Pte 57647 Joseph Arthur Fieldhouse

• Age: 22
• From: Otley, Yorks
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 9th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Wancourt Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: VI.E.26

Joseph Arthur Fieldhouse was born in Otley, Yorkshire on the 18th February 1895, the son of Frank Fieldhouse and his wife Emily ( nee Nicholson) who had married in 1887 in Otley.

The town of Otley became a centre of print engineering in the mid nineteenth century and Joseph’s father and grandfather were involved in several printing machine manufacturing companies.

At the time of the 1901 Census Joseph aged 6 was living with his parents Frank, who was 36 and  a mechanical engineer, and Emily was aged 34. Joseph had five siblings: John aged 11, Harold aged 10, Frederick 8, Clara 4 and Elizabeth aged 2. The family lived at 6 Bridge Avenue in Otley.

The 1911 census records the family living at the same address. The 16 year old Joseph is a photographer’s apprentice. His father, Frank, is aged 46 and his mother Emily is 44 years of age, they advised that they have been married for 23 years and have seven children – their last child Frank was born in 1901. Frank senior is a printing machine maker and an employer, so it is possible that three of his sons, John 21, Harold 20 and Frederick Clarence 18, who are recorded as printers engineer fitters are working in the family business. Clara 14 is a sewing machinist and Elizabeth 12 and Frank junior 9 are at school.

Joseph’s mother, Emily, died in July 1915.

Joseph enlisted in Leeds, and originally served as 15563, Army Cyclist Corps and following a transfer he was serving in the 18th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 57647 when he was killed in action on the 09th April 1917, at the age of 22, during the Battle of Arras.

Arras 09th April 1917

Details of the circumstances the 18th Battalion had to contend with are illustrated below:

The battalion formed the left assaulting battalion of the brigade, the 2nd Wiltshire Regiment being on the right, the 19th Manchester Regiment being in support and 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment furnishing “moppers -up” for the two assaulting battalions. The brigade advance was timed to begin at ---- hour after “Zero”, suited to conform with the movements of 56th Division and other divisions on our left further north (near Arras). This battalion’s objective was the front-line system Lion Lane on the left (exclusive) to Panther Lane on right (exclusive). This sector included the strongpoint known as “The Egg”.

The brigade advanced at prearranged time, i.e., 11.38 a.m, from position of assembly trenches south of Neuville Vitasse to German front line. This necessitated an advance across the open of at least 2,000 yards. This area up to Neuville Vitasse- Henin road was crossed in artillery formation; after this, owing to machine-gun fire and considerable resistance from German posts forward in the sunken roads, it was found necessary to deploy. During the whole movement across the open the advancing columns had been under considerable artillery fire from guns of all calibres. On gaining the position immediately in front of German line it was found that the wire was practically uncut; this wire formed two strong belts in front of German trenches. Two small gaps were eventually discovered and Second-Lieut H.F.Merry gallantly led a bombing party through them, but his three remaining men were killed as they reached the German trenches.

From the moment the battalion was “held up” in front of German wire Capt. R. W. Jones, the senior company commander on the spot, at once began the work of consolidating in front of German wire. The battalion held on in this position for the remainder of the day, until relieved by the 16th Manchester Regiment about 3 a.m. on the 10th of April, all the time under intense machine-gun and rifle fire.

Between 9th-10th April, 1917, the 18th King's lost 2 officers 2nd Lt. F. Ashcroft and 2nd Lt. H.G. Ewing and 59 other ranks killed. 8 other officers were wounded.

Soldiers Effects were sent to his sister Elizabeth, Pension to his father Frank.

Joseph now rests at Wancourt British Cemetery, France.

Wancourt was captured on 12 April 1917 after very heavy fighting and the advance was continued on the following days. The cemetery, called at first Cojeul Valley Cemetery, or River Road Cemetery, was opened about ten days later; it was used until October 1918, but was in German hands from March 1918 until 26 August, when the Canadian Corps recaptured Wancourt. At the Armistice, the cemetery contained 410 graves, but was very greatly increased in the following years when graves were brought in from other  small cemeteries and isolated positions on the battlefields south-east of Arras including HENIN-SUR-COJEUL, about 800 metres North of the village, contained the graves of 29 British soldiers who fell on 09 April 1917, almost all of whom belonged to the 2nd Wilts or the 18th King's Liverpools. The cemetery now contains 1,936 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 829 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 76 casualties known or believed to be buried among them, and to 20 who were buried in Signal Trench Cemetery whose graves were destroyed in later battles. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

He is also remembered on the family headstone, in Otley Municipal Cemetery  which reads:-

AND

Pte Joseph Arthur Fieldhouse 18th K.L.L.I.(sic)

Killed In Action April 9, 1917

Aged 22 Years

Interred In Henin Military Cemetery

South East Of Arras

No Longer Will He Answer The Roll Call

Nor Rush At The Bugle Sound

But Lord When Thy Roll In Heaven Is Called

May His Name In Thy Book Be Found

Joseph is remembered on the Methodist WW1 Memorial at Boroughgate, Otley

Grateful thanks are extended to Roger Graville, Joseph’s grand nephew, who gave us permission to use the wonderful photograph of Joseph.

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