Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Henry Berrington a gas works labourer, born 1871 in Birstall, Leicestershire and his wife Elizabeth Bates Berrington (nee Pole, married in the 3rd quarter of 1891 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district), born 1871 in Thurmaston, Leicestershire. Joseph was born in the 3rd quarter of 1898 in Thurmaston, his siblings were Lucy, born 1892, Beatrice, born 1893 and George Henry, born 1900, all his siblings were born in Thurmaston, in March 1901 the family home was at Berkeley Street Thurmaston. In April 1911 Joseph was residing in the family home at Berkeley Street, Thurmaston, together with his father a gas labourer, his mother and siblings, Lucy, a shoe trade machinist, Beatrice, a shoe trade machinist, George, Frances Mary, born 1905, William Lawrence, born 1906 and Phyllis, born 1910, the latter three siblings were all born in Thurmaston. Joseph had another younger brother, Cyril who was born in 1912 in Thurmaston.
Joseph attested into the Territorial Force to serve 4 years Service in the United Kingdom on the 1st December 1913 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Thurmaston, Leicester, Leicestershire, his age as 17 years and 10 months and his trade or calling as nurseryman, he gave his present home address as Berkeley Street, Thurmaston. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father William Henry Berrington and mother Elizabeth Berrington, of 18, Berkeley Street, Thurmaston, Nr. Leicester as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 3 inches in height and he had a chest measurement of between 33 and 35 inches. His vision and physical development were described as good. He was pronounced fit for the Territorial Force on the 1st December 1913 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 1874 on the 1/12/13. Posted to the 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 1/12/13. Embodied service commenced on the 4/8/14. Admitted to 3rd Field Ambulance suffering from bronchitis on the 10/3/15. Transferred to 8th Casualty Clearing Station on the 10/3/15. Transferred to No. 3 General Base, Rouen on the 26/3/15. Proceeded to join 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, in the field on the 9/6/15. Admitted to No. 26 General Hospital, Etaples suffering from a gunshot wound to the foot on the 30/9/15. Transferred to England per H.S. Dieppe on the 30/9/15. Posted to the 3/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 10/1/16. Posted to the 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 17/4/16. Embarked from Southampton to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 18/4/16. Disembarked Rouen on the 19/4/16. Joined No. 6 Entrenching Battalion on the 30/4/16. Joined 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, in the field on the 14/5/16. Killed in action, in the field on the 23/10/16. A summary of his service records, Home Service, 1/12/13 – 1/3/15, 1 year 91 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 2/3/15 – 30/9/15, 213 days. Home Service, 1/10/15 – 18/4/16, 201 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 19/4/16 – 23/10/16, 188 days. Total service 2 years 328 days. Joseph was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Joseph’s father W. H. Berrington on the 25th June 1919, and was witnessed and signed by Benjamin Lane J.P., 269, Main Street, Thurmaston on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, William Henry Berrington of Berkeley Street, Thurmaston. Mother of soldier, Elizabeth Berrington of Berkeley Street, Thurmaston. Full blood brothers of soldier, George Henry Berrington, age 19 of -?-. William Lawrence Berrington, age 13 of -?-. Cyril Berrington, age 7 of -?-. Full blood sisters of soldier, Frances Mary Berrington, age 15 of -?-. Phyllis Berrington age 9 of -?-.
A letter from Joseph’s father dated the 30th March 1917 reads as follows:-
Sir, in answer to your letter in regards to my sons belongings Pte. J. Berrington 1874 ¼ Leicester Regt. which I received there was no small book and I was greatly surprised to find his purse empty. Yours
W. H. Berrington
18, Berkeley St
Thurmaston
Nr Leicester
Joseph’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 20-25 Oct-16 - At 5.00pm Battalion received -?- that they would be relieved by the 5th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT one day earlier than usual. Relief completed by 5.45pm. Battalion marched back to billets at POMMIER into Divisional reserve. Companies training.
On Friday December 1st 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. - “LOCAL MEN IN THE CASUALTY LISTS.” – The following casualties amongst local men are officially reported. All are Private’s except where otherwise shown. The town shown against each soldier’s name is the home of his next-of-kin. Monday’s list included:- KILLED. LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT. Berrington, 1874 J. (Thurmaston).