Pte 22767 Joseph Harry Martin

• Age: 22
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Joseph Henry Martin was born on 27th March 1894, the son of William Henry Martin and his wife Elizabeth Alice (nee McLean), who married on the 24th April 1893 at St John the Baptist Church, Toxteth Park. William was a widowed 36 year old labourer of 13 Malta Street, father Thomas a carter, whilst Elizabeth was aged 28, same address, father William a deceased sailmaker.  

On the 1881 Census the family are living at 27 Wilfer Street, Edge Hill. His father, William, is aged 23, a corporation labourer, born Manchester, his wife Mary J. is aged 23, born Liverpool. A son Samuel Henry was born in 1882 but died in infancy, followed by daughter Alice Ann in 1884 and Lily May in 1890. 

Joseph was the eldest of his parents' four children. He had a younger sister Edith Maude, born in 1896, and younger brothers Christopher Rafe, in 1898 and Thomas, in 1901, all born in Toxteth Park. 

Joseph Henry Martin, (the only Joseph H. Martin born in Liverpool during the right time frame) was born on 27th March 1894, and baptised in St. Clement, Toxteth, on 15th April 1894; confusingly, his parents are listed as William and Mary Jane. 

On the 1891 Census the family have moved to 25 Lyndley Street, Edge Hill. His father, William, is aged 33, a corporation labourer, and his mother, Mary J., is aged 33, a broker agent, daughter Alice A. is aged 7. A further son Walter Stephen was born at the end of the year, possibly when Mary Jane died at the age of 33. 

At the time of the 1901 census the family is found at 33 Eden Street, Toxteth Park, with six children at home. His father, 43, is a Corporation labourer, his mother, Elizabeth, is 36. Lily is 11, and Walter 9. Joseph is 7, Edith 4, Rafe 2, and Thomas is two months old. 

His father died, aged 50, in 1908, and was buried on the 11th January at Toxteth Cemetery, his address 58 Aspen Grove, Toxteth. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 61 Wrayburn Street, Edge-Hill, Liverpool. His mother, Elizabeth, is a widow aged 42, born in Liverpool in 1869 with no occupation listed. She is living with her son and daughter, Joseph aged 17, born 1894 occupation corporation servant and Edith aged 14, born 1897. There are a further two children at the address both born in 1911 George Pearson born in London and Dorothy Molyneux born Liverpool (shown as nurse child on Census record).

He enlisted in Liverpool on 09th November 1914 joining the 20th Battalion as Private No 22767. He gave his age as 20 years and 276 days and his occupation as a clerk, although another page of his service record shows his trade as barman. He was five feet five inches tall, weighed 120lbs, 35" chest with a sallow complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England and gave as his next of kin, his mother, Elizabeth, at 41 Timpron Street, Edge Hill.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built 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. His service papers show that on 10th July 1915 at Belton Park he was punished for "Obtaining food under false pretences." He was confined to barracks for four days. The Battalion remained at Grantham until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. Joseph arrived in France on 07^th November 1915, disembarking at Boulogne.

He was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 22, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

The 20^th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20^th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 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. 

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's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

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.”

His death was announced in the Liverpool Daily Post on 22nd August 1916:

"July 30, killed in action, Private J. H. Martin, 22767 (Pals), eldest son of Mrs. and the late Mr. Martin." 

An article in the Liverpool Echo on the 26th August 1916 invites people the next day to attend :

A Memorial Service at St Dunstans, Earle Road at 11am: Memorial Service for Robert Glynne Davies, Gilbert Pelling, Arthur Collett, Herbert Lawrenson, and Joseph Henry Martin

All these men were local lads and must’ve attended St Dunstans Church and known each other. Indeed, looking at the war records, both Arthur and Joseph were punished for the same misdemeanour in July 1915. Arthur, Herbert, and Joseph served in the 20th and Gilbert in the 19th Batallion. All four lads were killed on the same day, all have no grave, all their names are on the Thiepval Memorial. Arthur was 19, Herbert 25, Gilbert 21 and Joseph 22 years old. Robert was a Captain in the 4th Batallion King’s (Liverpool Regiment), he was 29 when he was killed on the 14th August 1916 and is buried in Caterpillar Cemetery, Longueval.

All five of these men's names are remembered on the war memorial in the churchyard of St Dunstans Church, along with another 107 men from the same parish. 

His mother, now at 24 Wainwright Street (around the corner from Timpron Street), was notified in December 1916 there were no personal effects of Joseph's to be sent.

Joseph earned his three medals, which his mother signed for. 

His Army effects and a War Gratuity of £7-10 went to his mother, who was awarded a pension of 5/- a week from February 1917. 

Joseph was remembered in the Liverpool Echo on 30th July 1917 the first anniversary of his death, under the heading, “Lost At The Battle Of Guillemont”:

“In loving memory of J. H. Martin (4th Pals), killed in action, July 30, 1916. (Some day, some time, we shall meet again.) - Ever remembered by Connie.” 

He was also remembered on the second anniversary of his death in 1918:

"In loving memory of Joseph Martin, killed in action, July 30, 1916. - Sadly missed by Mother, Sister, and Brothers, Uncle and Aunt."

In 1919 his mother provided information on living relatives:  his sister Edith M., 23, and brothers Christopher, 21, and Thomas, 18, were living at home with their mother in Wainwright Street. 

His brother Christopher enlisted on 30th October 1915, when he was 17 years old.  He served overseas with the 1st/5th K.L.R. and was discharged on 25th February 1918 with a Silver War Badge. 

His mother died in 1934, aged 68. 

Joseph is also commemorated in Liverpool's Hall of Remembrance, Panel 18.

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