1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
Pte 53107 Joseph Green
- Age: 32
- From: Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
- Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
- K.I.A Sunday 15th October 1916
- Commemorated at: Bulls Rd Cem, Flers
Panel Ref: II.L.11
Joseph Green was born in 1884 in Leigh on Sea, Essex, the son of William Green and his wife Mary Ann(née Noakes) who were married in 1881. He was baptised on the 29th June 1884 at St Clement's Church, Leigh on Sea, Essex.
On the 1891 Census the family are living on Chalkwell Lane, Prittlewell, Essex. His father, William, is aged 30, and a farm labourer, born Prittlewell, his mother, Mary, is aged 30, born Leigh on Sea, Essex. There are four children declared in the household; William aged 10, born Leigh, and born Prittlewell are; Joseph aged 8, Clara 4, and John 1.
On the 1901 Census the family have moved to Clatterfield Cottages, Prittlewell. His father, William, is aged 41, and a general labourer, his mother, Mary, is aged 40. , children William aged 18, a general labourer, Joseph 16, a general labourer, John 9, Robert 8, born Prittlewell, Walter 6, born Eastwood, Nellie 4 born Eastwood and Sofia 1 born Prittlewell.
An interesting article in the Southend Standard and Essex Weekly Advertiser on the 21st February 1907 provides a glimpse into the life of Joseph:
SOUTHEND COUNTY PETTY SESSION
IN PURSUIT OF RABBITS - Arthur Allen, labourer, of Eastwood and Joseph Green, labourer, Prittlewell, were jointly charged with trespassing in pursuit of conies[rabbits] on land in the occupation of Mr Hugh Bentall, at Leigh, on February 2nd. Defendants did not appear and service of the summons was proved - Mr F.W. Powell (from the office of Messrs. W. & F. Gregson) prosecuted. - Mr Keyes said he had the rabbit shooting over Mr Bentall's farm. On Saturday the 2nd, he saw the men, Allen and Green, on the farm. He had previously cautioned them. Witness saw they were stooping about in a suspicious manner. Witness walked towards where they were and they ran away. Where they had been stooping down he found a number of fresh snares laid. There was no footpath across the land and they have no right there. - There was a previous conviction against Allen for a like offence - Allen was fined 20 shillings and 4 shillings costs, or 14 days, and Green 10 shillings and 4 shillings costs, or 7 days.
On the 1911 Census the family are still at 1 Clatterfield Cottages. His father, William, is aged 52, and a general labourer, his mother, Mary Ann, is aged 49, children William aged 27, a general labourer, Joseph 24, a general labourer, John 21, a Soldier in the King’s Rifles, Robert 19, a general labourer, Walter 17, a milkman, Nellie 14 and Sophia 12 are at school. [The entries of Joseph, John and Walter are crossed out as they were not living there]
Joseph enlisted in Warley, Essex,on the 24th March 1916, as Private 20412, joining the East Surrey Regiment, he went abroad and at some point was transferred to the 18th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 53107.
He was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment, when he was killed in action on the 15th October 1916, aged 34, during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.
He now rests at Bulls Road Cemetery, Flers, France.
Joseph was buried close to where he fell but after the war when graves were concentrated, his body was removed and reburied in Bulls Road Cemetery, Flers, Somme, where he now rests. Unusually, the CWGC graves registration shows his previous regimental number, 20412. There was evidently some confusion concerning his death, as a notation on his Soldiers’ Effects entry shows, ‘Man alive!’, but this is crossed out and replaced with, ‘Death confirmed’. The pension documentation was not received until June 1917, which is an unusual delay. It is not know when his next of kin were notified of his death.
Flers was captured on 15 September 1916 in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, when it was entered by the New Zealand and 41st Divisions behind tanks, the innovative new weapons that were used here for the first time. The village was lost during the German advance of March 1918 and retaken at the end of the following August by the 10th West Yorks and the 6th Dorsets of the 17th Division. The cemetery was begun on 19 September 1916 and was used by fighting units (mainly Australian) until March 1917. The 154 burials made during these months now form Plot I. Plot II, Row A, Graves 1-17 were added in September 1918 by the 17th Division burial officers. The rest of the cemetery consists of graves (mainly of September 1916, or August 1918) brought in after the Armistice from the fields between Flers and Longueval. There are now 776 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 296 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 15 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.
Joseph was reported killed in the Southend Standard and Essex Weekly Advertiser on Thursday 23rd November 1916;
LEIGH SOLDIER KILLED.
News has been received by Mr. W. Green, of 4. Elmore Villas, Glenbury(sic) Drive, Leigh, that his second son, Pte. J. Green. King's Liverpool Regiment, was killed in action October 15th. The deceased soldier lived at “The Gog.” Duke of Manchester Drive, Leigh, and leaves a widow and one child. He was 34 years of age and joined the East Surrey Regiment on March 24th. After being in training until June 28th, he went abroad and was transferred to the Liverpool Regiment. Four other brothers are serving.
His death was also reported in the Essex Newsman on Saturday 25th November 1916;
Pte. J. Green, 34, King's Liverpool Regt., killed in action, was the second son of Mr. W. Green, 4 Elmore Villas, Glenbury(sic) Drive, Leigh. He lived at "The Gog." Duke of Manchester Drive, Leigh, and leaves a widow and one child.
The pension card gives his beneficiary as ‘unmarried wife’, Sarah Ann Hibbert, at The Gog, Duke of Manchester Drive, Leigh on Sea. Another card shows her address as 141 Station Road, Leigh on Sea. Sarah Ann received his effects, including a War Gratuity of £3 and a pension of 19/2d a week.
He earned his two medals.
Sarah Ann received his effects, Army Pay of £3 10s, a War Gratuity of £3 and a pension of 19/2d a week. As they were not married their son Joseph Henry Hibbert is not recorded on the pension card, he was born in 1910.
On the 1921 Census at 71 High Street, Leigh, Sarah Ann, is aged 60, married, and is running a fish shop and what looks like a boarding house. Also present are her sons, Arthur, aged 20, Bertie, aged 14, and Joseph Henry Green (Hibbert) aged 8. They have four boarders.
His brother Walter was also reported killed in 1917;
Southend Standard and Essex Weekly Advertiser - Thursday 10 May 1917
LEIGH PARENTS' SECOND LOSS.
Mr. and Mrs. William Green, of 4, Elmore Villas, Glenbervie Drive, Leigh, have just received notification of the death of their son, Private Walter Green, formerly of the Lancers, now of the Royal West Kent Regiment, who fell in action on April 9th. This is the second whom Mr. and Mrs. Green have lost during the war. Private J. Green having been killed in October. Private Walter Green was native of Leigh and was educated at North Street School, afterwards being engaged on munitions at Woolwich. He joined the Army in March, 1916, and went to France just before Christmas. Three other brothers serving are: Private Wm. Green, Norfolk Regiment, Private John Green, R.D.F, and Private Robert Green, Middlesex Regiment (in hospital with frozen feet). (Pte 24328 RWK)
Walter's death was also reported in the Chelmsford Chronicle on Friday 11th May 1917;
Mr. and Mrs. William Green, of 4 Elmore Villas, Glenbervie Drive, Leigh, have received notification of the death of their son, Pt. Walter Green, R. West Kent Regt. This is the second son Mr. and Mrs. Green have lost during the war.
On the 1921 Census at 4 Elmore Villas, Glenbervie Drive, Leigh, mother Mary is aged 60, married, son William is 40(crossed out), Jack 29, and Sophie 21,
Sarah, died, aged 77, in 1947.
Joseph is commemorated on the following memorials -
Southend Roll of Honour
Leigh on Sea Memorial Chapel
We currently have no further information on Joseph Green, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.
Killed On This Day.
(108 Years this day)Sunday 16th June 1918.
Pte 57615 Fred William Preddy
23 years old
(105 Years this day)
Thursday 16th June 1921.
Captain Leonard George Duncan
43 years old