Cpl 16566 Joseph Eardley

• Age: 28
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 15th March 1917
• Commemorated at: Agny New Military Cem
  Panel Ref: D.1

Joseph was born in Liverpool in 1889, he was the son of Richard Eardley and his wife Margaret Georgina (nee Scott) who were married on 01st November 1885 at St Michael's Church, Toxteth. Richard was born in Nantwich, Cheshire, and Margaret in Liverpool.  Joseph had two brothers, William Alexander born in 1887, and Charles in 1891.

Joseph was baptised in St. John the Baptist in Toxteth Park on 17th February 1889, the family residence at the time 47 Elaine Street, and his father's occupation given as butcher.

At the time of the 1891 Census the family is living at 7 Steele Grove, Toxteth. His parents, Richard and Margaret, with children William aged 4 and Joseph aged 2. His father is a foundry labourer. Also in the household are his uncle John Eardley, 20, and his maternal grandmother Mary Scholes and her husband, both 63.

By 1901 they have moved to 102 Upper Essex Street, Toxteth. Both parents are in the household, his father is now a printer with the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board. William is 13, Joseph, 12, and Charles, 9. Their widowed grandmother Mary Scholes still lives with them.

The 1911 Census finds the family have moved and are resident at 18 Hodges Mount, Toxteth Park. His father, 50, is a plan printer and mounter for the MD&HB, his mother is 45. William, 23, is a foreign order clerk for a soap manufacturer, Joseph is 22, a shipping clerk for a cotton merchant, and Charles, 19, is an assistant bookkeeper for a solicitor.

He enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 01st September 1914 joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16566. He states that he has previously been rejected for military service because of his height. He gave his age as 25 years and 214 days and his occupation as a clerk. He was described as being 5'3 and a half inches tall, weighed 121lbs and has a dark complexion with grey eyes and fair hair. He stated his religion as Wesleyan.

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th 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. He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

His service records show:

02/7/16: Promoted to Corporal 

31/5/16 - 14/06/16: He attended Grenade school

01/09/1916 Received Professional Pay Class I after two years service

01/12/16 to 30/12/16: Attached 30th Div. Infantry School

07/2/17: He was granted leave and returned to the UK returning to France on 28th February 1917. 

Joseph was killed in action, aged 28, on 15th March 1917  during a Trench raid on the German positions opposite the Pals at Agny. 7 other men were wounded.

The War Diary records in early March 1917 the battalion was in the trenches at Agny. On 04th March they were relieved by the 2nd Yorkshire Regiment and proceeded to billets at Achicourt. On the 05th an enemy shell hit one billet causing 21 casualties (wounded). Whilst in billets the battalion provided working parties each day until the 13th when they proceeded to Monchiet. The next day a raiding party proceeded to Achicourt to billets.

15th March: "A raiding party consisting of 5 officers and 125 O.R. under Capt. R. W. Jones raided the German trenches between SAP Y30 and Y31. The raid was successful in so far that the German front line was entered, dugouts blown up, some of them containing Germans - and the raiding party safely withdrawn. No prisoners or other identification however were obtained. There were very few Germans in the trenches and no artillery retaliation by them in response to our barrage - their M. Gun  [fire] was intermittent + mostly high. The raid was carried out according to programme + all arrangements worked satisfactorily. Casualties 1 NCO killed and 7 O.R. wounded.

Joseph now rests at Agny New Military Cemetery in France where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE".

Agny Military Cemetery was begun by French troops, and used by Commonwealth units and field ambulances from March 1916 to June 1917. Two further burials were made in April 1918, and in 1923-24, 137 graves were brought in from the battlefields east of Arras. The 40 French graves have been removed. Agny Military Cemetery contains 408 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 118 of them unidentified, and five German graves. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. 

Joseph's death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on the 21st and 22nd March 1917:

Died from Wounds (sic) - EARDLEY - Died from Wounds age 23, Cpl J Eardley KLR Second beloved son of Mr. & Mrs Eardley 18 Hodges Mount

His family placed a thank you condolence notice in the Liverpool Echo on 27th March 1917:

Mr & Mrs Eardley and sons desire to convey their gratitude for the sympathy received from all their friends in their recent great loss. 8 Hodges Mount.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Margaret G. 

Probate – 18 Hodges Mount to Margaret Georgina Eardley wife of Richard - £54.6.6d

His mother Margaret received his outstanding Army pay and a War Gratuity of £12-10s.

The pension card in the name of his mother (showing killed in action) does not specify the amount awarded, if any.