Pte 34309 Benjamin Gittins

• Age: 19
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 12th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Benjamin Gittins was born on 02nd October, 1896 in Liverpool and was baptised 22nd November, 1896 in St Chrysostom, Church of England, Church, Everton. He was the son of Benjamin Gittins and his wife Martha Margaret (nee Drayton) who were married in St Timothys Church Everton on the 24th September 1882. The family were living at 129 Whitefield Road, Everton at the time of Benjamin’s baptism. Benjamin senior was a publican and was born in West Felton, Shropshire and his wife Martha in Shrewsbury. 

The 1901 Census shows the family were living at 129 Whitefield Road, Everton.

Benjamin senior is 43 and is described as a Licensed Victualler, his wife Martha Margaret is 44 years old. They have three children living with them – Florence R. aged 17, Mary is aged 6, and Benjamin aged 4. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 2 Pembroke Place, Liverpool.

Benjamin senior is 53 and is described as a Licensed Victualler, his wife Martha Margaret is also 53 years old(married 28 years 10 children 6 still alive). They have three children living with them - Mary is aged 16 and is assisting her mother, Benjamin aged 14 is a student and Winifred Grace was 9 and at school. All the children were born in Walton, Liverpool. The couple had an older daughter called Florence who was born in 1883 and who was married. Sadly only 4 of their 10 children were alive, 6 children had died: John born 1885 who died aged 9, Benjamin George b.1889 died aged 5, Agnes b.1891 died aged 3, Sarah b.1886 died aged 1, William Henry b.1892 died aged 16 months and Elizabeth Elsie b.1899 died aged 9 months. 

1916 was a tragic year for the family, both Benjamin’s parents died – his father was aged 58 and buried in February and his mother aged 59 in May. 

Benjamin enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 34309 when he was killed in action on the 12th October 1916 aged 19 during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, France.

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.”

Reported killed in the Liverpool Daily Post 11^th Nov 1916 

King’s (Liverpool Regt.) - Gittens(sic), 34309, B.; 

He is also commemorated on the Liverpool Cotton Association War Memorial. 

Soldiers Effects to sisters Florence R. Blow, Mary and Winifred G., no Pension record found. 

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