Name: Martin Gallagher
Rank: Private
Unit/Regiment: 6th (Service) Battalion, The King’s Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry)
Service Number: 11573
Date of Death: 15 September 1915
Memorial: Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France
The heartache of repeated baby loss suffered by John and Mary Gallagher (née Sherlock) was not unusual in a time of high infant mortality. They were but one of the many couples in this period who saw baby after baby dying in the first weeks and months of life. Martin was one of their three boys who survived to adulthood. All their other children died well before their first birthdays.
Before moving to Batley the Irish-born couple lived in the Castle Eden/Castle Eden Colliery area of Durham. Despite the industrial-sounding name, it was a largely agricultural location with scattered collections of houses, villages and hamlets. Around a couple of miles from the sea, and about six miles north west of Hartlepool, this was where son John was born in 1874.
Two years later they were in Batley. It must have been a total contrast to their previous home, with its mills, mines, and much bigger and faster growing population. Contrast 1871 Castle Eden with a population of 693, and Monk Hesleden under which Castle Eden Colliery came with a population of 1,636 in 1871, and Batley whose 1871 population of 20,871 had grown to 27,505 in 1881. Even the colliery at Castle Eden, sunk in 1840, and a major employer locally providing jobs for around 1,100 men and boys must have seemed small scale when compared to the varied and bustling industries in their new hometown of Batley, with plentiful employment for women as well as men. It may well have been these job opportunities, as well as the friends and family ties in the towns’s Irish community, which provided the lure for the move to the Yorkshire mill town.
Daughter Sarah Ann was born in Batley in the summer of 1876. She survived for only two weeks. Her burial took place in Batley cemetery in July 1876. She was the first of their five children buried here. Michael, born in October 1877, survived for only three weeks before the Gallaghers once more made the sombre journey to Batley cemetery. Mary, born in 1879, did live slightly longer. But in August 1879, at seven months old, she too passed away. Ellen, born in June 1880, only survived for six weeks.
By April 1881, with the family living at Mill Lane in Batley, only son John was alive. Both John (senior) and Mary were recorded as working in the woollen textile industry in this census – John as a rag grinder and Mary as a rag sorter.1 Mary was once more in the early stages of pregnancy. Martin was born later that year, on 7 November.2
There was now an almost five-year gap before the Gallagher’s next child. Another daughter, Mary Ann, was born on 25 July 1886.3 But it was clear she was struggling to thrive. With the shadow of death hanging over her, an emergency baptism was carried out on 8 August and entered into the St Mary’s parish register. Two days later she departed life.
The Gallagher’s final child, Thomas, was born in November 1887. He, along with brothers John and Martin, are recorded in the 1891 census when the Gallagher family lived at 18 Ambler Street. Mary still worked as a rag sorter, but John (senior) now had employment as a mason’s labourer.4
The 1901 census found the Gallaghers at 16 Villiers Street with John (senior) now undertaking farm work. Martin too had employment working as a flock packer in a flock mill.5 Flock, of various qualities, was a short stapled fluffy fibre associated as a by-product of woollen and cotton manufacture, and used for stuffing furniture and beds. Also in the household were the two other Gallagher boys – John and Thomas. The major change to the family though was the absence of the boys’ mother, Mary. She had died less than two years earlier, on 2 June 1899, at Batley cottage hospital. Her burial took place the following day in Batley cemetery.6
By 13 February 1902 Martin was working as a mill hand at Queen Street Mills on Bradford Road, Batley. But he seemingly wanted more than this. After being medically rejected for regular military service, on this day he went to Pontefract to see if he could enlist with the militia.7 Operating until the Haldane Reforms were implemented in 1908, the militia was a national network of local part-time military units who generally remained at home serving as local defence units. After initial training, militiamen returned to their regular paid employment, but committed to regular training and annual camps each year.
Martin was accepted for this part-time military service and enlisted for six years as a Private with the 3rd King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. His papers also provide a brief description. At enlistment he stood at 5 feet 6½ inches, weighed 126lbs, had a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He performed this service diligently, with his papers showing he completed his service every year through to his time-expired discharge on 12 February 1908.8
Part-time military service complete, in 1911 Martin Gallagher and his father were boarders in the Cobden Street home of John George and Bridget Chappell. And it was Martin who completed the census form for the household.9
He and his father had once more changed jobs, both working as labourers for Batley Corporation.10 Now married, older brother John was living with his wife Bridget (née McGuire) in Birstall, along with their three young sons – John, Thomas and Redmond.11 From subsequent events it appears Martin was particularly close to his brother John. Younger brother Thomas was a boarder in the home of Michael Sherlock, at Bickershaw near Wigan.12 He would subsequently marry Michael’s daughter Ellen.
In August 1914, at declaration of war, Martin was still employed as a labourer, although his employer was now Messrs. Goodall Brothers, contractors, of Batley.13 With his previous military experience Martin was amongst those first to answer the call for volunteers, enlisting in late August 1914.14 Along with many other local men he joined the 6th KOYLI, a Battalion of Kitchener’s New Army, formed at Pontefract on 12 August 1914.
After training at Woking, Witley and Aldershot, on 21 May 1915 the 6th KOYLI were finally on their way overseas boarding a cross channel steamer at Folkestone bound for Boulogne. Under escort of a destroyer, it was a very calm and uneventful crossing.15
I have traced one letter from Martin. It is undated, but seems to have been written in the early part of his overseas service as he mentions “I am for the front at last…”.16
Penned as he was ready to go into the trenches at a moments notice, it was to his brother John. It gives some insight into his worries at this time of heightened emotions. Surprisingly these centred mainly around money. He explains he could not get his photo before going away, especially as he was looking so well, as he was getting no pay. He explains to his brother about the reason for a confined to barracks (CB) punishment. There is a lack of punctuation in his writing, but the tale is clear:
I will tell you we were on a four days march The last night we were billeted in a farm yard and I was caught making water in the yard not knowing the whereabout of the urinal by my Captain unlucky I was stopped 6 day pay I refused to do it so I was given 14 days pay and 14 days CB but it is all done now Thank God for it I am no worse off only in my pay been stopped.17
With the money theme continuing, Martin was concerned about the amount his dad received and he even went to the orderly room to see about it – this was possibly when his pay was stopped. He also reassures his brother that he did not try to stop his dad receiving any of his pay. On the contrary, as he wanted little or no money for himself in France, he hopes his dad will now receive more.18
He expresses hope for the future, reassuring John he has never felt better and telling him not to worry about him as “I will come back if any one else does”. 19 Though he does tell his brother to hold off writing until he has heard from him again.
It is also clear his thoughts are for those back home, specifically mentioning sending his love to his friends. He also asks his brother:
Give my respects at the Bull also to Annie tell her I dont forget her yet….
…dont forget to tell dad I am…hoping he keeps well till I come home to see him again…dont forget me to little Tom also to the neighbours.20
The mention of little Tom is particularly touching. He was Martin’s nephew, brother John’s only surviving child. Between 1913 and 1915 John’s two other sons and wife had died.
Martin signs his letter off with the following:
All Martin’s war service was with the 6th KOYLI. He was twice wounded in the course of it.
The first occasion was in December 1915, with the 6th KOYLI Unit War Diary recording the date of him being struck off the ration return as 7 December, as a result of a shrapnel wound.22
On 3 December 1915 the Battalion had moved up for a spell in the trenches at St Jean, to the north east of Ypres. Prior to setting off, there was an unfortunate incident when the barn where the machine gunners were billeted caught fire. It was put out, but as the Battalion moved up to the trenches the Germans began shelling, possibly attracted by the smouldering farm. One shell dropped in the middle of No5 platoon just as they were moving off. It killed one man, nine others were wounded, and a further three men were unable to proceed to the trenches due to shock.23
However, once the rest of the Battalion made it up the line it proved a relatively quiet spell. The major concern was bad condition of the trenches, the water-logging not helped by the heavy rain showers. At one point they even endured gale conditions.24
They were relieved on 7 December, with only a further three men wounded on the tour, in addition to No5 Platoon’s unfortunate accident. Martin was not amongst the No5 Platoon men, so appears to have been amongst those wounded whilst in this spell in the trenches.
The second occasion was towards the end of June 1916, with him being struck off ration on 29 June.25 During this period the Battalion were in trenches in the St Nicholas sector, north east of Arras. It was an uneventful spell punctuated by sniper fire and shelling from the enemy. There were also several 6th KOYLI night patrols into no-man’s land to observe the condition of the enemy wire and trenches, and to prevent any reciprocal patrols observing the British wire and trenches. Light casualties occurred throughout this period, but cross matching casualty dates and entries in the Unit War Diary, it is most probable that Martin’s injuries were sustained in the early hours of 29 June, when the Germans heavily shelled the British lines. The entry reads:
St Nicholas, 29 June, 3am
At 3am the Germans suddenly started shelling J90 heavily. At least 2 heavy mortars, 2 4.2 howitzers and a battery of 77 more guns were firing. Their fire was very accurate and W company had 8 casualties, 1 killed and 7 wounded, 2 of the latter were only slight and they returned to duty…. 26
One newspaper does indicates Martin was wounded on 28 June 1916,27 but the Unit War Diary only records one casualty that day, fatality Albert Fielding. So the incident in which Martin sustained injuries was likely the one recorded for the early hours of the 29 June 1916.
Martin returned to duty with the 6th KOYLI once again. By September 1916 they were on the Somme, and it is here that he lost his life on 15 September.
That day marked the opening day of the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, part of the Somme offensive, with the 4th Army (under which the 6th KOYLI came under) tasked with attacking enemy defences between Morval and Martinpuich, with the objective of seizing Morval, Les Boeufs, Gueudecourt and Flers.
It is not possible to definitively pinpoint what part Martin played as the 6th KOYLI had been subdivided, with orders coming in the previous day that two Companies – W and X – would be attached to the 41st Brigade for the operation. Another two Companies, Y and Z, were involved in a subsequent failed wave of the attack on 16 September, towards Gird Trench and Gird Support Trench, between Flers and Gueudecourt.
Given the date of his death – 15 September – and the likelihood he was attached to W Company in June, it is more probable Martin was with W Company at this point, but as yet I have found no conclusive evidence. Whilst Zero Hour for Y and Z Companies of the 6th KOYLI was not until 9.25am on 16 September, they did sustain some casualties in the ranks in the period whilst getting into position prior to 1am that morning, so in theory Martin could have been with them when he died.
The action in which W and X Companies took part on 15 September was hugely significant, with the introduction of a new weapon of war. The 41st Infantry Brigade Order No 102, dated 13 September, 1915 gives more detail:
A new engine of war “The Tank” is to be used for the first time….27
If Martin was with W Company, they were scheduled to have a direct role in the tank’s debut, as outlined in an After Order, dated 14 September 1916, which stated:
In continuation of Brigade Order No. 102 –
The 41st Infantry Brigade will in adding to other objectives clear the enemy fire from the area – BEER TRENCH – BITTER TRENCH – East edge of DELVILLE WOOD – HAYMARKET – HOP ALLEY – ALE ALLEY ….. This is referred to in previous orders as the Preliminary Objective. [The Preliminary Objective as set out in Appendix A to Order 102 was Hop Alley and Ale Alley to the junction with Pint Trench]This attack will be made in conjunction with two tanks allotted to 14th division and one tank furnished by the Guards Division.
Two Coys., 6th K.O.Y.L.I., will relieve the 8th Rifle Bde. in the Sector…to-night.
These two Coys., 6th K.O.Y.L.I., will carry out the above attack. The O.C. will detail not less than two bombing squads to escort and assist the tank furnished by the Guards Division, and will get into touch with the 3rd Coldstream Guards on his right…28
W and X Companies had no opportunity to familiarise themselves, let alone train, with this new weapon before their part in the attack commenced.
At 5.20am the tanks set off, with the two KOYLI Companies following 15 minutes later. This was with the aim of clearing out two strongly defended enemy trenches, Hop Alley and Ale Alley in the area between Delville Wood and Ginchy, before the main attack commenced at 6.20am – again involving the two 6th KOYLI Companies. According to their official history, The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in the Great War, this is the first mention of tanks in the KOYLI diaries of the war.29
Only one of the three tanks which set off at 5.20am was able to reach and attack its objective, D1 commanded by Capt H. W. Mortimore. Lance Corporal Len Lovell, one of the 6th KOYLI bombers, commenting on the tank said:
It was marvellous. The tanks went rolling and bobbing and swaying in and out of shell-holes, climbing over trees as easy as kiss your hand! We were awed….We bombers were sheltering behind the tank peering out round and anxious to let Jerry have our bombs. But we had no need of them. The Jerries waited until our tank was only a few yards away and then fled – or hoped to!30
But it was not all plain sailing. The Unit War Diary and official history record the KOYLIs making good progress until they reached 100 yards of Pint Trench, when they were caught by machine gun fire from behind them in the Vat Alley area. This resulted in heavy losses before a bombing party was sent back to clear Vat Alley of the enemy. At Pint Trench there was considerable resistance, but the bombing and bayonet work freely resorted to resulted in the surrender of the majority of the enemy. The 6th KOYLI Companies eventually consolidated in Switch Trench and held on to it, until being relieved at 3pm on the 16th.31
Whatever Martin’s role was, be it with W and X Companies escorting tanks and then pushing on the attack, of with the other Companies of the 6th KOYLI, the cost was heavy. In addition to officer casualties, 180 other ranks from the W and X Companies which set out with the tanks on 15 September were killed or wounded.32 In the operation involving Y and Z Companies, in addition to the officer casualties, they lost a further 20 men killed and 80 wounded.33 In a little over 24 hours the 6th KOYLI had lost almost half the men it sent into battle.34 And a look at Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records (CWGC) shows 64 6th KOYLI deaths on 15 September 1915.35
Initially posted missing, it was not until the first week of November 1916 that official confirmation of Martin’s death came through36 – although even at this stage the official War Office casualty lists were still posting him as missing.37
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, Victory and British War Medals for his service, Martin has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. In addition to St Mary’s, he is also remembered on Batley War Memorial.
There is one poignant postscript to Martin’s story – his will. His formal will was never found. But he had outlined its existence and contents in his letter to his brother John. Despite his reassuring words in it, he had made plans for the worse. Essentially he said if anything happened to him, he was leaving everything to John.38 This was accepted as proof of his wishes. So, whilst his father got his Army pension, his brother received everything else.
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Footnotes:
1. 1881 Census, The National Archives (TNA), Ref RG11/4546/100/7/832.
2. St Mary of the Angels baptismal register.
3. Ibid.
4. 1891 Census, TNA, Ref RG12/3718/32/21/127.
5. 1901 Census, TNA, Ref RG13/4255/38/29/187.
6. Batley News, 9 June 1899 and Batley Cemetery burial register.
7. War Office: Militia Attestation Papers, TNA, Ref WO96/893/219.
8. Ibid.
9. 1911 Census, TNA, Ref RG14/27243/166.
10. Ibid.
11. 1911 Census, TNA, Ref RG14/27257/181.
12. 1911 Census, TNA, Ref RG14/23021/108.
13. Batley Reporter & Guardian, 1 December 1916.
14. Based on his Service Number.
15. 6th KOYLI Unit War Diary, TNA, Ref WO95/1906/1.
16. Undated letter from Martin Gallagher to his brother John Gallagher.
17. Ibid.
18. Ibid.
19. Ibid.
20. Ibid.
21. Ibid.
22. 6th KOYLI Unit War Diary, TNA, Ref WO95/1906/1.
23. Ibid.
24. Ibid.
25. 6th KOYLI Unit War Diary, TNA, Ref WO95/1906/2.
26. Ibid.
27. 14 Division, 41st Infantry Brigade Unit War Diary, TNA, Ref WO95/1894/3
28. Ibid.
29. Bond, Reginald C. History of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in the Great War, 1914-1918. London: P. Lund, Humphries, 1929.
30. Johnson, Malcolm K. Unceasing War: The 6th Service Battalion Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry during the Great War, 1914-1918. Doncaster Museum Service, 2000.
31. 6th KOYLI Unit War Diary, TNA, Ref WO95/1906/3.
32. Ibid.
33. Ibid.
34. Unceasing War, Ibid.
35. CWGC Website.
36. Names of the Fallen submission by John Gallagher.
37. Batley News, 18 November 1916.
38. Undated letter from Martin Gallagher, Ibid.
Other Sources (not directly referenced):
• 1939 Register.
• 1921 England and Wales Census.
• GRO Birth, Marriage and Death Indexes.
•Hasluck, Paul N, Upholstery with numerous engravings and diagrams. 1904.
• The Long, Long Trail website.
• Medal Index Card.
• Medal Award Rolls.
• National Library of Scotland maps.
• Newspapers – various editions of the Batley News and Batley Reporter.
• Parish Registers.
• Pension Record Cards and Ledgers, WW1.
• Soldiers Died in the Great War.
• Soldiers’ Effects Registers.
• Wills and Probate records.
• Unit War Diary – 14 Division, Headquarters Branches and Services: General Staff, TNA, Ref WO95/1867/2
• Unit War Diary – 14th Division, 42nd Infantry Brigade, TNA, Ref WO95/1897/3.
• Unit War Diary – 14th Division, 43rd Infantry Brigade, TNA, Ref WO95/1903/1.
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