Sgt 22381 Gowen Williamson Fryer

• Age: 34
• From: Runcorn, Cheshire
• 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.

Gowen Williamson Fryer was born in Weston Point, Runcorn, Cheshire in the September quarter of 1882, the son of William Fryer and his wife Alice (nee Bell). He was baptised in Christ Church, Weston Point on 20th August 1882. His father, William, was born in Moore, Cheshire (between Runcorn and Warrington), and his mother, Alice, in Boltongate, Cumberland, 6 miles north of Bassenthwaite. They married on the 05th December 1877 in the Parish Church, Ferry Fryston near Pontefract, Yorkshire. William was a 28 year old joiner of Halton (Leeds), father William a labourer, whilst Alice was aged 29 of Ferry Fryston, father Robert a miner. Gowen was the second of their five children. He had an elder brother Richard Levie (or Levye), and younger siblings Fred, Mary, and William. 

By the 1901 Census the widowed Alice is aged 52 and still at the same address. Her elder sons are now working – Richard is a 20 year old engine worker at the chemical works, Gowen is 18 and an apprentice blacksmith and Fred now 16 is an apprentice joiner, Mary aged 13 and William 10. Alice’s mother Maria Somerville, 65, is also staying with them and her niece Flora Somerville, 13. They also have two boarders in the four-roomed house.

The family suffered a tragedy when Mary died in 1910 aged just 22.

In the 1911 Census Gowen, who completed and signed the census return, is 28 years of age and out of his apprenticeship, he is working as a blacksmith for the ship canal. He is still living at home, in Weston Road, with his mother Alice, now 62 years of age and brother William who is 20 years old and an engineering apprentice. Also in the household is grandson William Fryer, 2 (Richard's son). Richard, 30, lives in Huddersfield, and Fred, 26, also married, lives in Ford Bank, Runcorn.

Gowen enlisted on 05th November 1914 at Liverpool, joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 22381. He gave his age as thirty two years and 129 days and gave his occupation as a chain inspector. He was described as being five feet ten and a quarter inches tall, weighed 145lbs, 39" chest with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England and his next of kin as his mother Alice, of Weston 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.

09.02.15: Appointed paid Lance Corporal.

19.4.15: Promoted on probation to Corporal

24.5.15: Appointed paid Lance Sergeant on probation.

06.7.15: Promoted to Corporal and remained acting Lance Sergeant.

25.8.15: Appointed acting Sergeant and attached for duty with Messrs: T Davis & Sons at Widnes (They were a firm of engineers, tank and boiler makers). Authority Ministry of Munitions of War. The employer is also listed in his military record as Widnes Iron Works. He was paid £1-19s-4d a week if living at home.

08.9.15: Returned to Army. 

05.9.15: Posted as acting Sergeant to reserve regiment battalion.

09.9.15: Returned to duty.

17.9.15: Posted to the 20th Battalion. 

07.11.15: He embarked for France.

He was killed in action on the 30th July 1916, aged 34, 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. 

His death was reported on 18th August 1916 in the Runcorn Weekly News:

"On Thursday the news was received in Runcorn of the death of Sergt. Gowen Fryer, of the King's (Liverpool) Regiment.  The first intimation of Sergt. Fryer's end was in a letter addressed to his mother at West Road, Weston, from Pte. Molyneux, who writes:- 'Your son, Sergt. Fryer, met a hero's death, and I am told that if it had not been for him and his comrades we should have lost much that we had previously gained. It was a great sacrifice on the part of the division all through, but they turned defeat into victory by holding on. Will you accept the deepest sympathy of all his comrades, and we are only few that are left.'
 
The second letter was from a great comrade of his, who writes:- 'When I received your letter this morning and noted the postmark I almost naturally jumped to the conclusion that it was another letter from my 'best of chums', and then, opening the envelope and seeing other writing the truth swept over me and I knew I had lost the best of friends, the manliest of men, the most gallant of soldiers. I have only had the privilege of knowing Gowen for a short period of my life, but you can understand what his influence in a short time can accomplish, and I do not exaggerate when I say my soul was knit to his. He was my ideal of English manhood - one of those few whose thought, word, and deed was always Christian. God rest his soul and give us comfort for life at this moment seems robbed of its brightness. The battalion loses interest, for it now seems it was his charming personality that bound in friendship many uncongenial spirits. It was the call of God, and a soldier answered it.'

 The next letter was from another of his greatest friends, and runs as follows:  'I received a letter last evening from Miss Fryer, Southport, which contained the news of Gowen's death. I cannot tell you what a blow it was to me, because in France Gowen and I were like brothers, and where you found one you would nearly always find the other, and his manly Christlike life had been an inspiration to many of the boys. To me he seemed to be like a rock on which I could lean when under stress of circumstances. I felt like giving way. Under the many trying conditions that he had to face he was never known to grumble, and always had a cheery smile. I can say truly that he was one of the best N.C.O.'s in the battalion, and will be greatly missed. The boys under him almost worshipped him and they will feel his loss. I trust that in the hour of your great trial the bright thought of Gowen's Christian life will help you and cause the pain of this parting to be lessened.'

Sergt. Fryer, who was very well known in the Runcorn district, was about 33 years of age. He joined the Army soon after the outbreak of war, and was speedily made a sergeant. Some time ago he was drafted to Prescot to follow his calling as a blacksmith in the national service. Eager to see active service, he applied to be sent to France, and after a time his request was acceded to. He was of a most genial and cheerful disposition and for many years had been a prominent official of Weston Church. Since boyhood he had been employed at the Sprinch yard of the Manchester Ship Canal Co. He was the superintendent of the Weston Sunday School, a member of the Sons of Temperance, and a trade unionist."

A memorial service was held in St. John's Church, Weston, in late August. The church was crowded, in attendance were representatives of the Temperance Society, and workmates from the Sprinch yard as well as his family members. The minister gave the eulogy, noting that Gowen was "well-known and highly esteemed". He spoke of "the love of country rather than the love of self which had animated all the young men who had gone out to fight for their country and the sacrifices they had made on behalf of their fellows"

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.”

Gowen is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Weston, Cheshire, Memorial

Manchester Ship Canal Memorial, now in the Boat Museum, Ellesmere Port (name transcribed as C. Fryer, apparently in error)

His friend paid tribute to Gowen in the Liverpool Echo on 30th July 1917, under the heading, “Lost at Battle of Guillemont”:

“In affectionate remembrance of my dear chum, Sergeant Gowen Fryer (K.L.R.), killed in action July 30, 1916. (His duty nobly done.) - Charles Ford, Castle Hill Farm, Frodsham.”

Tribute was also paid in the Runcorn Guardian and Chester Chronicle:

"In loving memory of Sergeant Gowen Fryer killed in action July 30th,1916." [unsigned]

He earned his three medals.

His mother Alice received his Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £10-10s, and was awarded a pension of 10/6d a week from February 1917. Probate was granted to his mother in the amount of £119.

In April 1918 a stained glass memorial window in honour of Sgt. Gowen Fryer was unveiled in St. John's Church, paid for by his mother and other relatives.

Notices appeared on the second anniversary in 1918:

"In very dear and affectionate memory of Sergeant G. W. Fryer, killed in action 30th July, 1916;  also Mary, sister of the above, died September, 1910;  also William, father of the above, died September, 1892. - "Until the day breaks."  Mother and Brothers."

"In loving memory of my dear Chum, Sergeant Gowen Fryer, K.L.R., killed in action July 30th, 1916.   "Though death divides, fond memory clings." - Charlie. Castle Hill Farm, Newton, Frodsham."

In 1919 Alice was still in Weston Road; Richard, 39, lived in Sparrow Street, Sheffield; Fred, 35, lived in Ford Bank, Weston; and William, 29, was also in Sheffield, at 390 City Road.

By about 1925 Alice had moved to Sheffield. She suffered further loss when William died in 1926 at the age of 36.

At the time of the 1939 register Alice, 90 and incapacitated, was living with Richard in Dobbin Hill, Sheffield. She lived to the age of 93 and died in 1942.

Grateful thanks are extended to John Crosby who provided the information on the loss of Gowen William Fryer from the book by Fred Ball.

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