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 27948 Joseph Atherton
- Age: 26
- From: Liverpool
- Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
- D.O.W Tuesday 30th April 1918
- Commemorated at: Esquelbecq Mil Cem
Panel Ref: II.A.30
Joseph Atherton was born on 03rd March 1892 at 35 Torbock Street, Everton the son of Liverpool born builders labourer George Atherton and his Liverpool born wife Mary (nee) O'Neill. They married on 18th May 1891 at St Joseph's Church Liverpool and had six children, four boys and two girls. Joseph was the first born and was baptised at St Joseph's on 13 March 1892.
A brother Henry was born 1893 but died in the same year.
The 1901 Census shows 9 year old scholar Joseph living at 35 Torbock Street. His father George is 35 years of age, his mother Mary is 33. He has three siblings in the household; Richard aged 5, George aged 3 and Catherine is aged 1. Also present is his mother's parent Catherine O'Neill 62 and her sons John 32 and Henry 20.
A sister, Mary was born in the June quarter of 1902 but she died two years later.
The 1911 Census shows 19 year old Joseph as a printers van lad living at 9 Harker Place with his mother, aged 44, as head of the household, her occupation is shown as a hawker. He has three siblings in the household; brothers Richard 14 is a corks eyer, George 13 and sister Catherine 11 are at school. Also present are boarders Elizabeth McGrath and her son Henry.
They lived at 10 St John's Terrace, Salisbury Street, Liverpool and their first child was born on 18th September 1913, a daughter, Mary Jane.
Joseph enlisted in Liverpool originally serving as Private 142182, Machine Gun Corps.
He died of wounds at 11.30 am on the 30th April 1918 aged 26. His wounds were described as SW Abdomen pen. Left arm fracture, Left leg fracture and face injuries. These wounds were received during the German Spring Offensive.
Joseph now rests at Esquelbecq Military Cemetery, France.
The cemetery was opened in April 1918 during the early stages of the German offensive in Flanders, when the 2nd Canadian and 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Stations came to Esquelbecq. It was closed in September 1918, although one French grave was added in 1919 and one British soldier from 1916 was added later from an isolated site.
The cemetery was used again during the Second World War, mainly for the burial of those killed during the German advance of May 1940 and the withdrawal of the British Expeditionary Force to Dunkirk.
Esquelbecq Military Cemetery contains 578 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 47 from the Second World War. There are also 11 French and German burials.
The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.
A triple tragedy for the family, his mother mourning three of her sons in less than two years.
His wife now widowed with two daughters who were aged 4 and 3 when Joseph died.
His father died in the March quarter of 1920, aged 54.
We currently have no further information on Joseph Atherton, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.
Killed On This Day.
(109 Years this day)Saturday 28th October 1916.
2nd Lieutenant Ernest Bailey
24 years old
(109 Years this day)
Saturday 28th October 1916.
2nd Lieutenant Stafford Thomas Eaton-Jones
20 years old
(109 Years this day)
Saturday 28th October 1916.
2nd Lieutenant Ronald Hamilton William Murdoch
21 years old
(109 Years this day)
Saturday 28th October 1916.
2nd Lieutenant James Stewart
39 years old
(108 Years this day)
Sunday 28th October 1917.
Serjeant 38645 John McGlashan
32 years old
(107 Years this day)
Monday 28th October 1918.
Pte 12056 Sandford Woods
30 years old
(107 Years this day)
Monday 28th October 1918.
Rifleman 22814 Charles Reginald Pollington
30 years old