Pte 15955 Richard Henry Goulbourn

• Age: 19
• From: Litherland, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Richard Henry Goulbourn was born December 1896 in Litherland. His parents were John Goulbourn and his wife Margaret (nee Hodge). They were married on 05th January 1890 at St Helens Church, Sefton. John was born in Sefton and Margaret in Aughton.

At the time of the 1891 census, taken on 04th April, John aged 26, and Margaret aged 25 were living at 16 Hawthorne Grove, Litherland, and John was a labourer. 

On the 1901 Census the family are found at 2 Eaton Avenue, Litherland. His father, John, is aged 36, his mother, Margaret, is aged 34, with children Albert John 8, Ann H. 6, Richard H. 4, Edith M. 1, also mother in law Mary Hodge, aged 65, is a dressmaker. His father is a brewer's clerk. 

On the 1911 Census the family have moved to Hawthorne Grove and have had six children; however, records have been found for seven. Their first child, John Henry, was born on 28th February 1891 and was baptised the next day in Sefton Parish Church, his parents' (John and Margaret) residence given as Hawthorne Grove, and his father's occupation as labourer.  Sadly, the baby died that same day. His father, is a 46 year old brewer's assistant, and his mother is 44. The two eldest children are working: Albert 18, is a municipal clerk, and Annie 16, is a millinery apprentice. Richard 14, Edith 11, Elsie 7, and Alice 5, are at school.

Henry’s service records show that he enlisted at St George's Hall on 04th September, 1914, joining the 17th Battalion of the Kings Liverpool Regiment as Private No 15955. He gave his age as 19 years and 10 days (in fact he had just turned 18 and had added one year to his age in order to serve overseas) and his occupation as a clerk. He was described as being 5’9” tall weighed 138lbs and had a 35½” chest, he had a fair complexion with blue eyes and, brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England. 

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th 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. He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

At Grantham on 02nd July 1915 he was confined to barracks for 3 days for remaining in bed 30 minutes after reveille.

The Battle of the Somme began on 01st July 1916. Henry's Casualty Form shows he suffered a gunshot wound to the head on 01/02 July 1916 and was admitted to 21st Casualty Clearing Station, "Spl Wd. forehead". He was transferred to No.10 General Hospital at Rouen and joined the 30th I.B.D. at Etaples on the 11th.  He  was posted to the 18th Bn. and joined that unit on the 12th July, only to be transferred back to the 17th on 21st July.

He was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 19, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

17th Battalion Diary 30th July 1916

The Battalion was in support to 19 & 20 Battalions K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.

Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.

Casualties in the 17th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks

Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917

The 17th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions) in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30th 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 55th Division during the early hours of the 31st July. 

The events of 30th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89th 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.  

Notices were placed in the Liverpool Echo on 28th August and 29th August 1916:  

ROLL OF HONOUR

Private R. H. Goulbourn (19) who had been previously wounded has been killed in action.  He was the younger son of Mr & Mrs J Goulbourn of Eaton Avenue, Litherland.  Educated at Oakes Institute, Walton and joined the “Pals” shortly after the outbreak of war and went out to France with the original draft.  Later becoming attached to the Machine Gun team over which his brother had command.  The latter L/Cpl A. J. Goulbourn is now convalescent favourably recovering from his second wound.

A further notice was placed in the Liverpool Echo on 31st August, 1916 under the header

CONDOLENCES

Mr & Mrs John Goulbourn and family of 61 Eaton Avenue Litherland tender sincere thanks to friends for letters and expressions of sympathy in the loss of their youngest son Henry was killed in action whilst bringing in a wounded comrade in his 19^th year.  ‘Henry’ youngest son of John and Margaret Goulbourn, 61 Eaton Avenue, Litherland  (I gave my life for Thee – Deeply Mourned).

He was listed as killed in action in the Liverpool Daily Post on 12th September 1916: 

Killed. 

King’s(Liverpool Regiment) Goulbourn, 15955, R. H. (Liverpool); 

Henry's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing.

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.”

His outstanding Army pay and a War Gratuity of £8-10 went to his father John. No pension card has been found, indicating that his parents did not apply for a pension.

His brother Albert enlisted on 02nd September 1914, also in the 17th Bn. K.L.R.  as Private 15991. The brothers trained together and shipped to France together.  Albert was promoted to L/Cpl in May 1916.  He was wounded by artillery fire on 15th May 1916, suffering wounds to the left shoulder and a fractured left radius bone (forearm). He was evacuated to the U.K. on 20th May and treated at the 1st Scottish General Hospital in Aberdeen until 25th July 1916. After recuperating from his wounds he was transferred to the Royal Engineers, and qualified as a motor cyclist despatch rider with a Signalling Co.  Albert remained in the U.K.

On his Next of Kin form dated 20th April 1919 his parents John and Margaret with his siblings Albert John 25, Annie Hilda 23, Edith Mary 21, Elsie Margaret 18, and Alice May 16 were all residing at 61 Eaton Avenue, Litherland.

Liverpool Echo 1st August 1921 

GOULBOURN - In loving memory of HENRY Liverpool Pals, killed in action, July 30, 1916.  

Ever remembered by all at home  

GOULBOURN - In devoted memory of my son HENRY, killed in action, July 30, 1916 (Always in my thoughts) - Mother.   

His parents moved across the Mersey to Wallasey, where his father died in 1935, aged 71.

In 1939 his mother Margaret, 73, lived in a first floor flat in Dalton Road in Wallasey with daughter Alice, 34,  who kept a grocery shop.

His mother died in 1940, aged 73.

Richard Henry's name does not appear on the Sefton or Litherland Memorials, or on any online commemorative sites.

Richard Hy Goulbourne (sic) is commemorated in Gladstone Road Congregational Church in Kensington, Liverpool (however no R. Goulbourne is found in CWGC records).

Grateful thanks are extended to Allan Beard who gave permission for us to use the photograph of Henry now on this site.

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