Pte 48290 Joseph Durr

• Age: 39
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Sunday 18th March 1917
• Commemorated at: Avesnes-le- Comte Cc Ext
  Panel Ref: I.C.25

Joseph Durr was born on the 20th February 1879 the son of the late John Durr, a shoemaker, and his wife Teresa (née Green). His father had died, aged 48, in late 1878. He was baptised on the 07th March 1879 at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Liverpool.

The 1881 Census finds the family living at 2 Upper Dalton Street, 8H Gothic Terrace, Liverpool. The family is shown on the Census as Dayrr, which may be a transcription error on behalf of the person undertaking the Census. His mother is shown as a 40 year old widow, who was born in Dublin and is shown as a tailoress by profession. She lives with her three children; Theresa, is aged 9, John, is aged 5 and Joseph, is aged 2.  

The 1901 Census shows that Joseph and his wife are boarding with the Dry family at 34 Aber Street, Bootle. The head of the household is John Dry aged 50, born in 1851 and employed as a boiler maker and was born in Ireland. His wife, Harriet, is aged 46, born 1855 in Shrewsbury and has no occupation listed. They have five children at the time of the Census, John, is aged 18, born in 1883 is a blacksmith and Morris aged 16, born in 1885 is a riveter’s boy and both were born in Liverpool. Thomas is aged 12, born in 1889, Julia, is aged 10, born in 1891 and Edward, is aged 8, born in 1893 and they were born in Bootle. Joseph Durr is now aged 23, and is a tailor, his wife, Elizabeth, (Lizzie on the Census) is aged 22, and born in 1879 in Liverpool, and has no occupation listed. Also living at the address is Lizzie Jamieson, aged 18, born 1883 in Liverpool and she has no occupation listed.

The 1911 Census shows Joseph and his family living at 4 Langrove Street, Everton, Liverpool. Joseph is aged 32, is a tailors presser and his wife Elizabeth is aged 31, with no occupation listed. They have been married for ten years and have four children, Harriet, is aged 9, born on the 20th December 1901 in Bootle and Theresa, is aged 6, born on the 15th April 1904 in Liverpool are both at school. Elizabeth is aged 4, born on the 10th August 1906 and Catherine, is aged 1, born on the 05th June 1909 and both were also born in Liverpool. Also living with the family are, Joseph Slade, a widower aged 53, born in 1858 in Liverpool and employed as a brass finisher and Margaret Sparkes aged 25, born in 1886  in Liverpool and she is employed as a domestic servant.

His son Joseph Valentine was born on 05th April 1912. On the baptism of his son Joseph Valentine in 1912 at St Peter' Church, Joseph is also named as Joseph Valentine Durr.

Another daughter, Florence was born on 08th May 1914.

Joseph enlisted in Liverpool joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 48290.  He was subsequently transferred to the 20th Battalion of the K.L.R.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

Joseph died of wounds at 37 C.C.S. (from Soldiers Effects) on 18th March 1917, aged 39, and now rests at Avesnes-Le- Comte Communal Cemetery Extension where his headstone bears the epitaph: 

"THE SOULS OF THE RIGHTEOUS ARE IN THE HANDS OF THE LORD" 

The village of Avesnes-le-Comte was for some time the VI Corps headquarters. The 37th and 30th Casualty Clearing Stations were there from April 1916, the 42nd in June 1916, and the 41st in January 1917. The communal cemetery contains 2 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, both made in April 1916. Thereafter, burials were made in the extension, which contains 333 graves, 4 of which are unidentified. Most of these were from the 37th CCS which stayed in the village until July 1917. The Extension also contains 4 Second World War burials. The Extension was designed by Charles Holden.

Grateful thanks are extended to Paul Harrison, a relative of Joseph's who has kindly given permission for us to use the photograph of Joseph now shown on this site.

We currently have no further information on Joseph Durr. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.