17613 Corporal George J Harker, 19th Liverpool Regiment
- Amanda T
- May 25, 2020
- 6 min read
Identification.
There was only one George J Harker in the CWGC database and he lived near St James’ Church so I am satisfied that it is the right man.
Family Information
George James Harker was born on 1st December 1891 in Liverpool. He was baptised on 27th January 1892 in St Catherine's Church, Edge Hill. His parents were Edward Harker (a time keeper) and Beatrice Alice, they lived at 60 Albert Road, Spekeland (this is right by Edge Hill train station and Edward was a railway time keeper)
In the 1901 census the whole family (including a 19 day old baby who had no name yet!) were enumerated at the house of Beatrice Alice's parents
The 1911 census record shows the family living at 107 Upper Stanhope Street, Beatrice's mother and siblings were with them. George J Harker was working as a railway Clerk, his father was a railway timekeeper and his brothers worked as a railway crane boy and railway number taker. His uncle was also a railway porter. Sadly we can see that the baby on the previous census did not survive.
The railway company records of employment for George James Harker at Brunswick Station are available on Ancestry.co.uk. The first page shows his date of birth 1st Dec 1891, he was appointed 14/11/1910 and his rates of pay were recorded:
14/11/1910 it was 14/- (14 shillings)
15/1/1912 in increased to 16/-
a1/7/1912 'new scale 17/6 19 years of age'
16/12/1912 it increased to 21/-
It is recorded that he left the position because he was killed in action 28th March 1916
Military Service
There are actually two medal cards for George, they both have the same regimental number but different middle initials. There is a notation on each card to this effect and the original card has a note that the correct initials G J are authorised for the medals.
The card also shows that he entered the theatre of war (1) France on 7th November 1915.
George Harker’s service records have survived. His attestation paper shows that he signed up on 11th Sept 1914 for the duration of the war. This means that he volunteered just one month after war was declared.
Information extracted from the other papers shows that he was posted at home from 11/9/14 to 6/11/15 then posted to France on 7/11/15
His medical papers shows that George was 5ft 5 inches tall and weighed 126 lbs. He had a fresh complexion, dark brown eyes and hair. His only distinguishing mark was a mole on his left arm. This paper also states that on enlistment he was in the 19th service battalion of the King’s (Liverpool) Regiment. This battalion was also known as the 3rd City Battalion or the 3rd Liverpool Pals. A further paper tells us he was in number 2 company of the 19th service battalion
The 19th KLR trained at Belton Park, Grantham in 1915 and on 11/8/15 George was charged with ‘improper conduct in the ranks’ and was given 3 days CB (confined to barracks).
He embarked for France with the Liverpool Pals in November 1915.
In August 1916 he was appointed Lance Corporal. His papers show that in September 1916 he completed a course with the Trench Mortar Battery and then spent some time with the 202nd Company of the Royal Engineers.
He was granted Class II proficiency pay after this training, this was an extra 3d per day and suggests that he had special skills (presumably from the mortar training) although it could be because he had two years service with the colours.
On 11th September 1916 George was granted a good conduct badge for his two years of service and on Christmas Eve 1916 he was granted leave to the UK for two weeks, he would have visited his family. He returned to his regiment on 8th January 1917.
On 1st July 1917 he was granted Class I proficiency pay which was 6d per day. On 8th August 1917 he was appointed Acting Corporal (paid) and this was confirmed on 2nd September that year.
His second period of home leave was from 21st November 1917 to 7th December 1917. When he returned he spent three weeks with the 30th division Road Party.
He rejoined the 19th KLR on 22nd February 1918.
An entry on a list of the wounded and missing shows that Corporal Harker was in Platoon VIII, Company B, 19th Battalion, The King's Liverpool Regiment when he was killed in action on 28th March 1918.
The pension form completed by his mother in May 1919 shows that George's father died four months after George in July 1918, the rest of his family were listed as next of kin with his mother and siblings living at 41 Coltart Street. The form was countersigned by F.Lloyd, Clerk in Holy Orders at St James’ Church, whose brother was also on the memorial.
2 of George’s brothers were also enlisted and served overseas during the war; Corporal Edward Harker 308589 and Pte Edgar Harker R.A.M.C. they both survived.
Death and Commemoration
George James Harker was killed in action with the Liverpool Pals on the 28th March 1918. There is an extract from the Battalion War Diary below covering the week leading up to his death.
George Harker has no known grave, his name is inscribed on the Pozieres memorial in France.
His family placed the following notice in the Liverpool Echo:
HARKER – March 28, killed in action, aged 26 years, Corpl. George James K.L.R. the dearly beloved eldest son of Edward and Beatrice Harker, 41 Coltart-road.
WAR DIARY OF THE 19TH KLR
21/03/1918
At 4:30am the Germans bombarded the front line trenches very heavily. At 5am the alarm was given to Man Battle Stations. The Battalion marched from DURY to GERMAINE passing the starting point at 6:15am and ‘stood to’ there. New defensive positions were dug around GERMAINE. About 11:30pm the battalion moved up from GERMAINE to the battle zone, the Germans having occupied the front line of the battle zone and we were ordered to counter attack and re-capture our positions in the front line of the battle zone.
22/03/1918
The battalion moved up accordingly, being in position at 6:30am. At 3pm the enemy attacked the left of our position and advanced on our left flank towards FLUQUIERES. At 4:£0pm our attack was launched on our front and the enemy forced his way through on our right. The remainder of the battalion was forced to reture to south of FLUQUIERES. During this engagement the battalion lost 11 officers and about 210 O.R. the order was given to retire to the defences at 11am. The battalion by this time was very weak an passing through the 20th Division took up position in HAM as ordered, getting into position at 2am. The defences in HAM fell at 6am and the Battalion, with the rest of the division, retired, taking up a position near EPPEVILLE on the banks of the canal. The division was then forced to retire to a position on the line NESLE-NOYON cananl.
23/03/1918 MOYENCOURT
The battalion had to avain withdraw to MOYENCOURT taking up a position on the canal between ESMERY HALLON and MOYENCOURT. By this time the total number of casualties in the battalion was 19 officers and 340 OR.
24/03/1918 ROYE EGLISE
The battalion was again ordered to withdraw and move to ROYE EGLISE during the evening, arriving at 7:30pm During this operation Major C N BIGGS M.C. and LT J.W PARKER and about 60 OR became casualties.
25/03/1918
At 9:30pm the battalion moved by bus to PLESSIER and were billeted for the night.
26/03/1918
In the morning the battalion was reorganised and numbered 7 officers and 211 OR fighting strength. At 11am the battalion was ordered to take up a position on the ROUVROY-BOUCHOIR as the enemy had again broken through and was in possession of ROYE. The night was spent ‘standing to’ in the new position.
27/03/1918
During the morning the attack on our right and left continued the Battalion now being in the support line, and was withdrawn at 11am, both flanks having gone and a position was taken up on a line FOLIES-ARVILLERS.
The battalion supporting the 2nd battalion Befordshire Regt and 2n battalion royal Scottish Fusiliers. This position was held during the night,
28/3/1918
During the morning the enemy attacked the troops on our right flank and succeeded in capturing ARVILLERS, menacing our right flank. Three companies of the battalion had to be immediately echeloned backwards as protection, the battalion engaging the enemy who were attempting to come out of ARVILLERS. The position was held during heavy fighting until 2pm, when the battalion was informed that fresh troops had come into position in the rear. In order for the division to be relieved the battalion had to hold their ground whilst the 2nd Bn Bedfordshire Regt and 2nd Battalion RSFs passed through on their way to the rear. At 4pm the battalion commenced to move off in small parties, pressing throughthe Franch and marching through MEZIERES MOREUIL to MORISEL where hot dinner was provided. The battalion then formed up and moved up by companies to ROUVREL and were billeted for the night. By this time the casualties had reached 23 officers 457 OR.
So George Harker was one of the many casualties of March 1918, after several weeks fighting without rest the three battalions of the 89th Brigade (all Liverpool Pals Battalions) were so depleted that they were amalgamated to form a single battalion.
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