Pte 35736 Horace Lewis French

• Age: 24
• From: Bootle, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Thursday 6th September 1917
• Commemorated at: Bailleul Cc Ext
  Panel Ref: III.206

Horace Lewis French was born in 1893 at Bootle. He was the son of Edward Peter French and Beatrice Florence French (nee Gilbert) who married 30th August 1885 at St Mary’s C.of E. Church, Kirkdale. Horace had the following siblings; Minnie Bertha, Lealand Claud, George Thomas, Cecil Gilbert, and Frances Agnes French.  He also had half siblings Louisa, Martha Eliza, Elizabeth Jane, Joshua James, Edward Stanley, Jessie and Frederick French from his father’s first marriage.

The 1901 Census shows Horace (listed as an adopted child) living with the Harrison family at 12 Bullens Terrace, Bootle cum Linacre, Lancashire.

The head of the household is Walter S Harrison aged 53, born 1848 who is employed as a dock labourer and was born in Liverpool. His wife Martha is aged 56, born 1845 in Chorley and has no occupation listed. They have two daughters who were both born in  Bootle living with them at the time of the Census, Annie aged 28, born 1873 and Florence aged 26, born 1875 and married to Joseph J Sherrington aged 42, born 1859 and employed as a ships painter, who was also born in Bootle. Horace is aged 8 and as born in 1893.     

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 63 Palmerston Drive, Litherland.

The father Edward aged 63, born 1848 is a freight clerk who was born in Banbury, Oxfordshire and his wife Beatrice aged 45 has no occupation listed. They have been married for twenty six years and have had five children of which one had died. They have four children are living with them at the time of the Census, George aged 22, born 1889 is a canvasser, Cecil aged 19, born 1892 and Horace aged 18, born 1892 are both dock labourers and their daughter Frances aged 8, born 1903. They also have a lodger Joseph Sherrington aged 53, born 1858 who is employed as a house painter.

Horace’s half brother Edward Stanley French lost his life whilst serving on board the SS Lusitania on 7th May 1915 and he is commemorated on the Litherland Civic Memorial.

Horace Lewis married Elizabeth Preston in 1915 at St Philip’s C.of E. Church, Litherland. They went on to have a child in December 1915 who sadly died.

He was serving with the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 35736 when he died of wounds on 06/09/1917 aged 24. He now rests at Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension in France.

Bailleul was occupied on 14 October 1914 by the 19th Brigade and the 4th Division. It became an important railhead, air depot and hospital centre, with the 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 11th, 53rd, 1st Canadian and 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Stations quartered in it for considerable periods. It was a Corps headquarters until July 1917, when it was severely bombed and shelled, and after the Battle of Bailleul (13-15 April 1918), it fell into German hands and was not retaken until 30 August 1918.

The earliest Commonwealth burials at Bailleul were made at the east end of the communal cemetery and in April 1915, when the space available had been filled, the extension was opened on the east side of the cemetery. The extension was used until April 1918, and again in September, and after the Armistice graves were brought in from the neighbouring battlefields.

BAILLEUL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION contains 4,403 Commonwealth burials of the First World War; 11 of the graves made in April 1918 were destroyed by shell fire and are represented by special memorials. There are also 17 British burials of the Second World War (all 1940) and 154 German burials from both wars (10 of which are Second World War).

During the Second World War the cemetery suffered major bomb damage that necessitated the replacement of nearly 200 headstones after the war.

Both the Commonwealth plot in the communal cemetery and the extension were designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

A report of his death appeared in the Bootle Times on the 14th September 1917. Note that he is named as Harris Lewis French whereas his correct name is Horace Lewis French as per civil registration birth indexes.

SALISBURY-ROAD "OLD BOY"

DIES FROM WOUNDS SUSTAINED IN ACTION.

We regret to record that Private Harris Lewis French, K.L.R., aged 24, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward French, 62, Palmerston-avenue, Litherland and husband of Mrs. Elizabeth French, 78, Dryden-street, Bootle has been killed in action. He was seriously wounded on September 6th and died at a Casualty Clearing Station a few hours later.
Private French was born in Bootle, attended Salisbury-road School and afterwards became associated with the Cunard Company's clerical staff. He worshipped at St.Mary's Church. On July 7th last year he joined the King's Liverpool Regiment and was drafted to France on September 30th. He was home on short leave about 12 months ago.
Deep sympathy has been expressed with the young widow and the parents in their sad loss. Another son of Mr. and Mrs. French who had joined the King's three months before his brother, was badly wounded early this year and is still in hospital in the South of England.

Horace is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Salisbury Road School

Bootle Civic Memorial.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to his widow Elizabeth. She re-married in 1919 to Joseph Barnes. 

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