Private 32180 Joseph Harold Lee

Family details:
Next of kin: Mrs Lydia Lee, 74 Harris St, St Helens.

Census details:
1901 - 3 years old Joseph H living at 74 Harris Street, St Helens with his parents Thomas (43) Lydia (43) and five siblings: James (20) Albert (18) Esther (16) Thomas (11) Lydia Florence (9) 1911 - Sees 13 years old schoolboy Joseph Harold still living at 74 Harris St, St Helens with his parents Thomas (52) Lydia (51) and sister Lydia Florence (19)

Notes:
[url=lmem.php?lmem=34]Remembered on St Helens Parish Church Memorial.[/url] Age taken from census.

The 7th (Service) Battalion was formed from the large number of recruits who flocked to the colours as a result of Kitchener's appeal in August 1914. The 6th and 7th Battalions were formed within a few days of each other but the 7th did not receive any uniforms until October, having to wear civilian clothes up to that time. It was eventually trained and fully equipped by March 1915 and on 17th July the battalion embarked for France on the SS `Onward`, arriving at Bolougne. They moved into the line for the first time on 28th August, in the Festubert-Givenchy sector. They moved in and out of the line in rotation for several months, enduring the daily grind of warfare, with trench raids, artillery attacks, etc. to contend with. Joseph Lee`s Medal Index Card does not show a 1915 Star and so he must have only gone overseas after December 1915. His number also suggests enlistment around the middle of 1916. In June 1916, the battalion was ready to join the great Somme offensive. On the 1st July, they moved into the line at 9.30, some 3 hours after the start of the assault, and waited for instructions. They were moved around for the next two days, but did not as yet engage the enemy. On 3rd July, they were tasked with an attack on the strongly defended ruins of La Boisselle, although the start time for the attack was not until 9.30 p.m. The attack was fierce and sustained extremely heavy casualties, but the village was finally cleared by bayonet point at 3pm the following day. The battalion was withdrawn from the line early on 6th July, moving back to rest billets at Albert. They moved in and out of the line throughout July as the battle of the Somme wore on, until finally at the beginning of August, they moved northwards into Flanders, to the Messines Ridge. They moved on again in September to the vicinity of Ploegsteert but spent a relatively quiet time there before yet again returning to the Somme in October, although the time was uneventful with regard to major incidents. The battalion moved around the various fronts over the following year, being constantly engaged in many of the major operations, culminating in the Battle of Messines in June 1917. The whole of the 9th June was spent in readjustment of the line and digging new trenches. All four companies of the Battalion withdrew and sited a new series of field works between Oostaverne Wood and Oostaverne Village. The work was carried out under considerable shellfire but the trenches were sufficiently deep by daylight on the 10th to hold troops and afford cover. On the night of the 10th, however, the Battalion was again moved, this time to support the 7th King's Own and 7th Loyals. In the process, the companies were caught in a German bombardment which was searching the ground as far back as Oostaverne Wood. 'D' Company, under Captain A. de al Penha, suffered heavy loss, one shell alone killing nine men. 37441 Private J Bell of Edinburgh. Grave Ref V A 25 17823 Private Samuel Boam. Grave Ref VI E 14 31159 Private James Edwin Fellows, of Wednesbury (West Midlands) aged 21. Grave Ref VI E 13 16809 L/Cpl Merwyn Vincent Findlay. Grave Reference V A 24 31373 Private Frederick Foster. Grave Reference V A 27 28466 Private Harry Hufton. Grave Reference VI E 11 32180 Private Joseph Lee of St Helens, aged 19. Grave Reference VI E 10 37174 Private Isaac Rucastle, aged 31. Grave Reference VI E 12 20135 Private [cas=1207]Nathaniel Sowerbutts[/cas], of St Helens, aged 42. Grave Reference V A 26 [caption]Originally posted on [url]http://www.sthelens-connect.net[/url] by Stephen Nulty[/caption] [pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/Joe_H_Lee.jpg[/pic] [caption](Photo courtesy of Ken Jones)[/caption] [center][pic2]imgs/WW1_people/Lee_JH_SLR.jpg[/pic2][/center] [pic]imgs/WW1_misc/Lee_JH_SLR.jpg[/pic][caption]The St Helens Newspaper & Advertiser - Courtesy Ste M[/caption] [pic]imgs/WW1_misc/LeeJoseph_SLR.jpg[/pic][caption]The St Helens Reporter - Courtesy Ste M[/caption] [pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/Joe_H_Lee_Wijtschate3.jpg[/pic] [caption]The headstone of Private Joseph H Lee at Wytschaete Military Cemetery (Photo courtesy of Ken Jones)[/caption]