Pte 32802 Joseph Edwards

• Age: 20
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

32802 Private Joseph EDWARDS 18^th Battalion KLR.

Joseph Edwards worn in 1896 in Liverpool, the youngest of 7 children born to Edward Menzies Edwards, and his wife Elizabeth (nee Capstick) who were married on the 17th Sept 1876 at Our Lady and St. Nicholas and St. Anne, Liverpool. Edward was a porter, father John, whilst Elizabeth’s father was William, both gave their residence as Sir Thomas’ Buildings. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 12 Sterne Street, Liverpool. His father was born in Liverpool, he is 51 years of age, and a foreman in a cotton warehouse in Liverpool, whilst his mother is 42 years of age and also born in the city. Joseph is five years of age and is one of six children in the household. His siblings, all born in Liverpool are shown as; James aged 23 a house painter, Mary J. aged 20, Margaret E. aged 16, William aged 12 and Charles aged 10.  

The 1911 Census shows the family now living at 22 Empire Street, Liverpool. His father, Edward, is said to be a cotton porter, mother Elizabeth is aged 53, they have been married for 35 years and have had 11 children, with 7 having survived. They have three children declared in the household; Mary Elizabeth a restaurant waitress age 30, Jane, aged 28 is also a waitress and Margaret aged 26 and a greengrocer's manageress. Joseph is 15 years of age and is an apprentice tin printer. 

When Joseph enlisted in Liverpool in late October 1915, he was employed by Messrs Black & Co, sheet iron keg and drum makers, of 23 Well Lane, Bootle.

He joined the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment, as Private 32802. He recieved two medals, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal showing that he didnt arrive in France until 1916. 

He was killed in action during the attack at Montauban on 01^st July 1916.

18^th Battalion Diary

At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great spirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks. 

Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:

As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.  

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter  wrote in the conclusion of his account of the days action:

I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:

“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”.    

Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18^th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on the 27th July 1916: 

A BOOTLE “PAL.” 

Private Joseph Edward Black(?) has been killed. He was 20 years of age and resided with his parents at 22 Empire Street, Liverpool. He was employed by Messrs. Black and Co., Well-lane, Bootle. 

He was also reported killed in the in the Liverpool Daily Post on the 07th August 1916: 

Kings (Liverpool Regiment) - Edwards, 32802, J. (Liverpool); 

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Soldiers Effects to father Edward M., Pension to mother Elizabeth. 

The family were still living at 22 Empire Road at the taking of the 1921 Census.

His mother died, aged 63, in 1922 and his father died, aged 80, in 1930, still living at 22 Empire Street.   

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