Sapper 426165 Joseph Critchlow

BMD details:
Marriage: 25/03/1906 Joseph Critchlow to Gertrude Litherland at St Helens Parish Church.

Family details:
Guardian Mrs Elizabeth Litherland for children.

Census details:
1891 - 8 years old schoolboy Joseph is living at 11 Barton Street, St Helens with parents Thomas (32), Mary (29) and two siblings: Lucy (7), Frank (3). 1901 - 18 years old 'Stone Mason' Joseph is living at 43 Rigby Street, St Helens with parents Thomas (42), Mary (38) and siblings: Lucy (16), Frank (13). 1911 - Sees 28 years old 'Hotel Barman' Joseph living at 49 Atherton Street, St Helens with wife Gertrude (26) and daughter Lucy (4). AVL 1918: 26 Brook Street, St Helens (next of kin - parents address)

Notes:
Age taken from census.

7592/426165 Sapper Joseph Critchlow joined the RE at St Helens on 13.2 1915 giving his address as 26 Brook Street. He was killed on the 9th April 1918 and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, leaving three daughters (he had been widowed in 1915).. On the morning of the 9th April, the Germans made a concerted effort to break through the allied lines near the French town of Bethune. Amongst the forces that opposed them were the 55th West Lancashire Division. The situation was so serious that all the units within the Division were pushed into the front line, including 419 Field Company RE. At approximately 2.30pm, 419 Field Company moved forward to help defend the line at a place called Mesplaux Farm (which still exists today). They were subject to very heavy machine gun fire and they lost 1 officer and soldier wounded and 1 soldier killed. It is possible that the soldier was Joseph Critchlow although he is not named. There are no other references to casualties on that day. For his services in France and Belgium, Joseph was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. His family would also have received a "death plaque" on which his name appeared and a scroll. [size=2]Research - Mark Abbott, posted on St Helens Connect[/size] [pic]imgs/WW1_misc/426165JosephCritchlow_1.jpg[/pic][caption]Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929[/caption] [pic]imgs/WW1_misc/426165JosephCritchlow.jpg[/pic][caption]The St Helens Newspaper & Advertiser Courtesy Ste M[/caption] [pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/Critchlow_J_426165_RE.jpg[/pic][caption]The inscription for Sapper Joseph Critchlow on the Loos Memorial (Photo courtesy of Ste M.)[/caption]