Pte 36701 Joseph Edward Bolton

• Age: 23
• From: Preston, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Joseph Edward Bolton was born in Preston in 1894, the only child of Edmund Bolton and his wife Ada Hannah (nee Wilcock) who married on the 20th March 1893 at St Luke's Church, Preston. Edmund was a 22 year old tailor of 306 North Road, Preston, Ada was a 19 year old of 165 Ribbleton Lane. Joseph was baptised in St Luke's Church, Preston on the 08th July 1894.

At the time of the 1901 Census the family were living at 135 Ribbleton Lane, Preston. Joseph was 6 years old, his father was 28 and working as a beerseller, his mother, Ada, was 26 and also living with the family was Ada’s sister Alice Wilcock (everybody born Preston).

By 1911 the family had moved to Blackpool where they were running a pub called the Halfway House on South Shore, Marton, Blackpool. The sixteen year old Joseph was working as a solicitors clerk. His aunt Alice is still living with the family. They also have a live in barman, Daniel Bostock and an ostler called William Webster.

Joseph’s father died aged 44 on the 09th August 1915. At the time the family lived at the Market Hotel, Lytham Street, Blackpool.

The Blackpool Gazette of 13th August 1915 featured news of his father's death;

DEATH OF HR. E BOLTON.

A WELL-KNOWN BLACKPOOL LICENSEE.

The death of Mr. Edmund Bolton, licensee of the Market Hotel, Lytham-street, Blackpool, took place on Monday night, at the age of 44 years. A native of Preston, Mr. Bolton had been in the "trade" about 23 years, formerly keeping the Albert Hotel, Ribbleton-lane, Preston. Not enjoying sound health, he took over the Half Way House between Blackpool and St. Annes, and a year ago last January became licensee of the Market Hotel, Blackpool. Since leaving Preston, however, his health did not improve to any appreciable extent, and gradually becoming worse he passed away as stated. He leaves a widow and one son. The funeral takes place at Preston to-day (Friday).

Joseph’s mother Ada remarried to Edward Carr in late 1916 in St Luke's Church, Preston.

Joseph enlisted in Preston and was serving in the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 36701 He was killed in action on 31st July 1917 aged 23 on the first day of the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as the Battle of Passchendaele.

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

The Battalion moved into assembly positions east of Maple Copse between 05.00 and 05.20am, they were heavily shelled and suffered many casualties. At 07.50 they began to advance with the 17th Battalion on the left, and the 20th on the right, the whole time under heavy shell fire. On reaching their position which was the Blue Line , troops of both the 21st and 90th Brigades were still pinned down and thus any attempt at further progress were futile.

At this point a message was sent to Brigade HQ advising that Companies were digging in on and consolidating a line running south from Stirling Castle.

The 20th Battalion was relieved on the night of 3rd/4th August. During this time the Battalion lost one officer 2nd Lieut. G. G. Nickel and 42 men killed or died of wounds with six officers and 149 men wounded. 

Joseph's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

The Lancashire Evening Post 31st Aug 1917 reported:

BOLTON - Killed in action in France, July 31st 1917, Private (Fred) Bolton, King's Liverpool Regiment, only son of Ada and the late Ted Bolton. aged 23 years. "Thy will be done." - Albert Hotel, Ribbleton Lane, Preston

Soldiers effects and Pension went to his mother Ada Hannah Carr.

His family placed In Memoriam notices in the years that followed his death:

Lancashire Evening Post 06th August 1918:

IN MEMORIAM

BOLTON - In ever memory of Pte FRED BOLTON, Liverpool Pals, who was killed in action at Ypres, July 31st, 1917, aged 23 years. Only and beloved son of ADA and the late TED BOLTON.

Only those who have lost are able to tell

The pain at the heart at not saying "Farewell !"

- From his loving Mother Mrs Carr, Albert Hotel, Ribbleton Lane.

BOLTON - In loving memory of my dear FRED.

We often think of days gone by,

When we were all together;

A shadow cast upon our lives

When a loved one's gone for ever.

- From his dear Auntie and Cousins, Walt., Florrie, and Jack in Egypt. - Mrs Smith, 89 Ribbleton Lane.

Lancashire Evening Post 13th August 1918:

IN MEMORIAM

BOLTON - In affectionate remembrance of EDMUND (TED) BOLTON, who died August 9, 1915 at the Market Hotel, Blackpool. "Thy will be done." - Mr and Mrs Carr, Albert Hotel, Ribbleton Lane.

Lancashire Evening Post 06th August 1919

BOLTON - In loving memory of J.E. (FRED) BOLTON, who was killed in action at Ypres, July 31st, 1917, only and beloved son of ADA on the late TED BOLTON. "We miss him most who loved him best."

- From his Mother and Ned, Albert Hotel, Ribbleton Lane.

His mother Hannah, dob 27th June 1873, appears on the 1939 register at 9 Fishers Lane with her husband Edward.

She died aged 68 on the 13th January 1942 in Blackpool.

Probate was granted in 1942:-

CARR Ada Hannah of Rose Cottage, Fishers Lane, Marton Moss, South Shore Blackpool (wife of Edward Carr) died 13 January 1942 Probate Liverpool 31 March to the said Edward Carr retired market gardener. Effects £1921 9s 11d. 

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