Rifleman William James Blundell, 6th KLR

William James Blundell was born in Liverpool around January 1883, the son of William James Blundell (Book keeper) and Frances Elizabeth Blundell (formerly Law) of Mossley Hill. He was baptised in St Nathaniel’s Church, Liverpool on 4th Feb 1883 with his sister Lillie. Sadly, records show that Lillie died a year later, aged just 16 months.

The 1891 census show the family lived at 9 Cedar Grove which is in the Toxteth area of Liverpool. Head of the household, William Senior, was aged 38 and employed as a bookkeeper, the household consisted of his wife Frances (aged 38) son William James aged 8 and a scholar and daughter Edith aged 5.

A decade later the family were still living at 9 Cedar Grove, William senior was employed as a ‘commercial book keeper’ William junior was aged 18 and employed as a ship-broker’s clerk, Edith was aged 15.

By the time of the 1911 census the family had moved to 13 Heathfield Rd, Wavertree. Father was employed as a cashier for a hide-broker, the census confirms that one of their children had died (Lillie) but shows that they had three living children – an older daughter Amelia Annie Blundell was living with them for this census, she was employed as a teacher for Liverpool Council of Education. Son William was working as a Clerk (correspondence) for a provisions merchant and Edith was not employed.

William James Blundell joined the 6th Battalion of the King’s Liverpool Regiment. This was a Territorial Battalion of the Liverpool Regiment. William’s service records have not survived but we can see from his medal entitlement that he received the Victory Medal and the British War Medal but not the 1914 or 1915 star, this means he did not go overseas before 31st Dec 1915. This suggests he was not in the Territorials pre-war as they were mobilised immediately and went overseas very early in the war.

These facts leave a small window of time when William must have gone overseas, sometime between the 1st Jan 1916 and when he was reported missing in action in August 1916.

Interestingly, William had two regimental numbers with the 6th Battalion of the Kings Liverpool Rifles: 4120 and 241815. This is not unusual as the 6-digit numbers were issued to all territorial battalions in 1917 to replace their 4-digit numbers. However, this renumbering happened after William was missing in action so it is probable that it was done in the period after he was reported missing and before he was officially declared dead and he never actually served with the longer number.

Pension records show that Rifleman William James Blundell was reported wounded and missing on 13th August 1916.

The Battalion War Diary doesn’t mention William by name (as usual, only the officers are named) but the record for the day William went missing gives an idea of what happened to him. I have edited the text slightly to expand abbreviations and add clarity:

13 Aug 1916. Trenches in front MALTZ HORN FARM

Battalion at [map reference] A15 A 45 85. C Company attached German frontline at 4:30am with a company of 5 South Lancashire Regiment in support. They got to within 10 yards of enemy trench but were forced to retire by heavy gun fire and bombs. Rejoined Battalion during the morning. Casualties Lieutenant E L Oliver wounded, 2nd Lieutenant H E St George missing. Other Ranks: 1 killed, 27 wounded, 12 missing.

Rifleman Blundell’s body was not recovered and he has no known grave, his name is inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial. Click here to open the CWGC entry for William.

Pension records show that his mother was granted a dependent’s pension for the death of her son.

When William’s sister Edith died in 1919 and was buried in Toxteth Park Cemetery the family erected a headstone with an inscription for Edith, William and Lillie, later joined by their parents and sister Amelia.