Pte George Egerton, 1st Cheshires, Died 29/7/16

[John_Hartley]

Name: EGERTON

Initials: G

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Private

Regiment: Cheshire Regiment

Unit Text: 1st Bn.

Date of Death: 29/07/1916

Service No: 26518

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: VIII. G. 27.

Cemetery: CATERPILLAR VALLEY CEMETERY, LONGUEVAL

[John_Hartley]

SDGW shows that he was born and lived at Thingwall. At the time this was a very small village some 5 miles south of Birkenhead (where he enlisted). The population in 1901 was only 109, but I cannot find any listing for him on the Census.

His number confirms that he was a later joiner of the battalion and may not have been in France for long. He is not commemorated on any Cheshire war memorials (according to carlscam.com).

Crookenden's History of the Regiment records:-

"On the night of the 28th/29th July, the 1st battalion, which was in Brigade reserve SE of Mametz, moved up across Caterpillar Valley and occupied the northern and western edges of Longueval. Companies moved independently and the Battalion, with the exception of Headquarters, had reached their positions before the usual barrage came down on the south edge of the village. Battalion headquarters, however, had to pass through this barrage and it was with the greatest difficulty that the Headquarter's dug-out, said to be at the cross roads by the church, was eventually found. This barrage died down as suddenly as it had begun, but started again at 04.00 on 29th and continued intermittantly all day, evetually setting fire to the headquarter's dug-out which was evacuated amidst bursting of Mills' grenades stored at the entrance.

On the night of the 29th/30th, the 13th Brigade relieved the 15th Brigade and the Battalion withdrew into Divisional reserve near mametz. Our casualties had been very heavy. On withdrawal from Longueval, our strength was under 300 of all ranks."

[Stephen Nulty]

John

I have found a George Egerton in the 1891 census aged 6. He is living in Grange Road, West Kirby and has his place of birth recorded as Birkenhead. Could this be our man? It would make him around 31 at the time of death, so it's feasible.

Steve