Liverpool Pals Who Died on This Day

Joseph William was born on 26th July 1881 in Liverpool the son of William Longcake and his wife Margaret (nee Stamper). He was baptised at St Peter's Church in Liverpool on 25th September 1881, the baptismal records show that his father was employed as a Victualler and the family were living at Great Homer Street. Their son William had died aged 2 in 1879. 

His father, William, died in April 1890 aged 46.

The 1891 Census finds the family living at Prince William Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. Joseph is living with his widowed mother and 6 siblings; Elizabeth b. 1869, Mary F. b.1871, Margaret J. b. 1874, Elsie b.1876, Robert b. 1880 and David b.1884. His mother is shown as having been born at Westmoreland in 1845 and is a Public House Manager. 

By 1901 the family are living at 117 Salisbury Road, Everton. Joseph is living with his mother and 4 siblings; Mary F., Elsie, Robert and David. 

His elder sister Margaret Jane Austin died in January 1911. 

In 1911 the family are living at 34 Chepstow Street, Walton, Liverpool. Joseph is shown as being employed as a Railway clerk. He lives with his mother and his married sister Elsie and her husband Robert Henry Hughes.   

His younger brother David Thomas died in August 1912, aged 29. 

Prior to the war, Joseph was employed as a Clerk with Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway and was a Trade Union member.

He enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool joining the 18th (Pals) Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16729.

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

On 17th July 1917 he transferred to the Royal Engineers where he attained the rank of 2nd Corporal 252266. He was with the 45th Broad Gauge Operating Company when he died aged 36 on 18th November 1917. Records show the cause of Joseph's death was accidental drowning.

He now rests at Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery where his headstone at III.C.5 bears the epitaph:

"THE SOULS OF THE RIGHTEOUS ARE SAFE IN THE HANDS OF GOD"

From October 1914 to September 1917, casualty clearing stations were posted at Hazebrouck. The Germans shelled and bombed the town between September 1917 and September 1918 making it unsafe for hospitals, but in September and October 1918, No.9 British Red Cross Hospital was stationed there.

Commonwealth burials began in the communal cemetery in October 1914 and continued until July 1918. At first, they were made among the civilian graves, but after the Armistice these earlier burials were moved into the main Commonwealth enclosure.

During the Second World War, Hazebrouck was garrisoned and was on the western flank of the area occupied by the British Expedionary Force until May 1940. The cemetery was used again, mainly for the burial of those killed in late May 1940 during the fighting which covered the retreat of the BEF to the Dunkirk-Nieuport perimeter

The cemetery now contains 877 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (17 of them unidentified) and 86 from the Second World War (20 of them unidentified).

The Commonwealth plot, for the construction of which the town of Hazebrouck contributed 20,000 francs, was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on  17th November 1917

LONGCAKE - November 18, killed in action, Corporal Joseph William Longcake K.L.R., the dearly loved second son of Mrs and the late William Longcake, 16 Dumbarton Street. (Duty nobly done).

Hus family placed a notice in the Liverpool Echo on  03rd December 1917

LONGCAKE - Mrs Longcake and family desire to thank relatives and friends, also the staff of the L. and Y. Railway Co. for their kind expressions of sympathy in their recent sad bereavement and irreparable loss, 16 Dumbarton Street.

His death was reported in the Weekly Casualty List 18th Dec 1917.

Soldiers effects and Pension to his mother, Margaret.

Probate records show that probate was granted on 05th June 1918 as follows:

Longcake, Joseph William, 16 Dumbarton Street, Liverpool. Corporal Royal Engineers d. 18/11/1917 in France. Administration Liverpool 05 June to Margaret Longcake, widow. £180 6s 7d.  

Joseph is commemorated on the family headstone and also on the following Memorials:

St Lukes Church, Walton close to Goodison Park.

Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, Victoria Station, Manchester.

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