Pte 25725 Harry Clifford Grace

• Age: 19
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

25725 Private Harry Clifford GRACE, 18^th Battalion KLR.

Harry was born in Liverpool in 1897, the son of  Harry, a printer compositor, and his wife Kate Georgina (nee Coles), both born in Somerset, who were married on the 01st July 1879 at St Matthew’s Church, Islington. Harry was a compositor already from Georges Road, Liverpool, father Orlando Edwin, whilst Kate was aged 20 of 244 Essex Road, Islington, father James. 

In 1901 the family lived at 9 Woodville Terrace, Everton, all of their children having been born in Liverpool. Harry is aged 4 and lives with both parents and six siblings. His father is a 44 year old printer/compositor born in Bath, whilst his mother is 42 years old also born in Bath. His siblings are listed as Alice Martha aged 19 and a dressmaker,  Edith Annie aged 17 and a bookbinder's stitcher, their eldest son, Ernest Henry, is a 13 year old telegraph messenger, Stanley is aged 9, Norah aged 5 and Ida Gladys aged 1. They also have a visitor John Davids, a 34 year old Master Mariner. 

The 1911 Census shows the family are still living at 9 Woodville Terrace. Both parents are resident and advise that they have been married for 31 years and ten of their thirteen children have survived. Harry is now 14 and a butcher's errand boy. His father is aged 54 and recorded as a lavatory attendant in a Shipping works, mother Kate is aged 52. Of his siblings;  Ernest aged 22 is now a commercial traveller for a sack manufacturer; their next son, Orlando Stanley aged 19, is a locomotive cleaner with the London and North Western Railway Company,  Gladys J. is 11, Herbert L. 9, and Millicent 6. 

Harry enlisted on the 14th May 1915 joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 27525 at which time he was employed by Messrs William Bright & Sons, Cotton Brokers of Liverpool Cotton Exchange. 

He was a prominent member of the Richmond Baptist Church and a keen boy scout being assistant scoutmaster of 89 Troop.

Harry’ sailed to France as part of a reinforcement draft in March 1916.

He was killed in action on the 01^st July 1916 during the attack at Montauban on the opening day of the Battle of the Somme.

18^th Battalion Diary

At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great spirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks.

Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:

As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.  

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter  wrote in the conclusion of his account of the days action:

I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:

“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”.    

Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18^th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on the 27th July 1916: 

FALLEN AND WOUNDED “PALS.”  

Private Harry Grace, third son of Mr. and Mrs. Grace. 136, Queen’s road, Liverpool, was killed by a shell. His platoon sergeant, writing to Mrs. Grace, says: “ He proved himself a brave soldier, and gallant young man, and loved by all his comrades, who acutely feel his loss.” Private Grace joined the Pals in May, 1915, and went to France in March last. He was 19 years of age, and previous to enlisting was employed by Messrs. Wm. Bright and Sons, cotton brokers. He was a prominent member of Richmond Baptist Church, Breck-road, and Assistant Scoutmaster of the 89th Troop B.P. Scout, connected with the church. 

His death was also reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on the 07th August 1916: 

Killed 

King’s (Liverpool Regt.) - Grace, 27525, H. C. (Liverpool); 

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

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.”

Soldiers Effects to father Harry, Pension to mother Kate, 136 Queen’s Rd. 

He is also remembered on the following Memorials:

Richmond Baptist Church, Grasmere Street, Everton.

Liverpool Cotton Exchange War memorial now situated at Walker House, Exchange Flags, Liverpool.

He is also remembered on the family headstone: 

ALSO PTE. HARRY C GRACE  18th K.L.R.

SON OF THE ABOVE

KILLED IN ACTION ON THE SOMME 1st JULY 1916

AGED 19 YEARS 

His father, Harry, a compositor, died, aged 65, on the 12th April 1922 and was buried on the 17th April at Anfield Cemetery. 

Probate 1922:- 

GRACE Harry of 136 Queens Road Liverpool timekeeper died 12 April 1922 Administration(with Will) Liverpool 26 September to Kate Georgina Grace widow. Effects £745 6s 4d. 

His mother died, aged 80, in 1939 and was buried on the 26th April at Anfield Cemetery, her address 139 Townsend Avenue. 

We currently have no further information on Harry Clifford Grace, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.