Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joseph Ireland, a stone quarryman, born in the 2nd quarter of 1869 in Shepshed, Leicestershire and baptised on the 18th July 1869 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed and his wife Emily Ann (Annie) Ireland (nee Sharpe, married on the 26th December 1891 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed), born on the 14th February 1873 in Leicester and baptised on the 3rd May 1875 in St. Margaret’s Church, Leicester. Joseph Thomas was born in the 2nd quarter of 1895 in Shepshed and baptised on the 14th May 1896 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed, his siblings were, Edith Annie, born in the 3rd quarter of 1892, Cradock, born in the 3rd quarter of 1893 and baptised on the 14th May 1896 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed, George Alfred, born in the 4th quarter of 1898, the latter three siblings were all born in Shepshed and Ethel, born on the 27th July 1896 in Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, in March 1901 the family home was at Forest Street, Shepshed. In April 1911 Joseph was employed as a quarry boy and was residing in the family home at Forest Street, Shepshed, together with his father, a stone quarry labourer, his mother and siblings, Edith, a hosiery trade winder, Cradock, an apprentice, Ethel, a hosiery trade runner on, George, a schoolboy, Constance Elizabeth, a schoolgirl, born on the 12th August 1901, John Wittingham, a schoolboy, born on the 31st December 1904 and baptised on the 14th December 1904 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed, Maurice Frank, born in the 1st quarter of 1906, Emily May, born in the 3rd quarter of 1908 and Kenneth William, born on the 10th August 1910, the latter five siblings were all born in Shepshed. Joseph also had another sibling, Dorothy Sylvia, born on the 23rd February 1913 in Loughborough, Leicestershire. Joseph’s younger brother George, fell in action in the 22nd March 1918.
Joseph enlisted/attested into the Territorial Force on the 6th December 1912 in Loughborough, and was allotted the service number 1443. He gave his place of birth as Shepshed, Loughborough, Leicestershire and age as 17 years 8 months. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as labourer, currently employed by Loughborough Corporation. He gave his present address as 67, Oxford Street.
His medical examination took place in Loughborough on the 11th February 1913 and recorded his apparent age as 17 years 8 months, that he was 5 feet 5 inches in height, his physical development was described as satisfactory.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Mr. Ireland, 67, Oxford Street, Loughborough.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Posted. 5th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 6/12/12.
Embodied Service commenced. Pte. 5/8/14.
Discharged. Luton, Medically unfit. Pte. 14/10/14.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 6/12/12 – 10/10/14. 1 year 305 days.
Total Service. 1 year 305 days.
Joseph’s surviving service record amounts to a total of four pages, of which all four pages relate directly to his military service, and these are in good condition and offer an accurate overall description of some of the events that took place during his period of his service.
Joseph’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted in Loughborough, Leicestershire into the Leicestershire Regiment, and was allotted the service number 16409, and posted as a Private to that Regiment’s Depot for training, subsequently being posted to the 2nd Battalion. And it was to join this Battalion, that he first entered the theatre of war in France on the 4th May 1915. Nothing further is known of his military service until he was reported as having been killed in action on the 25th September 1915, while serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment. His body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France. Joseph was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 25 Sept-15 - At 5.30am the Battalion was in positions of readiness in accordance with orders in four lines opposite their objective with bombing parties, sandbag parties and carrying parties all arranged and in position. At 6.00am the first line got over the parapet quickly followed by the second, the left had to right form to get in line with the right as the trench ran back from a salient near the centre. As the first two lines went out the third and fourth filed into the vacant positions in the firing line. The gas affected a number of our men, and the smoke caused a dense fog and direction was difficult. Casualties began at once and the third line was ordered out to fill up gaps. Owing to the thick smoke it seemed likely that gaps would occur on the flanks and at 6.07am the fourth line was sent out with special instructions to maintain touch with the units on either flank. At about 6.10am the left were over the German parapet and our flag was seen flying on their lines. The left went forward with such dash that they outstripped the 2/8th GURKHAS and came in for a lot of fire from rifles and maxim guns from our right. This caused a good many casualties including all the officers and most of the NCO’s of “A” Company which was the extreme left. Undeterred the men went on, got over the uncut wire and reached the road with parties of the 2/8th GURKHAS and gained their objective. In the meantime our right had not fared so well. They went forward in good line under a heavy fire till held up by the German wire. A number of our men here were collected in the ditch in front of the German wire waiting for developments. Officer casualties. Killed Captain F. H. ROMILLY D.S.O., Captain E. C. DEANE, R.A.M.C. Died of wounds 2nd Lieutenant M. W. BROWNE. Wounded Lieutenant Colonel H. GORDON D.S.O., Captain W. C. WILSON, Lieutenant H. H. PHILLIPS, 2nd Lieutenant G. W. TANNER, 2nd Lieutenant H. H. HEMPHILL, 2nd Lieutenant V. E. ELLINGHAM, 2nd Lieutenant C. C. BAILEY, 2nd Lieutenant G. W. GROSSMITH. Slightly wounded Major F. LEWIS, Captain D. L. WEIR. Gassed 2nd Lieutenant W. WILSON. Missing and believed killed Lieutenant W. T. PICKIN, 2nd Lieutenant R. E. S. LODGE. Missing known to have been wounded 2nd Lieutenant C. G. WOODBOURN. Missing and no trace 2nd Lieutenant W. J. WILKINSON, 2nd Lieutenant E. A. WILKINSON, 2nd Lieutenant T. R. LONGCROFT. Rank and file casualties. Killed 72. Wounded 217. Gassed 42. Missing 96. Wounded slightly but did not quit Battalion 3. What was left of the Battalion were relieved from the front line by the 2/39th GARWHAL RIFLES at 6.30pm and moved into support and local reserve just in rear. Before the operations began the Battalion worked for a week in strengthening the front line and preparing the defences behind. Four very strong lines were constructed capable of resisting the enemy’s bombardment.
On Saturday, October 16th, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – ROLL OF HONOUR. – LOCAL CASUALTIES – Official intimation has been received of the death of Private JOSEPH THOMAS IRELAND, of the 2nd Leicester’s, killed in action “at a place not stated” on Sept. 25th. Deceased was the son of Mr. Joseph Ireland, of 67, Oxford-street, Loughborough, and was 20 years of age. He was formerly in the Territorial’s but got his discharge and enlisted last December, going out to France in May. Two other brothers are also in the Army.