Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Abraham Wardle, a coal miner, born 1853 in Coalville, Leicestershire and his wife Sarah Elizabeth Wardle (nee Moore, married in the 3rd quarter of 1875 in the Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire district), born 1857 in Ravenstone, Leicestershire. Joseph was born in the 1st quarter of 1886 in Coalville, his siblings were, Abraham, a coal miner, born 1876, Phoebe Elizabeth, born 1880, Isaac, born 1882, Florence, born 1884, John, born 1889 and James born 1890, all his siblings were born in Coalville, in April 1891 the family home was at Strettons Row, Station Street, Whitwick, Leicestershire. In the 2nd quarter of 1897, in the Ashby de la Zouch district, Joseph’s father died, aged 44. In March 1901 Joseph was employed as a colliery pony driver and was residing in the family home at Margaret Street, Coalville together with his widowed mother and siblings, Abraham, a riveter’s labourer, Isaac, a blacksmith’s labourer, Emily, a hosiery trade worker, John, James and William, born 1894 in Coalville. In April 1911 Joseph was employed as a coal miner and was residing in the family home at 52, Margaret Street, Coalville, together with his widowed mother and siblings, Abraham, a wagon works puncher, Isaac, a wagon works blacksmith’s stoker, James, a coal miner and William, a coal miner. His younger brother James also fell in action.
The War Diary records: 15 Sept-16 - At 6:00am the KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY and TANK advanced on our left to clear our flank, where the situation was somewhat obscure. At 6:20am the assault was launched. The Battalion went over in 4, ½ Company waves at 50 paces interval. The attack was met with great opposition from the Sunken Road about 300 yards from our trenches. After this had been overcome the GREEN line was taken without much opposition. Here the Battalion reorganised, then pushed forward to the BROWN line which the enemy had evacuated. Consolidation was begun. About 6:00pm the enemy made a counter attack which was easily repulsed. After dark rations, water and ammunition were brought up.
The War Diary records: 16 Sept-16 – Battalion busy consolidating BROWN line. Total casualties Officers 11. Other Ranks 414.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Article in the Coalville Times, 25/09/1914:

"COALVILLE SOLDIER WOUNDED IN FRANCE

NEWS RECEIVED YESTERDAY

News was received in Coalville yesterday that Mr Joseph Wardle, of the 4th Coldstream Guards, had been wounded in the fighting in France. The information was conveyed on one of the field service postcards, written from the battlefield by Wardle to his widowed mother, who resides at 52 Margaret Street, Coalville.

The card briefly stated:-

“I have been admitted to the hospital wounded, but I am going on well and hope to be discharged soon. I have received your letter. A letter follows at the first opportunity. – Joe.”

Wardle has been three years in the Coldstream Guards and has seen service in Egypt. He is 25 years of age and is the third son of the late Mr Abraham Wardle, who was a collier employed at the South Leicestershire Colliery. His brother James is also in the army, being in the Grenadier Guards stationed in Surrey.

Mrs Wardle has another son who joined the Territorials, but he has had to return home on account of his health."

Coalville Times article - Friday April 23rd 1915

COALVILLE SOLDIER TWICE WOUNDED

PRIVATE J. WARDLE

Pte. Joseph Wardle, whose widowed mother resides in Margaret Street, has been twice wounded in the war and is now at Windsor. He is in the Coldstream Guards and went out with the First Expeditionary Force, being in the great retreat from Mons. He recovered from a wound and was taking his place again in the firing line fighting near Ypres when he had two fingers shot off. Last week, Wardle paid a short visit home and returned to Windsor.

He is a brother of Private Wardle of the Grenadier Guards, who as reported in a recent issue was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle.

Coalville Times article - Friday October 13th, 1916

COALVILLE GUARDSMAN KILLED

WIDOWED MOTHER’S DOUBLE LOSS

Mrs Wardle, widow, of 52, Margaret Street, Coalville, was on Friday morning, officially notified that her son, Private Joseph Wardle, of the Coldstream Guards, was killed in action on September 15th. He was a single man, 29 years of age, and before the war worked at the South Leicestershire Colliery. He served three years in the army in peace time, one of these being spent in Egypt, and would have completed nine years on the reserve in about six months’ time. He was called up as a reservist when war broke out, and had taken part in several battles, having been twice wounded. His father, Mr Abraham Wardle, died about 20 years ago.

This is the second son that Mrs Wardle has lost in the war, the other being Private James Wardle, of the Grenadier Guards, who was killed at Neuve Chapelle in March last year. Much sympathy will be felt for the widow in her double loss.

Coalville Times article - Friday November 10th 1916

MEMORIAL SERVICE

On Sunday evening an impressive service was held in the Coalville London Road Baptist Church in memory of thirteen former scholars of the Sunday School who have fallen in action. Their names are, Lieut. Ford, Lieut. T. Dooley, D.C.M., Sergeant Alfred Wesson, Sergeant G. H. Wesson, Privates C. W. Jewsbury, H. G. Wharmby, Clifford Scott, T. Black, E. S. Boot, F. Martin, Jos. Wardle, James Wardle and J. Martin.

There was a large congregation which included the members of the Coalville Volunteer Training Corps, under the command of Commandant J. S. Turner. The pastor, the Rev. F. Pickbourne, conducted the service and gave an appropriate address. The choir rendered Sullivan’s “Homeland” and Mr J. H. Starkey (organist) played a funeral march by Beethoven. Suitable hymns were also sung by the congregation.

Coalville Times article - Friday September 14th, 1917

IN MEMORIAM

Wardle – In loving memory of our dear son, Private Joseph Wardle, No. 6227, Coldstream Guards, killed in action, September 15th, 1916. Aged 29 years.

“We little thought when we said goodbye,
He was going to a far-off land to die.
We loved him at home, but God loved him best,
And took him Home with Him to rest.

But the hardest part is yet to come,
When the warriors do return:
When we miss among the cheering crowd
The face of our beloved one.”

From his sorrowing Mother, Brothers and Sisters, 52 Margaret Street, Coalville.

Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from the Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 7/10/2017