Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Josiah Squire, an agricultural labourer, born in the 2nd quarter of 1854 in Woodhouse Eaves, Leicestershire and his wife Mary Anne Squire (nee Ellis, married on the 9th December 1880 in the Parish Church, Woodhouse Eaves), born on the 15th October 1858 in Woodhouse Eaves. Joshua Ellis was born on the 20th August 1888 in Woodhouse Eaves and was baptised on the 6th January 1889 in the Parish Church, Woodhouse Eaves, his siblings were, Lily, born on the 28th 1885 and was baptised on the 5th July 1885 in the Parish Church, Woodhouse Eaves, Sarah, born on the 4th October 1886 and baptised on the 6th March 1887 in the Parish Church, Woodhouse Eaves and Elsie Maria, born on the 2nd November 1890 and baptised on the 7th December 1890 in the Parish Church, Woodhouse Eaves, all his siblings were born in Woodhouse Eaves, in April 1891 the family home was at Maplewell Road, Woodhouse Eaves. In March 1901 Joshua was residing in the family home at Maplewell Road, Woodhouse Eaves, together with his father, an estate labourer, his mother and siblings, Wallace, a carpenter, born on the 11th April 1881 in Woodhouse Eaves and baptised on the 3rd July 1881 in the Parish Church, Woodhouse Eaves, Lily, Sarah and Elsie. In April 1911 Joshua was absent from the family home at Woodhouse Eaves, residing there was his father, a general labourer, his mother and siblings, Lily, a boarding house keeper and Elsie, a partner in her sister’s boarding house business, Joshua was employed as a domestic groom and was residing as a boarder at Maplewell, Woodhouse Eaves. Joshua was officially recorded at birth with the surname spelling of Squire, however the surname does appear in various documents as Squires.
Joshua enlisted/attested into the Territorial Force on the 31st August 1914 in Mountsorrel, and was allotted the service number 2299. He gave his place of birth as Woodhouse Eaves, Loughborough, Leicestershire and age as 26 years. Marital status as single and his trade or calling as groom. He gave his present address as Opposite Maplehurst, Woodhouse Eaves.
He confirmed that he had previously served with the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (Militia).
His medical examination recorded that he was 5 feet 7½ inches in height, had a chest measurement of between 32½ and 35 inches, his physical development was described as good.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Joseph Squires, Opposite Maplehurst, Woodhouse Eaves, Near Loughborough.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Posted. 1/5th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 31/8/14.
Embodied Service. Pte. 31/8/14.
Embarked. With 1/5th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 27/2/15.
Landed. Le Havre. 27/2/15.
Died of wounds received in action. In the Field. 22/8/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 31/8/14 – 27/2/15. 181 days.
France. 28/2/15 – 22/8/15. 176 days.
Total Service. 357 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal.
Joshua’s surviving service record amounts to a total of twelve pages, of which only eight pages relate directly to his military service, and these are in poor condition with much of the hand written information in some cases barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into some of the events that took place during his period of military service.
The War Diary records: 22 Aug-15 - A few salvoes of enemy universal shell into A1 and 50 at 10.00am and 2.30pm. At 11.30pm relief by the 4th Battalion LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT complete. Battalion returned to hutments in OUDERDOM – VLAMERTINGHE ROAD. Note: 5 limbers and 2 General Service wagons met Battalion at Indian transport field and took packs back to huts. This made the long march a great deal easier. Casualties other ranks, 4 killed, 40 wounded.
On Monday, August, 30th, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – ROLL OF HONOUR. – WOODHOUSE TERRITORIAL KILLED. – News has been received of the death from wounds of Private JOS. SQUIRE, in the 5th Leicestershire’s, whose parents live in Maplewell-road, Woodhouse Eaves. He was 27 years of age, unmarried and entered the Territorial’s about twelve months ago. Writing to his brother, Mr. Wallace Squire, Private Atkins states that Private Squire was wounded in the side and head by shrapnel on Sunday, the 22nd, and died before he could be taken to the hospital.
On Tuesday, August, 31st, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “FROM THE COUNTY.” – Woodhouse Eaves. – In Memory of the Fallen. – On Saturday evening a quarter peal of Gransire Doubles, with bells half muffled, was rung at St. Paul’s Church, as a last tribute to Private Jos. Squire, 5th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, who was killed in action in France on Sunday, August 22nd. The following were the ringers; E. Allen, J. Whittle, E. Tebbutt, J. Squire, H. Haynes (conductor), J. Stanley. The flags in the village were also at half-mast.