BURCHILL William Patrick L/Cpl 85717

The user is advised to read the FINDING AIDS document linked to this catalogue for an explanation of the method by which this record has been created and any terms used.

Surname: BURCHILL;

Forename(s): William Patrick;

Initials: WP;

Number: 85717;

Rank: L/Cpl;

Born in: Liverpool;

Enlisted in: Liverpool;

Resided in: Liverpool;

Previous Number: 58741;

Previous Regiment: Liverpool Regt;

MGC Branch: Infantry;

MGC Unit: 32 Bn;

How killed: KIA;

Where: France;

When killed: 30-Sep-1918;

Awarded: MM;

Other Data: War Office Casualty List 14/5/1918
Liverpool Football Echo 19/10/1918 "This soldier, of Hothfield Road, Seacombe was killed in France on September 30th. His wife is Mrs Agnes Birchill (agnes Morley), daughter of the late John Morley, Crosby Hotel, Crosby. In a letter from one of his officers describing how L/Cpl Burchill won the MM, it was said that he showed great gallantry and devotion to duty throughout the whole of the operations on August 11th 1918. When all senior NCOs became casualties, he rendered assistance in keeping gun teams together and saving gun-kits. He kept two guns in action and inspired the men by his cool example to bring heavy artillery barrage on the front line system. Lance Corporal Burchill was thirty-two years of age, a St Francis Xavier Schoolboy, and a rare sport." PHOTOGRAPH

William Patrick Burchill, M M, Lance Corporal, 85717, 32nd Battalion. Machine Gun Corps (Inf), 30th September 1918. Age 32. Son of Samuel and Ellen Burchill, of Everton, Liverpool; husband of Agnes L. Burchill, of 108, Bell Rd. Seacombe, Cheshire. St. Francis, Xavier Schoolboy. La Baraque British Cemetery, Aisne, France, A. 26.

Born Liverpool. Son of Ellen Birchill of 96 Canterbury St, Liverpool. As of June 1919 his siblings were Edward Samuel Burchill aged 44 of 90 Upper Beau St, Liverpool, Walter John Burchill aged 36 of 94 Canterbury St, Adelaide Burchill? aged 40 of 12 Hackins Hey, Liverpool and Alice Burchill aged 38 of 94 Canterbury St. Husband of Agnes Lovelady Burchill (formerly Morley) of 14 Curzon Rd, Waterloo later (1919) of 21 Beech Grove, Seaforth and 13 Hotfield Rd, Seacombe - they married in Liverpool on 30/10/15 and had one so John William Burchill b. 14/5/16. Enlisted Seaforth 11/12/16. Aged 30 years 3 months at enlistment, address 14 Curzon Rd, Waterloo, occupation porter/warehouseman with JH Taylor of Liverpool (described as an HM Factory), height 5' 10", weight 142lbs with very good physical development, religion Roman Catholic. He was posted to the Depot KLR and was transferred to 49 Training Battalion MGC. Posted to 5 Battalion MGC in Feb 1917. At Clipstone on 8/4/17 when he was serving as No TR/35625 49 Training Reserve Battalion, he was confined to barracks for 10 days and deprived of 10 days pay for 'When on active service i) when isolated breaking out of camp and ii) absenting himself without leave from Tattoo until 9:30pm on 11th (3 days). To France (Folkestone - Boulogne) 14/4/17 and joined the Base Depot the following day. Joined 96 Company MGC in the Field 20/4/17. Appointed unpaid Lance Corporal 24/7/17. Admitted 24 London Field Ambulance 10/8/17. Admitted 24 Casualty Clearing Station 11/8/17. Admitted 57 General Hospital (Boulogne) 20/8/17 and reverted to the rank of Private. Admitted 3 Convalescent Depot 30/8/17. Joined MGC Base Depot Camiers 20/11/17. Joined 14 Company MGC in the Field 13/12/17. On leave to the UK from 14-28/2/18. Wounded in action and remained at duty 30/2/18. Appointed unpaid Lance Corporal 15/7/18 and paid Lance Corporal 27/9/18. His widow received a pension of 20s 5d for herself and her son from 28/4/19. (Soldiers Papers - Ancestry)

Lived at Hothfield Rd, Seacombe. His wife Agnes Burchill (nee Morley) was the daughter of the late John Morley of Crosby Hotel, Crosby. 'He showed great gallantry and devotion to duty throughout the whole of the operations of 11 August 1918. When all senior NCOs became casualties he rendered assistance in keeping gun teams together and saving gun kits. He kept two guns in action and inspired the men by his cool example to bring a heavy artillery barrage on the front line system. He was 32 years old. Educated at St Francis Xavier's. Photo (Liverpool Football Echo 19/10/18 -Worthies p264-265)

1911 Census RG14PN22533 RG78PN1325 RD455 SD8 ED20 SN35
William Patrick Burchill
Age: 25
Occupation : assistant to hay and straw dealer
Address: 67 Everton Brow, Liverpool - the dwelling had 6 rooms
Estimated Birth Year: 1897
Where born: Bootle
Father's name: Samuel Burchill, 67, Army pensioner/nightwatchman, b. Paltown, Co Wexford, Ireland
Mother's name: Eleanor Burchill, 64, b. Athlone Co Meath, Ireland
Jane Coughlan, 59, widowed maternal aunt, servant, b. Athlone Co Meath, Ireland
His parents had been married for 40 years - 5 of their 10 children had survived.

1901 Census Class: RG13; Piece: 3480; Folio: 131; Page: 17.
William P Burchill
Age: 15
Occupation: capsule man
Address: 44 Rupert Hill, Everton, Liverpool
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1886
Relation: Son
Father's name: Samuel Burchill, 56, Army pensioner/porter, b. Ireland
Mother's name: Eleanor Burchill, 50, b. Ireland
Where born: Liverpool
Alice Burchill 22, b. Bangalore, India
Walter J Burchill 18, capsule man, b. Liverpool

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------;

Other Notes: BURCHILL, Lance Corporal, WILLIAM P., M M, 85717. 32nd Bn. Machine Gun Corps (Inf). Killed in action 30th September 1918. Age 32. Son of Samuel and Ellen Burchill, of Everton, Liverpool; husband of Agnes L. Burchill, of 108, Bell Rd., Seacombe, Cheshire. St. Francis Xavier schoolboy. A. 26. La Baraque British Cemetery - Aisne, France.
MM: LG 24/1/1919;

END OF RECORD.

Users to read Finding Aids page. Further information may contain GDPR-protected information and not be released. Appointment required for access or paid research.