L/Sgt 17864 Joseph Herbert Jowitt

• Age: 27
• From: Huddersfield
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Joseph Herbert Jowitt was born in Huddersfield on 07th October 1888, and was the son of Alfred Jowitt and Louisa Gott who had been married in September 1887 in the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in Huddersfield. He was baptised on 25th November 1888 in the same Chapel, his parents’ abode given as 9 Commercial Place, Huddersfield. Joseph had younger siblings Edith Winifred, Harold, and Ethel. 

The 1891 census shows the 2 year old Joseph living in Bank View, Leeds Road North, Huddersfield with his baby sister Edith and his parents, 27 year old Louisa and 29 year old Alfred who is working as a manager of a builders merchants.

By the time of the 1901 Census the family have moved to Liverpool and were living at 31 Grosvenor Road, Wavertree. All their four children were born in Huddersfield and at school – Joseph aged 12, Edith W. 10, Harold who was 8 and Ethel who was 6. His father, Alfred, is aged 39, working as the manager of a brush shop, and his mother Louisa is 37 years of age. 

Sadly (Edith) Winifred was admitted to Cheshire County Asylum in July 1909 and died there a week later at the age of 18.

The family live at 32 Briardale Road, which is off Penny Lane, at the time of the 1911 Census. His father, Alfred, is aged 49 and now self employed as a fancy goods dealer, his mother Louisa is aged 47, they have been married for 23 years, and have had 4 children, 3 of whom have survived. Letters that Alfred wrote on his shop headed notepaper in Joseph’s war records, show that the shop which sold brushes and all sorts of household goods was at 30 Brunswick Street. The couple’s three children are living at home. Joseph Herbert, aged 22, was working as a commercial clerk for a tinplate merchant, Harold, aged 18, was a student teacher, and Ethel, aged 16, is a home with her mother. 

Joseph enlisted on the 11th September 1914 and gave his age as 25 years and 300 days and gave his occupation as a clerk. He was five feet six inches tall, weighed 119 lbs, 35" chest with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion as Wesleyan. He states previous service in the 6th K.B. Terr (6th King’s Bn. Territorials) and gave his next of kin his mother Louisa, of 32 Briardale Road.

Formed on 7^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. By this time Joseph had been appointed unpaid Lance Corporal. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. Whilst at Grantham Joseph was made paid Lance Corporal on 30th June 1915. They remained at Grantham until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. Whilst at Larkhill he was promoted to Corporal on 25th October 1915.

On 07th November 1915, Joseph embarked for France with his battalion.

Joseph was hospitalised from 18th March - 08th April 1916 with a carbuncle on his neck.

He attained the appointment of Lance-Sergeant on the 21st July 1916. 

11.3.16 - Sick to F.A. 

14.3.16. - Admitted to 96 F.A., I.C.T. neck. 

17.3.16 - Admitted to 22 F.A. with a carbuncle on his neck. 

5.4.16 - Rejoined unit. 

21.7.16 - appointed to Lance-Sergeant. 

30.7.16 - Wounded to F.A., gsw reported. 

30.7.16 - Wounded and missing. 

He was serving in the 19th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Lance Sergeant 17864 when he was killed in action on the 30th July 1916, aged 27, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

19^th Battalion Diary 30^th July 1916

MALTZ HORN FARM

BATTLE begun. ZERO hour 4:45 am. The Battalion reached its objective, but suffered heavy losses, and had to evacuate its position owing to no reinforcements.

Everard Wyrall gives details of the attack in his book The History of The King’s Regiment; 

"The 2nd Attack on Guillemont- 29th July 1916 the 89th Brigade the 20th King's were to attack on the right and the 19th on the left. During the evening of the 29th the night was dark and foggy when the Battalions moved off and the 19th with Lt Col G Rollo commanding, when passing the South east of the Briqueterie they were heavily shelled first with H E and then with a new kind of asphyxiating Gas shell which had curious results, at first it had no nasty effect but about 8 hrs later men began to fall sick with violent headaches and pains in the stomach. All ranks had to wear gas masks which in the darkness and mist made the going terribly difficult. It was indeed wonderful that they were able to reach their Assembly point at all. But they did and by 2.45 a.m. on the 30th July 1916 the Btn was assembled having suffered about 30 Casualties on the way up ready for the Zero hour at 4.45 a.m.

It is known that the two left Companies of the 19th under Capt. Dodd and Capt. Nicholson advanced in touch with the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on their left although they suffered many casualties from Machine gun Fire did not encounter many Germans and reached their final objective about the time allocated, beginning at once to dig in south of the orchard on the South east corner of Guillemont.  

On the left of the 19th the Scots Fusiliers most gallantly forced their way through Guillemont to the eastern side of the village but were soon overwhelmed by the enemy and few returned. 

At 8 a.m. finding that the village was not held the two left Companies of the 19th received no word from the rear or either flank believed themselves to be totally isolated so were forced to fall back and dig in, their position being untenable.

At midday the effective fighting strength of the 19th Btn was just 7 Officers and 43 other ranks" 

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July.

Casualties in the 19^th Battalion were 11 Officers and 435 Other Ranks

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.     

Joseph was originally recorded as Wounded in the Liverpool Daily Post on Saturday 30 September 1916: 

King’s (Liverpools) - Jowitt, 17864, Lance-Sergt. J. H.; 

His father wrote to Infantry Records on 29th August 1916:

Dear Sir,

In reply to yours C.924 of the 21st inst., please note that we only received your intimation that my son is wounded this afternoon owing to you addressing it to Salop [Shropshire] instead of Liverpool.  Beyond the fact that he is wounded you give us no particulars whatever. Eight days have now elapsed since you sent out the above intimation and in all probability by this you will have received full information as to the nature of the wound or wounds, and also to which Hospital my son has been sent.  It is also possible that you have addressed another communication to Salop instead of Liverpool. 

We shall be greatly obliged if you would kindly let us have all the particulars you possibly can by return of post as we have had a most anxious time during the last month.  I notice that you rank my son as ‘Corporal’, he was that when they went out on the 6th November 1915.  He was made ‘Lance Sergeant’ two or three months ago. 

[He gives Joseph’s full address, and the home address] and oblige, 

Yours faithfully, 

Alfred Jowitt

Joseph was later declared Wounded and Missing in a casualty list published in the Liverpool press on 30th September 1916. 

Enquiries were made to the International Red Cross from friends and family.  

Mr. T. Gill, of 3 Silverdale Terrace, Garmoyle Road, Liverpool, was seeking news of Joseph, "wounded on 30th July 1916 and missing at the Somme".  The response of 21st November 1916 stated that they held no information on Joseph. (Thomas Gill, likely a friend, lived half a mile away from Joseph’s address in Briardale Road.)

On 31st January 1917 a letter was received at the records office from Mrs Madge Boyd (relationship unknown) of 4529 N.Sawyer Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, USA. She was requesting information on Lance Sergeant J.H. Jowitt 17864 missing since 30th July 1916. She asked for her details to be kept on record. She received the same negative response on 10th January 1917.  

His father, still hoping Joseph was alive and a prisoner, also contacted the ICRC but again received the same reply on 12th April 1917.

Joseph’s death was later presumed for official purposes as having occurred on or since 30th July 1916.  

In the Liverpool Echo of 17th August 1917 his heartbroken parents, having finally received news of Joseph's death placed the following notice:

Jowitt – previously reported wounded and missing, now officially presumed killed July 30th, 1916 Lance-Sergeant Joseph Herbert Jowitt (K.L.R.) elder and dearly beloved son of Mr and Mrs Alfred Jowitt, 32 Briardale Road, Mossley Hill, Liverpool. (Never a grander soul, never a better son, or more tender brother. Goodnight, darling, not goodbye)

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

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.”

In January 1918 Joseph’s possessions were sent back to his parents, they were: letters, 2 postcards, a safety razor in a case and his wristwatch and strap.

His family remembered Joseph on the second anniversary of his death in 1918:

In proud and loving memory of our beloved Joseph, who gave his life for his country, July 30, 1916, at Guillemont.
   'Tis but a stream divides us;
   On either side the land is God's.

He earned his three medals. His 1914-15 Star was returned for correction of the surname (having been incorrectly sent in the surname Jowett).

In May 1919, Joseph’s father wrote to the officer in charge of records at Preston, returning a form he had been sent. Alfred points out two mistakes in the spelling of his sons name; (Joseph A. Jowett) and writes “I hope when the plaque and scroll are sent the name will be strictly accurate without any alterations or crossing out.” 

The Lives of the First World War commemoration site holds additional information about Joseph provided by relatives, and states that he had a sweetheart before the war, Hannah Salisbury.

His Army pay and a War Gratuity of £9-10s went to his father. His mother was awarded a pension of 8/6d a week from May 1917.

Probate 1917:- 

JOWITT Joseph Herbert of 32 Briardale Road, Mossley Hill Liverpool lance Sergeant 19th Battalion K.L.R. died on or since 30 July 1916 in France Probate Liverpool 20 October to Alfred Jowitt fancy goods dealer. Effects £169 17s. 

In 1919 his parents are still in Briardale Road, with Ethel, 24.  Harold, 26, is living in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa. (Harold had married in South Africa in 1917; he became a Director of Education.) 

In 1939 his parents are living at 9 Queens Avenue in Hoylake, Cheshire, his father 78, now retired, and his mother 76.

His father died on 27th January 1941 aged 79, and his mother just days later, on 02nd February 1941, aged 78.

Their deaths were reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Tuesday 28 January 1941: 

JOWITT—Jan. 13. suddenly, passed peacefully to sleep. In hospital, in his 80th year. ALFRED, the dearly beloved husband of Louisa Jowitt, of 9 Queens Avenue, Meols and devoted father Ethel and Harold. 

And in the Liverpool Evening Express on Monday 03 February 1941: 

WED 54 YEARS.  

A Hoylake couple, Mr. and Mrs. A. Jowitt, of Queen’s-avenue, Meols, who had been married 54 years have died within few days of each other. Mrs. Jowitt’s death took place last night in hospital following an operation only a day or two after her husband’s funeral. Mr. Jowitt died in hospital on January 23. They were well-known in Hoylake Methodist circles. 

Also in the Liverpool Echo on Tuesday 04 February 1941: 

JOWITT— Feb. 2. in her 79th year, LOUISA, widow of Alfred Jowitt. and dearly-beloved mother of Ethel and Harold, 9 Queen's Avenue, Meols. 

Joseph is commemorated in Elm Hall Drive Methodist Church, Allerton, Liverpool and in Liverpool's Hall of Remembrance, Panel 66 (as Jowett).

The Imperial War Museum holds a portrait of Joseph (3rd Company, 9th Platoon).

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