Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Thomas Brightwell a railway platelayer, born on the 13th April 1870 in Naseby, Northamptonshire (son of Joseph Brightwell, 1844-1895 and Sarah Warren, 1850) and his wife Florence Selina (Eleanor) Brightwell (nee Wood, married in the July quarter of 1895 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district), a card board box maker, born on the 17th February 1875 in Wigston Magna, Leicestershire (daughter of William Wood, 1842 and Sarah Ann Thompson, 1840). Joseph Warren was born on the 13th October 1897 in South Wigston, Leicestershire and baptised on the 6th February 1898 in the Church of St. Thomas, the Apostle, Glen Parva and South Wigston, he had one sibling, a brother Walter, born on the 1st July 1899 in South Wigston and baptised on the 3rd September 1899 in the Church of St. Thomas, the Apostle, Glen Parva and South Wigston, also residing with the family was his widowed maternal grandmother, Sarah Wood a hose seamer, born 1838 in Desford, Leicestershire, in March 1901 the family home was at 62, Bassett Street, Wigston Magna. In April 1911 Joseph was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at 15, Glen Gate, South Wigston, together with his father, a Midland Railway platelayer, his mother and siblings, Walter, a schoolboy, Violet, born on the 19th April 1901 and baptised on the 7th July 1901 in the Church of St. Thomas, the Apostle, Glen Parva and South Wigston, Ralph, born on the 17th July 1904 and baptised on the 2nd October 1904 in the Church of St. Thomas, the Apostle, Glen Parva and South Wigston, Iris, born on the 9th November 1907 and baptised on the 15th December 1907 in the Church of St. Thomas, the Apostle, Glen Parva and South Wigston and Charles, born in the January quarter of 1910, the latter four siblings were all born in South Wigston, Violet died in the July quarter of 1901 in South Wigston aged 4 months. Joseph also had the following younger siblings, Lily, born on the 9th July 1912 and baptised on the 12th November 1912 in the Church of St. Thomas, the Apostle, Glen Parva and South Wigston, John Thomas, born on the 14th October 1914 and baptised on the 17th August 1917 in the Church of St. Thomas, the Apostle, Glen Parva and South Wigston and Violet Agnes, born on the 12th July 1916 and baptised on the 17th August 1917 in the Church of St. Thomas, the Apostle, Glen Parva and South Wigston, the latter three siblings were all born in South Wigston.
Joseph enlisted/attested into the Territorial Force on the 5th June 1915 in Leicester, and was allotted the service number 4975. He gave his present address as 15, Glen Gate, South Wigston, Leicestershire.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Joined. At Leicester. 5/6/15.
Posted. 3/4th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 5/6/15.
Embodied service commenced. Pte. 5/6/15.
Transferred. To 1/4th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 24/10/15.
Embarked. Southampton. 27/10/15.
Disembarked. Rouen. 28/10/15.
Under the Army Council Instruction 2414/1917 that promulgated a new numbering system for all Territorial Force units, he was allotted the service number 201462.
Killed in action. In the Field. 29/6/17.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 5/6/15 – 27/10/15. 145 days.
France. 28/10/15 – 29/6/17. 1 year 246 days.
Total Service. 2 years 26 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
The War Diary records: 28 Jun-17 - Final preparations for the assault. Collections of bombs and small arms ammunition etc. ZERO hour was 7.10pm at which time rain descended very heavily. Under heavy barrage the attacking waves advanced over the hill in splendid order and gained their objectives with practically no opposition. A few enemy were seen running away from ADJUNCT and ADJACENT trenches. “A” Company under Captain C. F. WRIGHT and “C” Company under Captain F. J. NAGEL were the assaulting companies. “B” Company under 2nd Lieutenant R. PROVIS carried stores for the Companies. “D” Company under 2nd Lieutenant A. B. PICK was in support. The trenches were found to be almost destroyed so posts were organised and the Companies dug themselves in for protection against shell fire which continued day and night. Communication to Battalion Headquarters was very difficult and information scarce and quite impossible during daylight.
The War Diary records: 29 Jun-17 - Position the same. Heavy shelling at intervals.
On Friday July 27th 1917, The Leicester Mail published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL CASUALTIES.” - PTE. J. W. BRIGHTWELL. (A photograph accompanied the article). – Pte. J. W. Brightwell, of the Leicester’s was killed in action on June 29th. A letter from his officer states that he was much liked by all the NCO’s and men of his company, always ready and willing, and wearing a smile; he will be much missed by his comrades. His death was instantaneous. Pte. Brightwell enlisted just over two years ago, and had been at the front about 21 months. His father and mother reside at 15, Glen Gate, South Wigston. Before joining up Brightwell worked for the M.R. Company.