Pte 54142 Reginald Thomas Foxley

• Age: 19
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Friday 27th July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Reginald Thomas (Tom) Foxley was born in Liverpool on the 18^th August 1897 in Liverpool and was baptised on the 03rd October 1897 at St Michael in the Hamlet, C. of E. Church, Toxteth, the son of John Foxley and his wife Anne (née Whitehead) who were married on the 21st November 1893 at St Michael in the Hamlet Church, Toxteth. John was a 30 year old coachman of Fulwood Park, father, William, a coachman, whilst Anne was aged 35 of Fulwood Park, father James deceased. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at Coachman's Cottage, 2 Fulwood Park, Toxteth. His father, John, is aged 37, born in Aigburth, Liverpool 1864 his occupation is shown as a domestic coachman, his mother, Annie, is aged 42, born in Gloucestershire in 1859, has no occupation listed. They have three children in the household; Francis aged 6, born 1895, Ethel aged 4 born 1897 and Reginald Thomas aged 3, born 1898. All of the children were born in Liverpool.

The 1911 Census shows the family have moved to 43 Bonsall Road, West Derby, Liverpool. His father, John, is 47 years of age, his mother is 52 and shows that she was born in Hatherop, near Cirencester. They have been married for 17 years and have had three children, all of whom are still in the household. Francis is now a 16 year old gardener, Ethel is 14 and Reginald is now 13 years of age. The family now have a visitor James Broster a widower aged 36, born 1875 at the address.

His father died, aged 48, in 1912. 

Reginald enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 19th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 54142 when he was killed in action on the 27th July 1917, aged 19.

The 19th Battalion Diary records the events of the day as follows:

"Very heavy shelling during the day on front and support lines. Our artillery was also very active during the day and night. At night 'B' Company relieved 'C' Company in the front line. Later word was received that the Germans had retired on our left and 'D' Company were immediately sent into the front line to reinforce 'B' Company. Patrols of the 16th Battalion, Manchester Regiment pushed forward but returned just before daybreak after finding the enemy trenches were occupied, and at the same time 'D' Company returned to the support line from the front line". 

Reginald's body ws not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 28th August 1917:

FOXLEY - In loving memory of Private Reginald T. Foxley (our Tom) K.L.R., killed in action, July 27th 1917, aged 19 years.

He was reported killed in Weekly Casualty List on the 28th August 1917: 

King’s (Liverpool Regiment) - Foxley, 54142, R. T. (Liverpool); 

He was remembered in the Liverpool Echo 29th July 1918 close to the first anniversary of his death

FOXLEY - In loving memory of Private Reginald T. Foxley (our Tom) K.L.R., killed in action, July 27th 1917 - Never forgotten by his Mother, Sister and Brother.

Soldiers Effects, army pay of £2 13s 4d, war gratuity £3 to his mother Annie and sister Ethel and pension of 8/- to Annie.

His mother died, aged 61, in the March quarter of 1919. 

Reginald is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 64 

West Derby Civic Memorial

St Mary the Virgin C. of E. Church, West Derby

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