Lance Corporal Wainer KIRTON

Regiment:                                     Essex Regiment [Fmly: Lincolnshire Regt]

Unit:                                                10th Battalion

Service Number:                         40591 [Fmly: 3051 Lincs. Regt.]

Date of Death:                             22 October 1916 – Killed in Action

Age:                                                 22 years

Cemetery / Memorial:             Thiepval Memorial

Grave / Panel Ref.:                   Pier and Face 10D

Home Life:

Wainer was born on 26 March 1894. The son of John Thomas (Tailor) and Mary Elizabeth (née Wainer) Kirton. He had six older brothers and sisters, Thomas, Rebecca Annie, Hugh, Bernard, John Edgar and Charles Herbert; a twin brother, Frederick, and two younger brothers, Frank and John.

In 1901 (Census RG 13/3048) they were living on Silver Street, Ruskington, Lincolnshire.  In 1911 (Census RG 14/19618) the family were at the same address, however, Wainer was employed as a “Journeyman Butcher” by Alfred Sulley (Butcher) at Donington, near Spalding.

‘The Lincolnshire Chronicle’ [27 November 1915] reported that Wainer and his brother, Lance Corporal 2960 Charles Herbert KIRTON (left) had enlisted together in the 2/4th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, in October 1914.

At that time Wainer was employed as a ‘Butcher‘ in Long Benington (a village 5 miles (8 kms) south of Newark-on-Trent. [Charles was “in the seed trade” in Derby.]

Two other brothers served in the Royal Navy (Fleet Air Arm) – Frank, between 1916 and 1918, and Bernard, between 1916 and 1918.

According to CWGC records, after the War Wainer’s father had moved to Post Office Street, Ruskington. Wainer’s mother, Mary Elizabeth, died, aged 65, on 26 May 1921, so possibly John moved after his wife’s death. Mary is buried in Ruskington Cemetery, Old Plot, East Border, Grave 59.

About a year after Mary died, John had re-married, Ellen Elizabeth Daubney and after her death in January 1930, she was buried in the adjacent Grave 61. When Wainer’s father, John Thomas, died at the age of 82 on 3 February 1940, he was buried in the same Grave. Their composite headstone also bears an inscription to commemorate Wainer (see below).

(N.B. Post Office Street has since been renamed Church Street. In the old postcard – above left – the white building in the distance on the left is where the Library now stands. At that time cottages were found there.)

Military Service:

According to the SDGW database, Wainer enlisted in Lincoln, but unfortunately, his Service Papers have been destroyed during a Second World War bombing raid. As stated above ‘The Lincolnshire Chronicle’ [27 November 1915] reported that Wainer and his brother, Charles had enlisted together in the 2/4th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, in October 1914. Charles’ Medal Index Card shows that this was, in fact, 14 October 1914. At some time later Wainer must have transferred to the 10th Battalion Essex Regiment.

The 2/4th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, was formed in Lincoln on 13 September 1914 as a Second Line Battalion. In July 1915 it was attached to 177th Brigade, 59th (2nd North Midland) Division and the following April (1916) it moved with Division to Ireland and took part in actions against rebellion. The Battalion was not posted to France until January 1917, by which time Wainer had been killed serving in the Essex Regiment.

In April 1916 the 58th Division was hurriedly ordered to Ireland to assist in quelling troubles that broke out in Dublin and elsewhere. Severe fighting took place in the battle against the Irish nationalist forces. The Division’s first battle casualties were incurred. Once things had settled down the units moved from Dublin to the Curragh.

A large draft of men of the 2/4th were transferred to other Units in preparation for The Battle of the Somme in June 1916 and this could have been when he moved Regiments and was re-numbered.

The 10th (Service) Battalion, Essex Regiment. had been formed at Warley in September 1914 as part of K2 (Kitchener’s Second New Army) and came under orders of 53rd Brigade in 18th (Eastern) Division. The Battalion moved to Shorncliffe and then Colchester, going on to Codford St Mary in May 1915. Shortly afterwards, on 26 July 1915 it landed at Boulogne, the and the Division concentrated near Flesselles.

During The Battle of the Somme, 1st July– 18th November 1916, Wainer’s Battalion saw action at the following engagements, all parts of the overall battle:

• The Battle of Albert, 1^st – 13th July, capturing their objectives near Montauban;
• The Battle of Bazentin Ridge, 14^th – 17th July, including the capture of Trones Wood;
• The Battle of Delville Wood, 15th July – 3rd September;
• The Battle of Thiepval Ridge, 26th – 28th September ;
• The Battle of the Ancre Heights, 1st October – 11th November, playing a part in the capture of the Schwaben Redoubt and Regina Trench, and
• The Battle of the Ancre, 13th – 18th November 1916.

Wainer was killed in action on 22nd October 1916 and the War Diary shows that his Battalion had been moved into the front-line in the Courcelette sector on the 17th. Between 21 – 23rd October they were in action at Regina and Stuff Trenches, before being relieved and moved to Albert.

N.B. Regina Trench (Staufen Riegel) was a German trench dug along the north-facing slope of a ridge running from north-west of the village of Le Sars, south-westwards to Stuff Redoubt (Staufenfeste), close to the German fortifications at Thiepval. It was the longest such trench on the German front during the War.

On 4 November 1916 “The Sleaford Gazette” published a lengthy account of Wainer’s death in action, including a letter from his comrades:

“ROLL OF HONOUR. Still another name has to be added to the ever increasing local list of those who have had made the supreme sacrifice for King and Country. News came through on Tuesday that Lce. Corpl. Wainer Kirton was killed by a shell on the 22nd Oct., and the utmost sympathy is felt on all sides for his father and mother (Mr. and Mrs. John Kirton) and their family. The gallant lad was a butcher in civil life, and was 22 years of age. He joined the Lincolns in October, 1914, answering his Country’s call promptly, and a short time ago was transferred to the Essex Regiment, having only been at the front about five weeks. Official intimation has not yet been received, but the following letter received by a friend of the family unfortunately leaves no room for hope :-

Dear Mr. Lintin,- Am writing to ask you if you will inform Charlie that his brother, Lance-Corpl. Wainer Kirton, was killed on Sunday night at 11 o’clock. We were in the support trenches after an advance, when a shell hit the trench and killed him instantly. We buried him next morning just behind the firing line, in the ______ district. I thought it would be better than writing to Ruskington. We came out of the line last night for a rest, after a very rough time. No doubt you will get informed from the War Office, but thought you would get this first. Trusting you are all well. Kind regards to all.

Yours sincerely, A. SUTTALEY.” [Identity not found]

Wainer was one of 32 men of the 10th Battalion killed in action during these three days, mostly (22) on the 21st. He has no known grave and is commemorated, with his comrades on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing on the Somme.

On 2 March 1917 his Father received Wainer’s effects from the War Office, amounting to £4 8s. 8d. [£4.43 – a relative value of about £400 today (2023)] In 1919 his mother received a further £8 10s [£8.50] as War Gratuity (about £560 today).

As well as being commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Wainer is commemorated on his parents’ grave in Ruskington Cemetery, Old Plot, Grave East Border 59. The inscription reads:

Sources:

• “British Battalions on the Somme” – Ray Westlake [ISBN-10: 0850523745] p. 190
• “The Sleaford Gazette” – 4 November 1916