Rifleman 4227 William Scarisbrick

Family details:
Address at enlistment: Moss Nook Farm, Rainford.

Census details:
1881 - 2 years old William is living at Rainford Villa(?) Farm, Rainford with parents Benjamin (60), Ann (45) and five siblings: Joseph (20), Thomas (16), Martha (13), Benjamin (11), James (9), Harriet (5). 1891 - 12 years old schoolboy William is living at Spring Vale Cottages, Rainford with parents Benjamin (72), Ann (56) and three siblings: Thomas (26), Benjamin (21), James (19). 1901 - 22 years old 'Horseman On Farm' William is living at Moss Nook, Rainford. He is staying at the farm with owners the Birchall family. 1911 - Sees 32 years old 'Horse Man On Farm' William living at Moss Nook House, Rainford with farmers - the Birchall family.

Notes:
[url=lmem.php?lmem=17]William Is Remembered On the Rainford CofE School Memorial[/url] [url=lmem.php?lmem=40]Also remembered on Rainford (All Saints) Parish Church Memorial[/url]

[pic]imgs/WW1_misc/ScarisbrickW_SLR_Rainford.jpg[/pic][caption]The St Helens Reporter - Courtesy Ste M[/caption] [pic]imgs/WW1_misc/ScarisbrickW.jpg[/pic][caption]The St Helens Reporter - Courtesy Ste M[/caption] It is likely that Pte Scarisbrick actually died on the 8th or 9th August, but by the time that the Battalion had regrouped after the attack on Guillemont, the "FOG OF WAR" had clouded the details of what had actually happened. The diary reads as follows..... 8th August 1916 55th Division attacked GUILLEMONT. 165 Brigade attack B1C 20.85 to T35 A30.20 164 Bde attack T65 b 10.15 to Railway T19 b 00.30 First wave get their objective but support unable to get across. 5:00 pm 166 Inf Bde wanted to attack morning of the 9th to relieve 164 Bde hung up in GUILLEMONT 12:00 midnight Operation orders for attack received and Bn moved forwards to get into position for an attack. 166 Inf Bde ordered to attack as follows:- 1st Objective. Enemy front line from T65 b 25 through T25 a 3.3 to S24d 65.75 2nd Objective. The capture of GUILLEMONT and of a line on the eastern side of the village from T5 b 15 to the railway T19 b 0.3 10th Liverpool Scottish to attack on the right and 5th Loyal North Lancs Regt on the left. The boundary between being TRONES WOOD & GUILLEMONT Road as far as T25 a 0.8. Thence a straight line running North East, through the Church to the GUILLEMONT-LEOZE WOOD Road, to 5th Loyal North Lancs Regt. 5th South Lancs Regt to support the right Bn. Zero Hour 4:30 am In moving up valley was found blocked with troops and transport. 9th August 1916 2:00 am Commanding Officer with Adjutant arrived at proposed Bn HQ A5d 89 and found 2 Bts 165 Inf Bde (5th and 7th King's Liverpool) in possession. Informed 166 Inf Bde HQ and were able to move up to Sunken Road T30C. 3:00 am Established HQ in Sunken Road. Company Officers warned of change HQ and sent for to explain changed scheme of attack as issued in operation orders. No time to go into detail or for Coy Commander to explain to Coy Officers and NCOs as attack was timed for 4:30 am. Owing to all NCOs and Bn and Coy runners having no idea of the country and the Sunken Road being crowded with men of 164 Bde, great delay was caused in getting the Coys out in position. 3:55 am North Lancs just arriving and Officer in Command said he had only just heard they were going to attack 4:15 am Our guns opened a heavy barrage and the Germans dropped their barrage within 3 minutes. Their back barrage line being on Sunken Road. Companies not all in position had to move this barrage. Those in position moved forward behind assaulting waves but whole line was unable to make headway owing to machine gun fire and heavy barrage. Whole line fell back and manned our original front line. Coys hopelessly intermixed with men of other attacking Battalions. 12:00 Noon Orders to withdraw Cots from line and relieve 1/5th Loyal North Lancs in Left Sector in front of Trones Wood. Relief complete 5:00 pm. 5th Kings Own relieved 10th Liverpool Regt on our right also during afternoon. 10th August 1916 Battalion worked hard clearing trenches and consolidating line. 4:00 pm Relief started by 8th West Kent Regt 72nd Bde. Relief complete 8:00 pm and Bn moved back to Bivouacs in F22. Total casualties from 12 midnight the 8th until 12 midnight the 10th, 8 Officers 130 Other Ranks. As you can see, the 10th was a "cleaning up" day, and it will have been at this point that Roll Call will have been taken. CWGC records 11 casualties for the 9th and a further 23 for the 10th, including William Scarisbrick [pic]imgs/WW1_memorials/WScarisbrick_JScully_SLR.jpg[/pic][caption]The inscription for Rifleman William Scarisbrick on the Thiepval Memorial (Photograph courtesy of Ste M.)[/caption]