Private Michael Roach aged 25

Private Michael Roach aged 25

Michael Roach was born in 1892 in Liverpool. His mother, Ellen had two other sons, John (b.1894) and Francis (b.1901) and 2 daughters Ellen (b.1897) and Jane (b.1899).

In the 1911 Census, the family was living in West Derby, Liverpool.

Michael was a Private 8974 in the 12th Kings (Liverpool) Regiment. He joined up on 4th April 1915. He was at some point living at 32 Chapel Street with his mother Ellen.

He is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial which stands on an elevated terrace in Louverval Military Cemetery in Louveral, France. It commemorates more than 7,000 servicemen from Britain and South Africa who died in the Battle of Cambrai whose graves are not known.

The Battle of Cambrai started on 20 November with 476 tanks going into battle. It finished on 3 December with the Germans capturing La Vaquerie and the allies retreating over the next four days, giving up the gains from the first days. The following is an extract from the War Diaries of the 12TH Kings Liverpool Regiment:

“St Waast 30 November 1917 to 2 December 1917 – About 7.30 am the enemy attacked in masses under cover of a heavy shelling barrage and heavy machine gun fire from a large number of low-flying aeroplanes. These aeroplanes also dropped a number of High Explosive and Smoke Bombs. The enemy was seen to have penetrated the line on our Right, so that it became necessary for the Battalion to retire in order to avoid being cut off. During the heavy Machine Gun fire from hostile planes on the Battery positions the “SOS” signal was not responded to. A considerable amount of confusion was inevitable. Parties were organised from time to time to defend positions, but they were continually out-flanked. The remnants of the Battalion were attached to other units as nearly all the officers had become casualties. The Brigade still held La Vaquerie which was handed over on relief. Our casualties were 9 Officers missing, 2 officers wounded, 229 other ranks missing and 55 other ranks wounded”.

Michael had a brother John who died on 18th April 1918.

His mother Ellen was still living at 32 Chapel Street in 1939.

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