Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
Duffy
24950
Edward
Private
Liverpool
12th October 1916?
Killed
Son of Mr. Duffy, of 13, Silvestor Street, Liverpool.
21st August 1916
Liverpool Courier 17/8/1916-EE

The above soldier appeared in a Casualty list published 17th August 1916.

On the CWGC his date of death is recorded as 12th October 1916

DUFFY, EDWARD

Rank:
Private
Service No:24950
Date of Death:12/10/1916
Regiment/Service:The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Bn. Grave Reference: 10.H.51. Cemetery:LONDON CEMETERY AND EXTENSION, LONGUEVAL

Edward appears in the list with the following men of the 17th/19th Battalion KLR and their date of deaths are recorded as having taken place between the 10th/12th July 1916

King's Liverpool Regiment Askew 15874 William Henry Charles
King's Liverpool Regiment Carmichael 32807 James A
King's Liverpool Regiment Croxson 15424 Charles G
King's Liverpool Regiment Damsell 15241 Arthur Shaw
King's Liverpool Regiment Edwards 25587 George Ernest Private Liverpool
King's Liverpool Regiment Fraser 21407 Charles Bernard Private Liverpool
King's Liverpool Regiment Hancock 15436 Harold Private Liverpool
King's Liverpool Regiment Harper 17845 Harry Lance-Corporal Liverpool
King's Liverpool Regiment Harvey 24834 Hugh Westerway Lance-Corporal Wallasey
King's Liverpool Regiment Henshaw 15002 Arthur James Lance-Corporal West Kirby
King's Liverpool Regiment Hunt 15065 Thomas Henry Lance-Corporal Wallasey
King's Liverpool Regiment Kelly 21412 Henry Fletcher Private Liverpool
King's Liverpool Regiment Kerr 27364 John George Private Everton
King's Liverpool Regiment McRobie 17906 Harold Dickson Acting Lance-Corporal Liverpool
King's Liverpool Regiment Moses 15006 Frank Sergeant New Brighton
King's Liverpool Regiment Ryder 15789 Clement Llewellyn Private Liverpool
King's Liverpool Regiment Sampson 15878 James Francis Private New Brighton
King's Liverpool Regiment Spence 15904 Robert Lillie Corporal Liverpool
King's Liverpool Regiment Warren 17984 John Henry Private Wallasey
King's Liverpool Regiment Williams 15320 George Roy Private Birkenhead
King's Liverpool Regiment Williams 17979 Norman Lloyd Private Hoylake
King's Liverpool Regiment Woodney 15500 Hugh Private Liverpool

Edward's date of death is the only one that I am questioning.

a report of his death appears in the Liverpool Daily Post 2nd August 1916 and also the Liverpool Echo. No obituary notice.

What I would like to know is how many soldiers of the 17th KLR are recorded as being Killed between the 10th/12th July 1916 in the Battalion Diary and where were the 17th KLR on 12th October 1916 and are there any casualties recorded.

Thank you for any help in advance.

Hi Kathy,

I have a note on his record in the database that the newspapers were a bit premature in reporting his death - it must have caused some distress to his family. Furthermore I have another primary source, which is not on the internet, which confirms that officially his death occurred between 10-12 October 1916 with A Coy. In all I have listed 102 officers and men who were killed between 10-12 Oct 1916 - all were listed on 12 Oct.

Extract from 17 KLR War Diary

Dernancourt
10/10/16
At 7am the Battalion marched from Dernancourt under Brigade Operational Order 58 to s.21.b and rested at this point for dinner and tea. Transport and Quartermaster stores moved to x.30.a.5/5. At 5pm the Battalion moved off in file to relieve a battalion of 123rd Infantry Brigade in the Front line north west of Flers via Longueval and across country.

Gird Trench and Gird Support
11/10/16
Relief completed with Battalion in Front Line and Support trenches. British bombardment of enemy front line system commenced about midday. Hostile shelling was intermittent throughout the day. Casualties:- 2nd Lt N Smith and 2nd Lt JH Fearon wounded. 7 Other ranks killed and 22 other ranks wounded.

Gird Trench and Gird Support
12/10/16
Our bombardment continued. Enemy reply weak. Zero Hour - 2.05pm and the attack on the German Front Line system commenced. The enemy wire was found to be uncut and the attack was unsuccessful. Hostile machine gun fire was very heavy and caused many casualties. Battalion HQ and support trench were heavily shelled throughout the afternoon and evening. A small platoon of 20 KLR (in support) only succeeded in reaching our front line at 5pm after which hour the supports gradually got into position. During this action all communication had to be carried out by runners and carrier pigeons as all wires were being continually cut by enemy shelling. Casualties:- killed Captain SCS Horser, 2nd Lt KG Collin, 2nd Lt Ireland, 2nd Lt W Hornby, 2nd Lt JG Dixon. Wounded Lt IVH Cambell, 2nd Lt AP Watson, 2nd Lt AS Boston, 2nd Lt JR Whittle and 2nd Lt FH Thraves. Killed 38 other ranks with about 225 other ranks wounded, missing etc.

Regards

Joe

Thanks Joe, it's strange that there is no correction and he doesn't appear in the lists which contain those killed on the 12th October 1916. The confusion of the battle?