Joe Gledhill

Sergeant. 305068. 15t/7th Battalion. Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment.

Born: 1891.

Son of Charles and Amelia.

Husband of Mary A.

Empoyed by Hirst and Mallinson, Longwood. Previously by Mr S. T. Shaw chemist, of Golcar.

Address: 160 Leymoor Road.

Killed in Action: 17th September 1917. Aged 26.

Favreuil British Cemetery. 1F. 20.

Joe's wife received four letters from his chums regarding his death, which said "Your husband was in charge of a working party when he was hit in the back of the head by a shell and he never regained consciousness, death being instantaneous. He was highly thought of by all, he had a cheery disposition and true heartedness endearing him to officers and men alike."

He had been hit by the same shell which killed Corporal Dan Shaw, and Joe's arm had been taken off in the blast.

During the Battle of Bullecourt on 3rd May, Sergeant Garside was reported missing. It was later found that he and a few of his men were imprisoned in a shell hole for five days, and were utterly exhausted when they were eventually discovered.

Joe had served eight years in the Territorials and had rejoined at the outbreak of war. He had been issued with a pass for home leave and should have come over to England the week he was killed. He was a member of Golcar Church and the only son of Mr Gledhill of Southport.