Pte 32667 Joseph Fallding

• Age: 19
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 14th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Joseph Fallding was born in 1897 in Liverpool the son of Daniel Fallding and his wife Mary Margaret (née Holliday) who had married on the 03rd July 1887 at St Mary's Church, Edge-Hill, Liverpool. His father was a widower, David was a 47 year old corn porter of Bremner Street, his father, Francis, was a deceased farmer, whilst Mary was aged 27 of Flaxman Street, her father, Joseph, was a deceased draper. Joseph was baptised on the 10th November 1897 at St Bridget’s C. of E. Church, Wavertree.  

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 40 Cecil Street, Wavertree, Liverpool. His father, Daniel, is aged 49 and is a grain weigher in a corn warehouse, his mother, Mary Margaret, is aged 34, born 1867 in Liverpool is a housekeeper. At the taking of the Census they have six children, Frederick aged 12, Reginald aged 10, Hilda aged 8, Elsie aged 6, Joseph aged 3 and George Edward, born in 1901.    

The 1911 Census shows the family still living at 40 Cecil Street, Wavertree, Liverpool. His father, Daniel, is aged 62, born in 1849 (The 1901 Census shows his year of birth as 1852) and is a clerk in a grain warehouse and was born in Wentworth, Yorkshire. His wife, Mary Margaret, is aged 45, born 1866 in Liverpool and is a Housekeeper. They have been married for 25 years and have had seven children. At the taking of the Census they have six children, all born in Liverpool, living at the address; Frederick who was aged 22, born in 1889 and Reginald, aged 20, born in 1891 have now left the family home. Elsie is aged 16, born in 1895 occupation Clerk, dye works, Joseph is aged 13, George Edward, is aged 10, born 1901 and John Arthur, is aged 7, born 1904 are still at school.

He enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 32667 when he was killed in action on the 14th October 1916, aged 19, during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive. 

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

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.”

His brother Frank was also killed in action on the 29th September 1916, whilst serving with the York and Lancaster Regiment as Private 34255. He also has no known grave and is also commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. Prior to the outbreak of war he had been a tailor’s salesman.

His Soldiers Effects, Army Pay of £3 2s 10d and War Gratuity of £3 went to his mother Mary Margaret. She also received the pensions for both Joseph, and as step-mother to Frank.  

On the 1921 Census at Cecil Street,his  father, Daniel, is aged 69, a grain superintendent, his mother, Mary, is aged 54, with John Arthur 17 who is unemployed. 

His father, died aged 70, in 1921 and was buried on the 21st July 1921 at Holy Trinity, Wavertree. 

His mother, died aged 69, in 1935. 

Joseph is also commemorated on St Bridget’s C. of E. Church, Wavertree.

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