Sergeant George J MacKarell
- Amanda T
- Oct 4, 2021
- 4 min read
There was only one entry for George J MacKarell in the CWGC database and it gave his parents names and address in Liverpool.
George James Mackarell was born on 3rd June 1897 in Formby, Lancashire. His parents were William and Alice Mackarell.
It's possible that George was not strong as a newborn as his parents had him baptised, without a christian name, just 2 days later.
He was christened with his full name, alongside his brother, William Ernest, on 28th January 1900:
The 1901 census shows the family living in Wallasey, their address was recorded as '1 Model Farm' and William (aged 30) was working as a stockman: agricultural cattle. Alice did not have an occupation and they had a daughter Alice M aged 5 and George aged 3. They also had a boarder who is a milk dealer.
You can read more about Wallasey's Model Farm on this local history website.
In 1911 the family were living at 9 Newton St, Toxteth. William's occupation was cowman working for a milk dealer and Alice did not have an occupation. The census form shows that they had 3 surviving children and had lost 2. William Ernest from the baptism record and Alice M from the 1901 census were no longer with them. Their 3 surviving children were George James aged 13, Amy Lillian aged 7 and William Henry aged 5.
The history of cowkeepers in Liverpool is an interesting one, there are plenty of websites online, here's one article about them.
Military Information
George's service records haven't survived and the few records that do exist have an incorrect spelling of his surname.
His medal index card, with the spelling McCarroll, confirms George served with the 8th Battalion the Yorks & Lancs Regiment with the ranks of Lance Corporal then Sergeant, his regimental number was 16027.
The card records that George first entered the war in France on 27.8.1915 meaning he was eligible for the trio of campaign medals - the 1915 star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal. It also has a note to show that he was Killed in Action on 1.7.1916
The medal rolls and register of soldiers' effects also use the surname McCarroll.
Death and Commemoration
George James MacKarell was killed in action on 1st July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, he was 19 years old. The 1st July is infamous as a day of great loss of life for very little strategic gain and the battalion war diary shows that 90% of the 8th Yorks and Lancs Regiment who went over the top on this day didn't return.
8th Battalion Yorks and Lancs Regiment War Diary for July 1st 1916:
Trenches Authuille Wood (Somme)
Being the leading battalion on the left of the 70th brigade, in the attack near Ovillers the battalion assaulted as per Appendix 1. The attack was timed for 7.30am. For an hour previous to that hour the guns delivered an interval bombardment to which the enemy replied. At the time the assault commenced our front line trenches in the NAS were heavily shelled but the casualties were very few no gas was liberated on our front as the wind was unfavourable. The first wave left our trenches in perfect order and to time and were at once met by an exceptionally heavy fire from front and both flanks. Most of the men were killed or wounded but the remainder continued the advance. In spite of the heavy fire the remaining waves advanced to the attack but before getting halfway to the enemy trenches were mown down by the machine guns. About seventy men reached the enemy trenches, some of these eventually reached the enemy’s third lines of his front system of trenches, here they remained fighting for some time until all were killed or taken prisoners – one returned. The remainder were held up in the enemy front line and considerable fighting took place here until almost all were killed – only 3 returned. Many of the enemy were killed by our men both in his trenches and when he marched across the open to counter attack, the supporting battalion (9th York & Lancs) was also caught by the machine guns as they advanced to the attack and suffered so many casualties that only and odd man or two reached the German line where our men so badly needed support. The same happened to the reserve battalion (11th Sherwood Foresters).
The battalion as it went over the parapet numbered 680 non-commissioned officers & men and 23 officers. Of these only 68 men returned. All the officers were casualties, 18 being killed and missing, 5 wounded. The C.O. and adjutant were among the killed. In the evening the brigade was withdrawn, upon being relieved by the South Wales Borderers.
The following days were spent out of the line, questioning the survivors to try and ascertain who had been killed in action, wounded or taken prisoner.
Few of the casualties from this day were recovered and George James MacKarell has no known grave, his name is inscribed on the Thiepval War Memorial.
We know that George was quickly confirmed as killed in action rather than wounded or missing, as his family posted this notice in the Liverpool Echo on 7th August 1916
His death was reported the following day:
On the first anniversary of his death:
And the second anniversary:
CWGC and pension records show the correct surname of MacKarell and show that George's mother received a gratuity for the loss of her son.
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