Pte 35362 John Foy

• Age: 27
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 28th March 1918
• Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
  Panel Ref: P21-23

John Foy was born in Liverpool in the 3rd quarter of 1890 the second son of James and Mary Foy (nee Callaghan).

He is shown as a new born baby on the Census of 1891 which finds his parents living at Croxteth Hall Lane, West Derby with his elder brother James aged 4. 

The Census of 1901 shows the family are now living at 94 Deysbrook Lane, Liverpool. His father, James was born in County Mayo in 1858 and is shown as a Garden labourer. His mother Mary was born in 1861 in West Derby, Liverpool. John is shown as born in 1891 now aged 10. His siblings are: elder brother James b.1888, Mary b.1895, Joseph b1898, and Thomas b. 1900. All children were born in West Derby. Also present is Catherine Callaghan sited as Mother in Law and James' brother also John aged 55. 

There is a record for a John Foy, born 1891 joining the 4th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment on 10th January 1909 as Private 4493. It cannot be established if this is our John Foy but the age is the same as John would have been. However by the time of the next Census he is not in the Army.  

The 1911 Census shows the family living at Croxteth Cottages, Deysbrook Lane. His parents are both present in the household, his father's occupation is now shown to be Kitchen Gardner. John is now aged 20 and shown as an under gardner. His siblings are: elder brother James b.1888 now a Golf caddie, Mary b.1895, Joseph b1898, and Thomas b. 1900. 

John enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 35362 when he was killed in action on the 28^th March 1918 during the German Spring Offensive. He was 27 years of age.

The Battalion Diary gives an insight into the chaotic events of the day

28^th March

At about 6am the enemy commenced to shell heavily the whole of the forward line and brought Trench Mortars and MACHINE Guns into action.

FOLIES was shelled and the area in the rear of the village as far back as LE QUESNEL.

Rations were received at dawn and parties were organised to carry them to the Companies on the right. Owing to the heavy fire, however, it was not possible to get them up.

Heavy fighting was in progress on the right from soon after dawn and at 8am the enemy was reported to be in possession of BOUCHOIR and progressing towards the BEETROOT FACTORY. About 10am  the 59^th Infy Brigade was notified that it was relieved by the French and the Battalions of that Brigade were at once withdrawn in the direction of LE QUESNEL.

At noon the enemy was bombarding the village and vicinity heavily and reports were received that he was in occupation of WARVILLERS on the left and ARVILLERS on the right.

The front line East of FOLIES continued to resist until about 2pm when the order was received from the 89^th Infy Brigade to the effect that the Battalions were relieved by the French and would withdraw at once to MEZIERES, where the men would be fed. Companies withdrew under some shellingand very heavy M.G. and rifle fire from the left , through K10 -K3 – North side LE QUESNEL to the main ROYE road and reorganised about D.29 c. The march from this point was conducted in good order despite the congested roads.

At MEZIERES it was decided to continue a rearward movement and the march was resumed via VILLERS-MOREUIL – MORISEL – ROUVREL, which village was reached about 7pm and the Battalion billeted. The men had marched 13 miles from the left position in good order and with practically no straggling. They were exhausted on arrival at ROUVREL, but in good heart.

Echelon ‘A’ of the Transport joined the Battalion at this village and the men were fed immediately on arrival. The night passed without incident.  

John has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial in France.

The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.

The cemetery and memorial were designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, with sculpture by Laurence A. Turner. The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930.

His loss came less than a year after his younger brother Joseph had been killed at Passchendaele with the 5th King's Liverpool Regiment. Joseph is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres, Belgium. 

A notice in the local press confirmed the families worst fears after Joseph's death was confirmed and John is posted as Missing:

Foy - Posted missing July 31 now officially presumed killed. Pte Joseph Foy 5th KLR. Also Pte John Foy 35362, Pals, posted missing March 21 - 28 . Any information about either will be gratefully received by Parents, Croxteth Cottages, West Derby. 

The family pain is palpable: Two brothers, ultimately killed in action, both bodies lost and both subsequently commemorated on Memorials to the Missing in France and Belgium.   

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