A route to the heroes of the past

May 17 2008 by Peter Elson, Liverpool Daily Post

We learn Private Gibbs first went to Parkhall Camp, Oswestry and then sailed from Southampton to Rouen on June 29, 1916, and onto Etaples for hard-training in the ‘bull-ring’. Dennis says: “This was so harsh that most men were relieved to go and fight the Germans. “

Private Gibbs was attached to the Manchester Regiment to replace heavy losses, on July 6, 1916. Wounded after eight days, he died two days later – just 17 days after arrival in France.

He was just one of numerous Manchester Regiment soldiers who were killed in the carnage of the Somme, his name is listed at the Arras Memorial, France. His widow later married a Mr Hanger and emigrated to Wellington, New Zealand.

We also found he was a member of St Athanasius Church, Fountain Road, Kirkdale, which was destroyed in the May 1941 Liverpool Blitz.

Joe adds a chilling memory to this latter matter. He says: “My Aunt Maud Duffy, Uncle Bernard and their three-month-old daughter were killed on May 3, in Fountain Road, the same day the church was destroyed.”

We find a Liverpool Scottish soldier from Botanic Road, near as possible to where we are standing. Private Penny lived at No 41, with his wife Amelia, and was originally a Liverpool Pal.

But he never came back to Botanic Road or, indeed, Liverpool. He died of his wounds on August 29, 1918, just before the Armistice.

“By finding these snippets from various sources we build up a picture of a life long forgotten. Why are people now so interested? They have more time on their hands and the internet has given access to records that simply didn’t exist before,” says Dennis.

Another character to emerge from our random delvings was W H Seward, a White Star Line officer from 45 Rock Street, Liverpool, who survived the Titanic disaster, of 1912.

Registered as 3443 with the 3/10 Battalion, Mr Seward took the oath of allegiance on September 29, 1914, but was medically discharged on May 25, 1915. Why?

“After Titanic sank, he was submerged in the North Atlantic’s icy waters for two and a half hours before being rescued and his lungs and heart were permanently damaged,” says Dennis.

“It wasn’t unusual to find that some people couldn’t cope with the pace of training. Rheumatics from living in damp houses was a big problem, as was epilepsy.

Joe and his son Joe junior have gathered a staggering list of 75,000 officers and men on the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) database and has added 4,500 photos, citations and personnel records.

“Some of this information is available on the internet elsewhere, but our experts like Dennis, have a military background, so can interpret it for lay-researchers,” says Joe.

“This is very much a two-way system. We like to give information, but we also want correspondents to share their information. It’s growing like topsy and will never end.”

Like so many, it was a family link that drew Joe, who was born in Wavertree Road, Edge Hill, into researching the King’s Regiment.

He says: “My mother gave me my grandfather, Kingsman Robert McCabe’s, medals. When asked what he did for them, she had no idea. That’s how it started.”

Dennis says that researchers should be careful of a soldier’s unique registration number as these changed if they moved regiments.

“Soldiers switched regiments to fill gaps caused by death, or simply for promotion and extra pay. Some soldiers had six different numbers in their service career.

“With Liverpool Scottish soldiers being aspirational and educated many moved on to gain commissions elsewhere. In the First World War 680 men moving up from the ranks.”

Joe says: “One of the most touching moments was at an open day when an old lady arrived with some medals on tattered ribbons.

“I saw they were an Military Cross and Bar – very impressive – and she said they were her father’s medals. We looked him up and she burst into tears, saying she felt he’d suddenly come alive after all these years.”

Phil Ross, from Ainsdale, was intrigued to find more about his paternal grandfather, Ernest Ross, and three great uncles – Robert, George and Herbert – seven years ago.

“Dennis and the late Major David Evans helped find out their histories and I was hooked. It is absolutely fascinating to turn up information such as Mr Seward from the Titanic.

“It all helps people understand the human factor in these great events. Other historians can look after the battles, but it’s the people I’m interested in.”

peter.elson@dailypost.co.uk

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