1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
Pte 29749 Joseph Colligan
- Age: 21
- From: Liverpool
- Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
- K.I.A Tuesday 27th June 1916
- Commemorated at: Bronfay Farm Mil Cem
Panel Ref: I.D.25
Joseph was born in Liverpool on 12th February 1895 and baptised the following week on 19th February 1895 at St Patrick’s R.C. Church, Liverpool. He was the only son of Henry Colligan and his wife Catherine (nee Wallace) who married in Liverpool in 1888, also at St Patrick’s R.C. Church.
In 1891 Catherine, a 25 year old married woman, is living with her parents, both born in County Mayo, Ireland, at 45 Gelling Street, Toxteth. As early as 1863, when their first child was born, Catherine’s parents had settled in Toxteth.
The 1901 Census finds the family are living at 5 Tillotson Terrace, Liverpool but are incorrectly recorded under the surname Corrigan. His father, Henry, is a 36 year old engine driver born in Liverpool, whilst his mother is 34 years old and also born in Liverpool. They have three with children living with them; Henry aged 9, Catherine aged 7 and Joseph aged 6.
His father, Henry, was a ship’s steward and died in 1901 in Liverpool.
Joseph and his sister Catherine are recorded as being in the Sefton General Hospital (Toxteth Park Workhouse) as part of the Liverpool Workhouse. Their record is shown as Dest. which would indicate destitute and their address is given as 45 Gelling Street.
In 1911 they were living at 45 Gelling Street with Catherine still recorded as married with children Joseph aged 16 and a grocer's assistant and Catherine aged 18 and a domestic servant are residing with their grandparents Michael and Bridget Wallace.
His mother died in the September quarter of 1913 aged 47.
Joseph enlisted in Liverpool joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 29749.
The Battalion was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th 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 served in France from 07th November 1915, earning all three medals.
The 17th Bn War Diary for 26th/27th June shows “heavy enemy bombardment of front line trenches. Casualties: Killed O.R. 17, Wounded O.R. 57”
He now rests at I D 25 in Bronfay Farm Military Cemetery, near Albert.
The cemetery was begun by French troops in October 1914, but little used by them. It was used by Commonwealth troops from August 1915 to February 1917, particularly during the Battle of the Somme, when the XIV Corps Main Dressing station was at the farm. During the retreat and advance of 1918, further burials were made and after the Armistice, graves of March, August and September 1918 were brought in from the fields between Bronfay Farm and Bray.
Bronfay Farm Military Cemetery contains 537 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 13 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to two casualties believed to be buried among them.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens
His death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on 21st July 1916.
Soldiers Effects to brother Henry, no Pension record found.
Killed On This Day.
(110 Years this day)Wednesday 19th April 1916.
Pte 15260 William Porter
27 years old
(109 Years this day)
Thursday 19th April 1917.
Pte 57857 James Carter
19 years old
(109 Years this day)
Thursday 19th April 1917.
Pte 57792 Albany Howarth
19 years old
(109 Years this day)
Thursday 19th April 1917.
Pte 48091 William King
38 years old
(108 Years this day)
Friday 19th April 1918.
2nd Lieut Rowland Gill (MC) (MM)
33 years old