Today we commemorate the centenary of the start of the battle known as Passchendaele.
Mr Jack Walker has asked if we could include on the website details of his uncle Joe Walker who was killed in action on 17th September 1917 – 100 years next month.
JOSEPH WALKER M.M.
Regiment: York and Lancaster
Rank: Sergeant
Service No: 313 745
Enlisted: 29 August 2014
Killed in Action: 17 September 1917 – Aged 23
Born in Killamarsh in 1894, the son of Robert and Elizabeth Walker, Joe lived at Highmoor and later at Norwood. The 1911 census shows that he was employed as a ‘Colliery pony driver underground’, probably at Norwood pit.
After the outbreak of war in 1914, Joe walked to Sheffield with his Killamarsh pals in order to ‘join up’.
He was enlisted into the York and Lancaster regiment on 29th August 1914. Joe was trained at Pontefract, Yorkshire with the 3rd (reserve battalion) York and Lancs.
Details of Joe Walker’s Service taken from army records:
13th July 1915
Posted to France with the 7th Battalion York and Lancs.
20th August 1915
Invalided home wounded, injury described as “bullet wound right arm severe”.
2nd January 1916
Returned to France posted to 8th Battalion York and Lancs.
23rd July 1916
Appointed Lance Corporal in the field.
2nd October 1916
Wounded and sent for treatment
10th October 1916
Rejoined the Battalion
20th October 1916
Appointed Corporal
3rd December 1916
Awarded Military Medal
19th April 1917
Appointed Lance Sergeant
3rd June 1917
Appointed Sergeant
17th September 1917
Killed in Action
Joe survived the battle of the Somme, only to lose his life a year later in 1917.
He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial at Passchendaele, Belgium on panels 125 to 128 in the south rotunda of the memorial.