I have a unsourced note in my records that Peter Rice was born on 2/3/98 in Bootle and died 24/6/26 of peritonitis in North Sydney, Australia.

His number suggests an enlistment date of 24/8/14 - he crossed to France 20/12/15 as part of a reinforcement draft for 13 Kings. At some point either through falling ill or being wounded he left the 13th Kings and was subsequently transferred to the 1st Kings.

You will see in the attached cutting from the Bootle Roll of Honour (p65) that there is further information available. Unfortunately I do not have this information and it will mean that you will have to look at the Bootle Time in Bootle Library.

Although it is not possible (at least based on the information I have - it is relatively rare to get an MM citation) to determine the deed for which he was awarded the MM (and for which at one time there was a citation) much work has recently been done on Schedule numbers which will help isolate an action for which an award was made. I would surmise that the promulgation of awards with all that was going on at the end of the war was probably not a priority hence the Feb 1919 Gazette date - during the war it took about 3 months on average for an award to appear in the Gazette.

This is his MM card

The 1^st King’s were not in action during the Battle of Amiens (8/8/18) but were active during the Battles of Albert (21-23/8/18) and Drocourt-Queant Line (2-4/9/18). It looks as if he was awarded the Military Medal for his actions during one (or both) of these Battles.

You will be able to download a copy of the complete original war diary of 1 Kings from the National Archives using the URL below.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7351983

The following is an extract from the Regimental History of the Kings in the Great War by Wyrall and decribes the battles.

THE BATTLE OF ALBERT, 1918: 21ST‑23RD AUGUST

King's men were engaged in this battle, i.e., the 1st Battalion of the 2^nd Division, the 13th of the 3rd Division and the 25th Battalion of the 59th Division ‑ all of the VI Corps, Third Army, but the last‑named division was in corps reserve during the early stages of the operations.

In the operations designed to prepare the way for the principal attack on August 23rd, the opening move was made by the 2nd Division, who attacked at 4.45 a.m. on the 21st, with the 37th Division on their right, and the Guards Division on their left Their objective was the Ablainzeville ‑ Moyenville ridge (blue line), which was successfully captured The 1st King's of the 6th Brigade were not called upon to take part in this operation.

The 3rd Division then passed through, with their objective the Achiet‑le-Grand - Arras Railway. The 13th King's, of the 9th Brigade, played a leading part in this attack, in which the enemy put up a very strong resistance.

The Battalion moved up from Hannescamps on the night of the 20th, and formed up in the moonlight on a 600‑yard frontage.

As soon as the attack of the 2nd Division started, the 13th King's followed. in artillery formation. There was a thick mist, which was aggravated by the smoke screen put out to cover the tanks, and the advance had to be made on a compass bearing. The leading companies came under machine‑gun fire before reaching the Blue Line, and on some parts of the front the tanks did not arrive. "D" Company on the left, aided by one tank, skirted the south side of Courcellesle‑Compte, and established themselves on the railway line after taking many prisoners. "C" Company on the right, with no assistance from the tanks, gallantly rushed the Boche machine‑guns, and also reached the railway line. By this time the support companies had closed up, and casualties were very heavy from machine‑gun fire, three company commanders being already out of action. Many casualties were due to the fact that the troops on the right had not actually reached the railway line, and this flank was much exposed. Heavy barrages and spasmodic fighting marked the next day, but the line held. At 4 a.m. on the 23rd, the 76th Brigade passed through to attack Gomiecourt. As this attack was being made, "C" Company tackled a machine‑gun nest further down the railway line, and captured 150 prisoners, and many machine‑guns. On the 24th the battalion moved back to bivouac at Ayette. The casualties had been heavy; four officers were killed ‑ Capt. R. J. Barrett, M.C., Capt. N. A. R. Van Gruisen (died of wounds), Second‑Lieut. J. B. Friend and Second‑Lieut. H. Washbrook - seven officers were wounded and there were 263 O.R. casualties.

On August 31st the 13th King's were in action again, when they took part in the attack on Ecoust. This was successfully accomplished, but not without further heavy casualties, estimated at nine officers and 200 O.R.

After the capture of Gomiecourt by the 3rd Division, the 2nd Division had received orders to attack Ervillers, Behagnies and Sapignies, in conjunction with an attack by the VI Corps on Achiet‑le‑Grand and Bihucourt. Light tanks were to support the division. The capture of Ervillers fell to the lot of the 6th Brigade, which was on the left flank, with the Guards Division on its left.

The attack was launched at 11 a.m. on August 23rd, and the 1st King's led the advance on the left of the brigade. Behind a tremendous barrage the battalion moved forward on a 600‑yard frontage ‑ "A," "B" and "D" Companies in front, with "C" Company in reserve. The whippet tanks were behind, ready to come up when required. About mid‑day saw Ervillers in the hands of the King's and South Staffords, who proceeded to consolidate the village. It was not, however, all plain sailing, and, owing to the very severe enemy machine‑gun fire from Mory Copse ‑ Hally Copse ridge, it was found impossible to establish posts clear of the eastern edge of the village, as had been ordered. Heavy shelling was experienced from p.m. until dark, and during the night determined attempts were made to capture Mory Copse and village, but without result. At 4.30 a.m. on the 24th, fourteen small patrols of King's men - six to eight men strong - were sent out towards the ridge, but the only result of these moves was further casualties, particularly amongst officers. At about 9 a.m. "C" Company, on the left, saw the Guards Division advancing unopposed, and went forward with the idea of prolonging their right flank. This attack was, however, soon severely checked by machine‑gun fire, and at about 11.30 a.m. "C" Company was withdrawn. "B" and "D" Companies now set out on a renewed effort to capture Mory Copse, when at about 2.30 p.m. news reached Lieut.‑Colonel D. M. King that the 99th Brigade was going to launch an attack at 3.30 p.m. On receipt of this information Colonel King checked the advance of these two companies, but did not withdraw them, partly to prevent the Boche coming any closer, and partly because there was no time in which to re‑organise these exhausted King's men, who had been fighting and patrolling continuously for twenty‑eight hours. When the 99th Brigade was seen sweeping forward, the two companies of the King's, now reduced to two officers and 140 other ranks, raced forward in a south‑easterly direction.

Mory Copse, however, was still uncaptured, and so the King's ‑ in the words of the Commanding Officer ‑ "seeing that the attack obviously required an impulse, chanced a flank move," Wheeling left, they swept up the hill side, and with cheers of "King's," the men, though obviously worn out, tore across the railway line and, aided by the 1st R. Berkshires, carried Mory Copse. On the night of August 24th/25th the King's were withdrawn, four officers and 257 men coming out unwounded. Two officers, Lieuts. W. J. A. Pratt and R. T. Reese were killed, fourteen officers wounded, and there were 270 other rank casualties. It is interesting to note that the Commanding Officer attributed the success of this attack in great part to the keen platoon spirit, which had been fostered by every means for several months. No officer, N.C.O. or man was ever transferred, however hard pressed the battalion might be.

On the 26th August the 2nd Division went back into VI Corps support.

THE BATTLE OF THE DROCOURT─QUEANT LINE (2^nd – 4^th SEPTEMBER)

The result of the battle of the Scarpe was to bring the British troops within assaulting distance of the Drocourt - Queant line. The general assault on this position was launched on September 2nd and resulted in an immediate break in the enemy's line, and a headlong retreat on the whole front and south of it.

Several battalions of the King's took part in these operations. The 13th King's in the 3rd Division had, it will be remembered, made a successful but costly attack on Ecoust on August 31st. They held this position until, on September 2nd, the 8th Brigade passed through them as part of the general attack of the 3rd Division on Lagnicourt. The battalion then withdrew to Ervillers and remained in brigade reserve until September 19th. The 2nd Division were in VI Corps reserve, but took over the line at 5.20 a.m. on September 3rd. During the attack on September 3rd the 1st King's were in Brigade Reserve, but on the 4th September, they were ordered to clear the ground west of the Canal du Nord, and push forward patrols to the east of the canal to locate the enemy's main line.

At 5.20 a.m. two companies of the 1st King's set out towards the canal, about 1,000 yards in front, with orders to secure crossings and send out patrols on the other side. Having advanced about half way, however, they came up against heavy machine‑gun and artillery‑fire, and were held up. The battalion clung on in spite of strong bombing counter‑attacks by the Boche. At about 4 p.m. a message was sent back from the O.C. 1st King's that "the enemy is on this side of the canal in force; enemy machine‑gun and rifle‑fire comes from all round, and both sides of the canal." A further attempt to advance was made at 10 p.m., but failed, and on the evening of the 5th the 6th Brigade was relieved by the 99th Brigade. The Battalion Diary merely refers to this advance as: "In action near Canal du Nord. Second‑Lieut. Alty and four men missing, seven other ranks killed and seventeen wounded." On September 6th the battalion suffered a severe loss when Major H. J. Duff, D.S.O., M.C., the Second in Command, and Lieut. E. A. Wilson, the Acting Adjutant, were killed by a high‑velocity shell bursting in the hut in which they were sleeping.

I have an unsourced note in my records that Peter Rice was born on 2/3/98 in Bootle and died 24/6/26 of peritonitis in North Sydney, Australia.

His number suggests an enlistment date of 24/8/14 - he crossed to France 20/12/15 as part of a reinforcement draft for 13 Kings. At some point either through falling ill or being wounded he left the 13th Kings and was subsequently transferred to the 1st Kings.

You will see in the attached cutting from the Bootle Roll of Honour (p65) (following post) that there is further information available. Unfortunately, I do not have this information and it will mean that you will have to look at the Bootle Time in Bootle Library.

Although it is not possible (at least based on the information I have - it is relatively rare to get an MM citation) to determine the deed for which he was awarded the MM (and for which at one time there was a citation) much work has recently been done on Schedule numbers which will help isolate an action for which an award was made. I would surmise that the promulgation of awards with all that was going on at the end of the war was probably not a priority hence the Feb 1919 Gazette date - during the war it took about 3 months on average for an award to appear in the Gazette.

This is his MM card (see below)

The 1^st King’s were not in action during the Battle of Amiens (8/8/18) but were active during the Battles of Albert (21-23/8/18) and Drocourt-Queant Line (2-4/9/18). It looks as if he was awarded the Military Medal for his actions during one (or both) of these Battles.

You will be able to download a copy of the complete original war diary of 1 Kings from the National Archives using the URL below.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7351983

The following is an extract from the Regimental History of the Kings in the Great War by Wyrall and decribes the battles.

THE BATTLE OF ALBERT, 1918: 21ST‑23RD AUGUST

King's men were engaged in this battle, i.e., the 1st Battalion of the 2^nd Division, the 13th of the 3rd Division and the 25th Battalion of the 59th Division ‑ all of the VI Corps, Third Army, but the last‑named division was in corps reserve during the early stages of the operations.

In the operations designed to prepare the way for the principal attack on August 23rd, the opening move was made by the 2nd Division, who attacked at 4.45 a.m. on the 21st, with the 37th Division on their right, and the Guards Division on their left Their objective was the Ablainzeville ‑ Moyenville ridge (blue line), which was successfully captured The 1st King's of the 6th Brigade were not called upon to take part in this operation.

The 3rd Division then passed through, with their objective the Achiet‑le-Grand - Arras Railway. The 13th King's, of the 9th Brigade, played a leading part in this attack, in which the enemy put up a very strong resistance.

The Battalion moved up from Hannescamps on the night of the 20th, and formed up in the moonlight on a 600‑yard frontage.

As soon as the attack of the 2nd Division started, the 13th King's followed. in artillery formation. There was a thick mist, which was aggravated by the smoke screen put out to cover the tanks, and the advance had to be made on a compass bearing. The leading companies came under machine‑gun fire before reaching the Blue Line, and on some parts of the front the tanks did not arrive. "D" Company on the left, aided by one tank, skirted the south side of Courcellesle‑Compte, and established themselves on the railway line after taking many prisoners. "C" Company on the right, with no assistance from the tanks, gallantly rushed the Boche machine‑guns, and also reached the railway line. By this time the support companies had closed up, and casualties were very heavy from machine‑gun fire, three company commanders being already out of action. Many casualties were due to the fact that the troops on the right had not actually reached the railway line, and this flank was much exposed. Heavy barrages and spasmodic fighting marked the next day, but the line held. At 4 a.m. on the 23rd, the 76th Brigade passed through to attack Gomiecourt. As this attack was being made, "C" Company tackled a machine‑gun nest further down the railway line, and captured 150 prisoners, and many machine‑guns. On the 24th the battalion moved back to bivouac at Ayette. The casualties had been heavy; four officers were killed ‑ Capt. R. J. Barrett, M.C., Capt. N. A. R. Van Gruisen (died of wounds), Second‑Lieut. J. B. Friend and Second‑Lieut. H. Washbrook - seven officers were wounded and there were 263 O.R. casualties.

On August 31st the 13th King's were in action again, when they took part in the attack on Ecoust. This was successfully accomplished, but not without further heavy casualties, estimated at nine officers and 200 O.R.

After the capture of Gomiecourt by the 3rd Division, the 2nd Division had received orders to attack Ervillers, Behagnies and Sapignies, in conjunction with an attack by the VI Corps on Achiet‑le‑Grand and Bihucourt. Light tanks were to support the division. The capture of Ervillers fell to the lot of the 6th Brigade, which was on the left flank, with the Guards Division on its left.

The attack was launched at 11 a.m. on August 23rd, and the 1st King's led the advance on the left of the brigade. Behind a tremendous barrage the battalion moved forward on a 600‑yard frontage ‑ "A," "B" and "D" Companies in front, with "C" Company in reserve. The whippet tanks were behind, ready to come up when required. About mid‑day saw Ervillers in the hands of the King's and South Staffords, who proceeded to consolidate the village. It was not, however, all plain sailing, and, owing to the very severe enemy machine‑gun fire from Mory Copse ‑ Hally Copse ridge, it was found impossible to establish posts clear of the eastern edge of the village, as had been ordered. Heavy shelling was experienced from p.m. until dark, and during the night determined attempts were made to capture Mory Copse and village, but without result. At 4.30 a.m. on the 24th, fourteen small patrols of King's men - six to eight men strong - were sent out towards the ridge, but the only result of these moves was further casualties, particularly amongst officers. At about 9 a.m. "C" Company, on the left, saw the Guards Division advancing unopposed, and went forward with the idea of prolonging their right flank. This attack was, however, soon severely checked by machine‑gun fire, and at about 11.30 a.m. "C" Company was withdrawn. "B" and "D" Companies now set out on a renewed effort to capture Mory Copse, when at about 2.30 p.m. news reached Lieut.‑Colonel D. M. King that the 99th Brigade was going to launch an attack at 3.30 p.m. On receipt of this information Colonel King checked the advance of these two companies, but did not withdraw them, partly to prevent the Boche coming any closer, and partly because there was no time in which to re‑organise these exhausted King's men, who had been fighting and patrolling continuously for twenty‑eight hours. When the 99th Brigade was seen sweeping forward, the two companies of the King's, now reduced to two officers and 140 other ranks, raced forward in a south‑easterly direction.

Mory Copse, however, was still uncaptured, and so the King's ‑ in the words of the Commanding Officer ‑ "seeing that the attack obviously required an impulse, chanced a flank move," Wheeling left, they swept up the hill side, and with cheers of "King's," the men, though obviously worn out, tore across the railway line and, aided by the 1st R. Berkshires, carried Mory Copse. On the night of August 24th/25th the King's were withdrawn, four officers and 257 men coming out unwounded. Two officers, Lieuts. W. J. A. Pratt and R. T. Reese were killed, fourteen officers wounded, and there were 270 other rank casualties. It is interesting to note that the Commanding Officer attributed the success of this attack in great part to the keen platoon spirit, which had been fostered by every means for several months. No officer, N.C.O. or man was ever transferred, however hard pressed the battalion might be.

On the 26th August the 2nd Division went back into VI Corps support.

THE BATTLE OF THE DROCOURT─QUEANT LINE (2^nd – 4^th SEPTEMBER)

The result of the battle of the Scarpe was to bring the British troops within assaulting distance of the Drocourt - Queant line. The general assault on this position was launched on September 2nd and resulted in an immediate break in the enemy's line, and a headlong retreat on the whole front and south of it.

Several battalions of the King's took part in these operations. The 13th King's in the 3rd Division had, it will be remembered, made a successful but costly attack on Ecoust on August 31st. They held this position until, on September 2nd, the 8th Brigade passed through them as part of the general attack of the 3rd Division on Lagnicourt. The battalion then withdrew to Ervillers and remained in brigade reserve until September 19th. The 2nd Division were in VI Corps reserve, but took over the line at 5.20 a.m. on September 3rd. During the attack on September 3rd the 1st King's were in Brigade Reserve, but on the 4th September, they were ordered to clear the ground west of the Canal du Nord, and push forward patrols to the east of the canal to locate the enemy's main line.

At 5.20 a.m. two companies of the 1st King's set out towards the canal, about 1,000 yards in front, with orders to secure crossings and send out patrols on the other side. Having advanced about half way, however, they came up against heavy machine‑gun and artillery‑fire, and were held up. The battalion clung on in spite of strong bombing counter‑attacks by the Boche. At about 4 p.m. a message was sent back from the O.C. 1st King's that "the enemy is on this side of the canal in force; enemy machine‑gun and rifle‑fire comes from all round, and both sides of the canal." A further attempt to advance was made at 10 p.m., but failed, and on the evening of the 5th the 6th Brigade was relieved by the 99th Brigade. The Battalion Diary merely refers to this advance as: "In action near Canal du Nord. Second‑Lieut. Alty and four men missing, seven other ranks killed and seventeen wounded." On September 6th the battalion suffered a severe loss when Major H. J. Duff, D.S.O., M.C., the Second in Command, and Lieut. E. A. Wilson, the Acting Adjutant, were killed by a high‑velocity shell bursting in the hut in which they were sleeping.

His photo from Bootle Times

Wonderful Joe and I particularly love that you found photographs, so rare.