Sgt 22081 Bernard James Clare Fleming

• Age: 36
• 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.

Bernard James Clare Fleming was born in Liverpool on 21st August 1879, the eldest child of James Fleming and his wife Sarah Alice (nee Evans), and was baptised five days later in St. Francis Xavier Church, Liverpool, on 26th August. James and Alice married in Southport in 1878.  Two of their seven children died young: Adrian William, born in 1883, died at age 1, and Gerald, born in 1891, died at age 3.  Bernard had younger siblings Wilfred, Mary, James, and Ellen. 

The family were living at 32 Portland Street, North Meols at the time of the 1881 census. Bernard’s father James was born in Ireland and is working as a commercial traveller in the wines and spirits trade, his mother Sarah Alice was born in Southport. Bernard is one year old. The family have a domestic servant Kate Worthington aged 17.

At the time of the 1891 census the family had moved to Liverpool, to 5 Brunswick Street where James is 45 and was running a tobacconists. Sarah is 37, and is looking after her children: Bernard who is now 11, Wilfred aged 9, Mary aged 5, James 3 and Ellen Ursula 2 and Gerald aged 3 months. They have a live in tobacconists assistant, 20 year old Elizabeth Pattern and a domestic servant 20 year old Celia Partridge.

By 1901 James has returned to his profession of wines and spirits agent. The family is living at 36 Rawlins Street, Edge Hill. Sarah is at home with her children, Bernard who is working as a reporter, Wilfred, Mary and Ellen. James, 13, is a boarding student in St. Edward's College, a Catholic school in St. Domingo Road, Everton. His father's sister, Bridget Fleming, aged 56, is living with the family. 
 
Bernard’s father James died in 1905 at the age of 59.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 9 Brelade Road, Liverpool. Bernard's mother, Sarah Alice is a 57 year old widow born in Egremont, Cheshire. Children Bernard James Clare 31, is a commercial traveller in the beer trade, Wilfred Robert 29, bar attendant, born Southport, Mary Ann Connor 25, telephone operator, born Liverpool, Ellen Ursula 22, and a clerk, born Liverpool. His brother James, 23, is a church student in St. Joseph's R.C. College in Upholland, Lancashire.

Bernard enlisted on the 05th November 1914 at Liverpool, joining the 20th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 22081. He gave his age as 35 years and 3 months and his occupation as a traveller. He was described as being five feet nine inches tall, weighed 143 lbs, 37" chest, with a fresh complexion, hazel eyes, brown hair and had a scar on his right cheek. He stated his religion as Roman Catholic and next of kin, his mother Alice, at 9 Brelade Road.   

Formed in November 1914 the 20th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built 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 papers show:

09.02.15: Promoted to Corporal.

19.4.15: Appointed on probation paid Lance Sergeant.

07.11.15: Embarked for France with his battalion.

05.01.16: Promoted to Sergeant and transferred to No.2 Coy. 

07.6.16-16.6.16: Granted leave to the UK.

He was killed in action on the 30th July 1916 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.  

Bernard's body was not recovered from the battlefield 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.”

His death was reported in the Liverpool Express:

"Sergeant B. J. Fleming of the Pals, (King's Liverpool Regiment) who was killed in action on July 30th belonged to the Old Xaverian Association. He was a well known Association footballer, playing at right half back, and was a member of the Old Xaverians football club which visited Holland in 1902 and later on the tour through Belgium. He was retired from football about four years ago, and afterwards served on the committee of the Old Xaverians."

A newspaper article on 23rd August 1916 added his name to the Old Xaverian casualties: 9 killed to date, including four Pals (the others being Harry Lockhart, George McGuinness and John Halsall Range). 

His name appeared in the list of K.L.R. Killed published on 09th September 1916;

He earned his three medals. His 1914-1915 Star was issued with the initials B.G.C. and had to be reissued. 

His outstanding Army pay and a War Gratuity of £10-10s went to his mother Sarah.

His war record shows that his possessions were returned to his mother at 9 Bredale Road, Liverpool in January 1917. They were his wallet, photos, cards and a Conservative club card.

Bernard was remembered by his family a year after his death in the Liverpool Echo on 30th July 1917, under the heading, “Lost at Battle of Guillemont”:

“In loving memory of Sergeant Bernard (Barny) Fleming (Pals), killed in action, July 30, 1916. R.I.P. – Mother, Brothers, and Sisters.”

His mother was awarded a pension of 5/- a week for one year from February 1917 then increased to 15/-.  

His brother Wilfred served as a Private in the 3rd (Reserve Battalion) Royal Irish Fusiliers. He died of a haemorrhage on 14th August 1918, aged 36.  Wilfred is commemorated on the Screen Wall in Hartlepool North Cemetery, County Durham.

A gratuity of £27-6s-0d was approved for her second son in May 1919. 

In 1919 his mother is in Brelade Road with Mary, 34, and Ursula, 30. The address of James, 32, is illegible. 

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

"In loving memory of Bernard (Barney), killed in action July 30, 1916, eldest son of Mrs. Fleming, Stoneycroft. R.I.P."

His mother, Sarah Alice died in 1920, aged 67,  just at the time the War Office were distributing the soldiers service medals. The War Office having tried unsuccessfully to send them to his late mother, wrote to his younger brother James (who was a priest at St Joseph's Church, Preston) who passed the letter to his sister Ellen. Ellen sent a letter to them stating that their mother wanted her and her sister to be Bernard’s next of kin, but the War Office wanted proof of Sarah’s will stating this. Exasperation and upset can be heard in Ellen’s reply:

“I sent you the will, since I received the first medal for my late brother Sgt BJCF 22081 why do you think I am not legal to the others now? If you do not intend to present my late brothers medals to me please do not trouble me any further also my brother Rev.JDF . It is now nearly six years since my brother was killed in action and I do not wish to be continually reminded.”

The War Office informed Ellen that, in the absence of a will, the medals became the property of his eldest remaining brother James David.

Ellen received the Memorial Plaque and Scroll in 1920.  The Plaque was offered for auction in 2015.

Barney is commemorated on the following memorials - 

Liverpool's Hall of Remembrance, Panel 64

The Sorrowful Mother Tablet in St. Francis Xavier Church, Liverpool

B. J. T. Fleming is commemorated in St. Anne's, Stanley, Liverpool, but this is likely an error as no Fleming with initials B.J.T. is found on the CWGC database.

His mother Sarah died in 1920 just at the time the War Office were distributing the soldiers service medals. The War Office having tried unsuccessfully to send them to his late mother, wrote to his younger brother James (who was a priest at St Joseph's Church, Preston) who passed the letter to his sister Ellen. Ellen sent a letter to them stating that their mother wanted her and her sister to be Bernard’s next of kin, but the War Office wanted proof of Sarah’s will stating this. Exasperation and upset can be heard in Ellen’s reply:

“I sent you the will, since I received the first medal for my late brother Sgt BJCF 22081 why do you think I am not legal to the others now? If you do not intend to present my late brothers medals to me please do not trouble me any further also my brother Rev.JDF . It is now nearly six years since my brother was killed in action and I do not wish to be continually reminded.”

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