The Gallant Schoolteachers from the locality of Merseyside
who lost their lives in the Great War
including
the Schoolteachers from other regions who served in Liverpool PALS

Written and researched by David Bohl, with the kind help NUT Records, The CWGC, British Newspaper Archive, The Great War Forum  and documents supplied by WW1 historians worldwide.

The records herewith are deemed "best guess" and should not be necessarily treated as fact.
 
Legend
Played for The Aliens RFC 
Served in King's Liverpool Regiment
Click on blue links for more detailed info


Liverpool Teachers and Military Service

Since Alderman Alsop announced to the Education Committee that upwards of 120 local teachers had joined H.M. Forces, this list has been supplemented by fresh enlistments. Some teachers have taken commissioned rank, and many are non-commissioned officers. Compared with other local education authorities, Liverpool teachers have done very well, and it is a pleasure to acknowledge the encouragement given by the City Council to the municipal service in respect of enlistment. Teachers above the military age have, however, been disappointed of the promise held out by circular 872 of the Board of Education. This circular asked for further enlistments for active service and for civilian instructors of drill and physical exercises, a position which teachers are well qualified to fill.
Correspondence with the Board, however, showed that the War Office were not as eager to obtain these instructors as the circular seemed to imply, and we believe many applicants have not succeeded in obtaining such posts, while many others have found the conditions of service different from what they were led to expect by the circular.
    A further circular now explains that these instructors are only required in towns where a local battalion is being raised or at large camps, and it is natural to suppose that even where these conditions obtain fully enlisted teachers are largely called upon to become instructors. This is probably the reason why for Liverpool no civilian instructors have been appointed. We believe that half-a-dozen or so are about to be accepted for service in Blackpool.
    The shortage of teachers in Liverpool schools consequent upon enlistments have made heavy demands upon those who remain. The number of “supply” teachers is never very large, and even if we add those who come into service on 1st December the deficiency is not made up. Head teachers find themselves tied to a class, class teachers find their classes enlarged, lady teachers find that they are put into boys’ departments. Much of this disarrangement was inevitable, and the burden of it is no doubt being cheerfully borne. None the less, it is incumbent upon the local education authority to make provision to cover the shortage as far as possible for the sake of the children.
    It is far too early to consider the effects of the war on education. That will have a detrimental effect is undoubted, but that the effect shall be as little felt as possible will be the aim of the whole educational service. One effect, however, is already apparent. We have taken an appreciable step nearer to the time when primary schools will be staffed almost entirely by women. There is little doubt that some of the 5,000 teachers who have enlisted will not again enter the schools. There will be casualties among them, and some have taken commissions in the Army. As is well known, the Board of Education was, before war broke out, faced with a deplorable shortage of teachers of both sexes, but particularly of men. The position is now still more serious, and all the administrative skill of the board and authorities will be required to remedy the situation. As Mr Goldstone observes in this month’s educational supplement of the “Times,” “The remedy is obvious, but will be expensive. That the cost must be faced is a national duty as insistent as securing a just and permanent settlement of the present war.”
A JUST PROVISION
    Councillor F. T. Richardson is to be congratulated on the choice of the first resolution submitted by him to the City Council. From his experience on the Education committee he evidently felt that there was some doubt as to the interpretation that officials of the Corporation might place on the resolution which promised the continuation of full salary to officials who had joined his Majesty’s forces, and who had gained promotion since entering the King’s service. Sir Charles Petries’s full and ready acceptance of the reading which will ensure that the man promoted for meritorious service shall receive the financial gain which accompanies this, and that it shall not be commandeered for the relief of the rates, is, we feel sure, in complete accord with public feeling in the city. It must have been with particular pleasure that Sir Charles was able to show that not only had Liverpool led the way in this matter, but that there had never been any intention of the Finance Committee to act otherwise than wholeheartedly. There are still subsidiary decisions affecting small sections of the officials to be made, but after the Council meeting we feel sure some just and liberal spirit will prevail.
(Liverpool Courier 5th Dec 1914)
Casualty Name Rank, Service No. and Regiment  School

Birkenhead

Edward CONCANNON



MISSING.
King’s (Liverpools).- Concannon, 17800, Act. Co. Sergt.-Major E.

Published: Thursday 19 October 1916
Newspaper: Liverpool Daily Post


CSM #17800 The King's (Liverpool Regt)

St Edwards School Memorial

St Clare's RC Church

Catholic Institute School

Liverpool Pals Memorial
St Annes RCS, Rock Ferry
Richard Harold SKINNER
Pte #25530 The King's (Liverpool Regt)
Silver War Badge
(Death not as a result of military service)

University of Chester

Liverpool Pals Memorial
Brassey St CS

Chester

   
George Ewart BEVAN
Cpl #33174 The King's (Liverpool Regt) Holy Trinity Ch.S

[Photo - The Flint Memorial]
Flintshire Memorial (George Beavan)

Flintshire Memorial (George Bevan)

Buckley Memorial

Liverpool Pals Memorial

Wigan

   
Frederick Vose HEATON



PRIVATE F.V.HEATON.
Transcribed by Dave Bohl, Sefton RUFC
We regret to record the death of Pte. Fred V. Heaton, second son of Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Heaton, “Gordonville,” Parbold. Deceased was attached to the 21st Reserve King's Liverpool Regt., and had been ill for five months. He died on the 2nd inst. at the Woodlands Hospital, Southport. Deceased was formerly assistant master at St. Thomas School, Clayton-Street, Wigan. He was very well known and highly popular with all who had the privilege of his acquaintance The funeral will take place at Douglas Church, Parbold, to-day (Saturday).

Published: Saturday 05 August 1916
Newspaper: Wigan Observer and District Advertiser
Pte #38163 The King's (Liverpool Regt)

Liverpool Pals Memorial

St Thomas' Ch.S

Liverpool

   
Alfred Joseph CORNISH





LIVERPOOL SCHOOLMASTER.
Transcribed by Dave Bohl, Sefton RUFC
Corporal Alfred J. Cornish, of Church-road, Stanley, has been killed after two-and-a-half years’ service in France. He was an old student of Chester College and Liverpool University. And prior to joining the King’s (Liverpool) Regiment at the outbreak of the war was a master at Birchfield road School. He was well known in Liverpool music circles, being formerly organist at Crescent Congregational Chapel.

Published: Monday 22 April 1918
Newspaper: Liverpool Echo

CORNISH-March 28, killed in action, Corporal ALFRED JOSEPH CORNISH the dearly loved elder son of Martha and the late Alfred Cornish, of 40, church road, Stanley. – Deeply mourned by Mother, Sister and Brother.
CORNISH-March 28, killed in action, Corporal ALFRED JOSEPH CORNISH. Fondly remembered by Marie and Charlie (in France).

Published: Wednesday 24 April 1918
Newspaper: Liverpool Daily Post

Cpl #21469 The King's (Liverpool Regt)

Chester College

St Anne's Church Stanley


Liverpool Pals Memorial
Birchfield Road CS
Albert Ernest HICKLING Lance Cpl #36654 The King's (Liverpool Regt) (Aliens Link)

Corbie Memorial

Liverpool Pals Memorial
St Lawrence N.S, Kirkdale

BRAVE WORDS.
Transcribed by Dave Bohl, Sefton RUFC
Lance-Corporal A.E.Hickling, of the King’s Liverpool Regiment, died in France from wounds. He was first assistant-master at St. Lawrence Schools, Kirkdale, and a member of the choir of Holy Trinity Church, Walton Breck. He was educated at Deacon’s School, Peterborough, and at St. John’s College, Battersea, where he was popularly known as "Pete." Here he had a most successful career, gaining the Government certificate with double first-class, and was a member of the college first teams. As "Pete" he was known to a wide circle of admirers in Liverpool, who mourn the loss of a valuable friendship which stood every test, but the loss is greatest to the boys of his old school A few days before he was wounded he wrote :- "I am afraid we are bound to have losses in the next few days, and if I am among the number I hope my friends will remember what an infinitely small thing the loss of one life is in comparison with the principle for which we are fighting; and therefore, my wish is that you should not grieve for me but rather that you should be proud that I have an opportunity of falling in the same cause as so many of our St. Lawrence boys have done."

Published: Saturday 19 August 1916
Newspaper: Liverpool Echo 

Alfred PEARSON



L/Cpl ALFRED PEARSON
Transcribed by Dave Bohl, Sefton RUFC
Corporal Alfred Pearson, third son of Mr, and Mrs. Thomas Pearson. 69, Granton-road, Liverpool, has been killed. He was an old scholar of St. Saviour's, Everton, and St. Edmund's, Colquitt-street. He taught as a student teacher at St. George's, Everton, and St Titus's, Portland-street. He was trained at Chester College, 1912-14, afterwards
being appointed by the Liverpool Education Committee and teaching as a supply at Boaler-street Schools. He enlisted on September 2, 1914, in the “Pals.” He was a good athlete, and whilst at Chester he played for the “possibles” in the Cheshire County Rugby trial match.
Corporal Pearson was seen attending to a wound one of his officers had received. He was afterwards wounded in the arm, but continued the advance. Finally he was hit with a piece of shell, which killed him.

Published: Monday 24 July 1916
Newspaper: Liverpool Daily Post
Cpl #16332 The King's (Liverpool Regt)

Liverpool Pals Memorial

Boaler St CS

Burnley

   
Ernest GREENWOOD
Lance Cpl #51744 The King's (Liverpool Regt)

Brunel University London

Liverpool Pals Memorial
Red Lion St WS

Roll of Honour
GREENWOOD. – Killed in action on Nov. 3rd, Lance-Crpl. Ernest Greenwood (51744), Liverpool Regt., third son of Mr. And Mrs. Greenwood, 23, Reynolds-st., Burnley, aged 27 years.

Published: Saturday 10 November 1917
Newspaper: Burnley Express






BURNLEY TEACHER
Transcribed by Dave Bohl, Sefton RUFC
Teachers and amateur theatricals in Burnley will learn with regret of the death in action last Saturday of Lce-Corpl. Ernest Greenwood (27), 51744, Liverpool Regiment, third son of Mr. And Mrs.Greenwood, 28, Reynolds-street, Burnley. He joined up in February, 1916, and in the following July he was sent on active service. He was home a fortnight ago. In civil life he was a teacher. When at school ho won a scholarship from Coal Clough, and was subsequently for three years at the Grammar School before becoming a pupil teacher at Abel-street. Thence he passed to Borough-road College, Isleworth, London, and afterwards became a member of the Red Lion-street School staff. He was connected with St. Matthew’s Church. He had musical and dramatic tastes, being an accomplished pianist, and a member of the Dramatic Class at the Mechanics' Institute.   He took part in the production of  “The School for Scandal.”
J. Atkin, a friend of the lance-corporal’s, writing on Monday to Mrs. Greenwood, stated: “Ernie was almost a brother to me. Ever since joining up we have been together. Ernie, a sergeant, and some more men were out doing their duty, when a German machine-gun opened lire, and Ernie was hit, and fell into the sergeant's arms. The sergeant saw immediately that the wound was fatal. Ernie was very popular with the company, and it was a great help to me to receive words expressing sorrow that he was gone from us, and also of sympathy with myself as his chum.” A chaplain, E. N. Moore, in a letter on the same day; wrote : “All those who knew him feel the loss very much, especially the men and officers in his company. The officer in charge told me that if he had tried to rush the post they set out to raid he was sure of three or four men following him at all costs. One of them, he was sure, would have been your boy,
 

LANCE CORPL E. GREENWOOD.
who would not have wavered from his duty for a moment. The day before be was killed he was at battalion headquarters, and the C.O. remarked what a splendid boy he was, intelligent, bright, and keen. I did not see him after his return from leave before going in the line, and so it is some time since I last saw him, but I shall always treasure the short friendship I had with him. I think it an honour to serve such men as – priest.” Lce.-Corpl. Greenwood was a Lewis gunner.

Published: Saturday 10 November 1917
Newspaper: Burnley Express

Houghton-le-Spring(Durham)

   
George CRAWFORD


[Photo - Universities at  War]



ON WAR SERVICE
Transcribed by Dave Bohl, Sefton RUFC
Officials under the Education Committee, numbering 691, are on war service, including 461 certificated assistants. In addition, there are 155 who have either made the great sacrifice, been discharged, or transferred to Army Reserve W. Since the last report, five more have laid down their lives in the service of the country. vis. : — Second-Lieut. S Brown, East Lanca. Regt. (Bishop Auckland Grammar School), Bombardier J. P. Wake, R.G.A. (Bowburn), Pte.George Crawford, King's Liverpool Regiment (West Herrington), Pte.T. B. Pyburn, King's Liverpool Regiment (Hetton Lyons), and Corpl.  M. W. Rudd, D.L.I. (Education Department).
Sergeant-Major Fred Dann, Intelligence Depart-ment, assistant master at the Johnston Technical School, had been appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order by his Majesty; and Captain T. Harker, D.L.I. (Anfield Plain Upper Standard School) had been awarded the Military Cross for distinguished service on the field.
Education estimates were passed as follow — Elementary, £174,955, and higher, £21.960.

Published: Thursday 08 November 1917
Newspaper: Newcastle Journal
Pte #57779 The King's (Liverpool Regt)

Universities at War

Durham Record Office

Liverpool Pals Memorial
New Penshaw CS
Thomas Bowerbank PYBURN







ON WAR SERVICE
Transcribed by Dave Bohl, Sefton RUFC
Officials under the Education Committee, numbering 691, are on war service, including 461 certificated assistants. In addition, there are 155 who have either made the great sacrifice, been discharged, or transferred to Army Reserve W. Since the last report, five more have laid down their lives in the service of the country. vis. : — Second-Lieut. S Brown, East Lanca. Regt. (Bishop Auckland Grammar School), Bombardier J. P. Wake, R.G.A. (Bowburn), Pte.George Crawford, King's Liverpool Regiment (West Herrington), Pte.T. B. Pyburn, King's Liverpool Regiment (Hetton Lyons), and Corpl.  M. W. Rudd, D.L.I. (Education Department).
Sergeant-Major Fred Dann, Intelligence Depart-ment, assistant master at the Johnston Technical School, had been appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order by his Majesty; and Captain T. Harker, D.L.I. (Anfield Plain Upper Standard School) had been awarded the Military Cross for distinguished service on the field.
Education estimates were passed as follow — Elementary, £174,955, and higher, £21.960.

Published: Thursday 08 November 1917
Newspaper: Newcastle Journal
Pte #57824 The King's (Liverpool Regt)

North East Memorials


Liverpool Pals Memorial
Lyon's CS

Manchester

   
John PARKER



PARKER. – July 31, killed in action, age 22 years, John, K.L.R. (formerly Lancs Hussars), the dear eldest son of Teresa and the late John Parker, of 1a, Woodbine-Street, and grandson of the late Andrew Brack, ironfounder, of this city. R.I.P.
(Boston and New York papers please copy.)
 
Published: Tuesday 28 August 1917
Newspaper: Liverpool Echo

Pte #7939 Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry, Lance Cpl #49532 The King's (Liverpool Regt)

Liverpool Pals Memorial
St Chad's R.C.S
 

Last Updated on 24/06/2020
By Dave