Pte 23017 Charles Henry Green

• Age: 24
• From: Widnes, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Guillemont Rd Cem
  Panel Ref: V.M.3

Charles Henry Green was born in Widnes on the 01st August 1892 the son of Charles Green and his wife Sarah (nee Ranson) who married in 1876 at St. Michael's Church, Huyton. He was baptised on the 19th August at St Michael's Church, Widnes. His father was born in Knowsley and his mother in Huyton. Charles was the seventh of their eight children, three of whom died in infancy. Annie was born  in Huyton, after which her parents moved to Ashton in Makerfield, where Thomas (who died) and Arthur were born. The family had moved to Widnes by 1884 where five more children were born: Mary Ellen, Phoebe Ann, Sarah Jane (died),  Charles, and Thomas (died). 

At the time of the 1901 Census the family are living at 14 Charles Street, Widnes. The couple lived there for most of their marriage. His father Charles is aged 48, recorded as a blacksmith which he was to be all his working life, having served his time as an apprentice when he was young, mother Sarah is aged 46. Charles junior is 8 and has two siblings also living there – 20 year old Arthur who is a joiner's labourer and 13 year old Pheobe. There are also two other sisters Annie who was born in 1878 and Mary in 1885. 

Prior to the outbreak of the war Charles was employed as a Blacksmiths striker at Mort Liddell Works, Widnes. He also played football for St Paul’s Juniors.

Charles enlisted on 10th November 1914 in Liverpool, joining the 20^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 23017. He gave his age as 22 years and 93 days and his occupation as a clerk. He was described as being five feet three inches tall, weighed 180lbs, 34" chest, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England nd next of kin father Charles, of 14 Charles Street. 

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th 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. 

07.11.15: He embarked for France with his battalion. 

He was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 24, 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.

Charles was initially reported as Wounded in early August. His anxious parents posted a notice in several papers:- 

In early September his Casualty Form shows him as Wounded and Missing.

Included in his military record is a letter from the War Office to Infantry Records (unfortunately the date is not legible):

"The Director of Graves Registration and Enquiries reports that the above named soldier's grave has been located. Will you please inform the next-of-kin accordingly, expressing the regret of the Army Council that it must now be definitely accepted that the soldier was killed. It should be added that his name will shortly be published in the official casualty lists."

An entry on his Casualty Form shows death accepted in July 1917.

Charles was buried close to where he fell and after the war, when graves were concentrated, his body was removed and reinterred in Guillemont Road Cemetery where he now rests. 

Guillemont was an important point in the German defences at the beginning of the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. It was taken by the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on 30 July but the battalion was obliged to fall back, and it was again entered for a short time by the 55th (West Lancashire) Division on 8 August. On 18 August, the village was reached by the 2nd Division, and on 3 September (in the Battle of Guillemont) it was captured and cleared by the 20th (Light) and part of the 16th (Irish) Divisions. It was lost in March 1918 during the German advance, but retaken on 29 August by the 18th and 38th (Welsh) Divisions.

The cemetery was begun by fighting units (mainly of the Guards Division) and field ambulances after the Battle of Guillemont, and was closed in March 1917, when it contained 121 burials. It was greatly increased after the Armistice when graves (almost all of July-September 1916) were brought in from the battlefields immediately surrounding the village.

Guillemont Road Cemetery now contains 2,263 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 1,523 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to eight casualties known or believed to be buried among them.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

Charles' headstone bears the epitaph:

"AT REST"

He is also remembered on the following Memorials:

St Paul’s and St Mary’s Churches in Widnes.

Widnes War Memorial

Charles earned his three medals.

His outstanding Army pay of £4 7s 2d and a War Gratuity of £7-10s went to his father Charles.

His mother was awarded a pension of 2/6d a week from May 1917, increased to 5/- from November 1918, then to 14/- in 1920, and reduced to 10/2d in 1921.

In 1919 parents are living at 14 Charles Street, Simms Cross, Widnes, with Phoebe, 31. Arthur, 37, was married and living in Rose Street, Widnes; Mary, 34, lived in Chile; Annie had died in Suffolk in 1915, aged 37.

His father died in 1920 aged 68, and his mother in 1933 at the age of 78.

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