegetable Stores at Bray

24.1.16: Sick to Field Ambulance

25.1.16: Admitted to 3 Ambulance with a heel problem (I.C.T.).

05.2.16: Discharged to duty with unit.

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

19^th Battalion Diary 30^th July 1916

MALTZ HORN FARM

BATTLE begun. ZERO hour 4:45 am. The Battalion reached its objective, but suffered heavy losses, and had to evacuate its position owing to no reinforcements.

Everard Wyrall gives details of the attack in his book The History of The King’s Regiment; 

"The 2nd Attack on Guillemont- 29th July 1916 the 89th Brigade the 20th King's were to attack on the right and the 19th on the left. During the evening of the 29th the night was dark and foggy when the Battalions moved off and the 19th with Lt Col G Rollo commanding, when passing the South east of the Briqueterie they were heavily shelled first with H E and then with a new kind of asphyxiating Gas shell which had curious results, at first it had no nasty effect but about 8 hrs later men began to fall sick with violent headaches and pains in the stomach. All ranks had to wear gas masks which in the darkness and mist made the going terribly difficult. It was indeed wonderful that they were able to reach their Assembly point at all. But they did and by 2.45 a.m. on the 30th July 1916 the Btn was assembled having suffered about 30 Casualties on the way up ready for the Zero hour at 4.45 a.m.

It is known that the two left Companies of the 19th under Capt. Dodd and Capt. Nicholson advanced in touch with the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on their left although they suffered many casualties from Machine gun Fire did not encounter many Germans and reached their final objective about the time allocated, beginning at once to dig in south of the orchard on the South east corner of Guillemont.  

On the left of the 19th the Scots Fusiliers most gallantly forced their way through Guillemont to the eastern side of the village but were soon overwhelmed by the enemy and few returned. 

At 8 a.m. finding that the village was not held the two left Companies of the 19th received no word from the rear or either flank believed themselves to be totally isolated so were forced to fall back and dig in, their position being untenable.

At midday the effective fighting strength of the 19th Btn was just 7 Officers and 43 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.

Casualties in the 19^th Battalion were 11 Officers and 435 Other Ranks 

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. 

Frederick was, like so many of his Pals, originally reported as Missing. 

His parents sent a telegramm on 10th August 1916:

"Information wanted Private Fred Fitzsimmons 17827 19th Kings Liverpool 3rd Batt. wounded and missing since July 30th."

His Casualty Form records a report received on 05th August 1916 showing wounded, to Field Ambulance, and on 06th September listing Fred as wounded and missing.

Liverpool Daily Post - Monday 11 September 1916 

WOUNDED. 

King’s(Liverpool Regiment) - Fitzsimmons, 17627, F. A.; 

Liverpool Daily Post - Saturday 30 September 1916 

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED WOUNDED, NOW  

REPORTED WOUNDED AND MISSING. 

King’s(Liverpool Regiment) - Fitzsimmons, 17627, F. A.; 

Fred's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

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 was remembered by his family over a year later, following confirmation of his death, in the Liverpool Echo on 20th August 1917:

"Previously reported missing, now officially presumed killed July 30, 1916, Private Frederick Albert Fitzsimmons, K.L.R. “our Fred” the dearly-loved and eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Fitzsimmons, 30, Leopold-road, Kensington. (Time cannot teach forgetfulness, while grief's full heart is fed by sorrow.)— Ever remembered by his sorrowing Mother, Father, Brothers, and Sisters."

FITZSIMMONS—JuIy 30, 1916, killed in action, aged 22 years. Private Fred Fitzsimmons (K.L.R.) eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Fitzsimmons 30, Leopold-road, Kensington. (Never grander soul, never a better son or more tender brother. Only good-night, darling, not good-bye.)— Deeply loved by his loving Sister and Brother-in-law, Fan and Will (in France).

Fred was also remembered on the second anniversary of his death in 1918: 

"In affectionate remembrance of our dear brother Fred (3rd Pals). (Never a grander soul, never a better son or more tender brother. Only good-night, darling; not good-bye.)  Deeply loved and never forgotten by his sorrowing Sister and Brother-in-law, Fan and Will (3rd Pals)." 

"In loving and affectionate remembraance of our dear eldest son, Fred (3rd Pals), presumed fell at Guillemont, Somme, July 30, 1916. (Time cannot teach forgetfulness while grief's full heart is fed by sorrow.)  Never forgotten by his sorrowing Mother, Father, Sisters, and Brothers.  Also to the memory of his dear pals, Harold M'Len, Eller, Reg, and George Fitz. R.I.P."

In 1919 his parents were at 30 Leopold Road with married daughter Frances, 27 (now Radley), Evelyn, 21, George, 19, Doris, 17, Gerard, 14, and Henry, 10.

In January 1921 his father wrote to Infantry Records regarding the Memorial Plaque:

"Will you please be good enough to form me as to whom and where I should make application for the Memorial Plaque which is being presented to next of kin of fallen soldiers."

He was informed in reply that, "the Plaques will be forwarded to the next of kin direct from the makers.  Owing to the large number required some considerable time must elapse before the Plaques are ready."

Soldiers effects including a War Gratuity of £8-10s to his father and his mother was granted a pension of 12/6d a week from May 1917.

His father died aged 68 on the 12th Aug 1936. 

Liverpool Daily Post - Thursday 13 August 1936 

FITZSIMMONS – Aug 12, at 57 Standpark-road, aged 68 years, FREDERICK, the dearly loved husband of Frances Fitzsimmons. Fortified with the rites of Holy Church. R.I.P. Interment at Allerton Cemetery, Saturday next, at 10.30 a.m. 

In 1939 his mother Frances was living with married daughter Doris and her family at 834 Liverpool Road, Southport.  Frances died after a fall on the 19th Sept 1942, aged 70. 

Liverpool Evening Express - Saturday 21 November 1942 

Ainsdale Widow’s Death.— Misadventure was the verdict returned at the inquest at Southport, today, on Mrs. Frances Fitzsimmons (70), widow, who died following a fall on the stairs at her son’s home in Tarleton-road, Ainsdale. 

Liverpool Daily Post - Monday 23 November 1942 

FITZSIMMONS—Nov. 19, at 834 Liverpool Road, Ainsdale, FRANCES, wife of the late Frederick Fitzsimmons. Fortified by rites of Holy Church. Funeral at Sacred Heart Church Cemetery, Ainsdale, to-day (Monday). 

Fred is remembered on the Catholic Institute Memorial.

We currently have no further information on Frederick Albert Fitzsimmons, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.