Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of David William Earl, a brickworks manager, born on the 25th December 1869 in Thurmaston, Leicestershire and baptised on the 13th March 1870 in the Church of SS. Peter & Paul, Syston, Leicestershire (son of William Earl, 1829-1895 and Eliza Illston, 1835-1893) and his wife Edith Annie Earl (nee Lowe, married on the 28th February 1892 in St. Mary’s Church, Barkby, Leicestershire), born on the 22nd February 1870 in Barkby and baptised on the 30th October 1870 in St. Mary’s Church, Barkby (daughter of Frederick Lowe, 1831 and Elizabeth Wright, 1832). Joseph Charles was born in the April quarter of 1897 in Thurmaston and baptised on the 5th November 1899 in St. Michael & All Angels Church, Thurmaston, his siblings were, Katharine, born on the 28th April 1895 and baptised on the 5th November 1899 in St. Michael & All Angels Church, Thurmaston and Rosa Matilda, born on the 20th September 1899 and baptised on the 5th November 1899 in St. Michael & All Angels Church, Thurmaston, both siblings were born in Thurmaston, in March 1901 the family home was at North Thurmaston.
In April 1911 Joseph was residing in the family home at Buckyard Cottages, Thurmaston, together with his father, a brickworks foreman, his mother and siblings, Katharine, Matilda, Sidney, born in the April quarter of 1901 and baptised on the 2nd August 1903 in St. Michael & All Angels Church, Thurmaston, Mabel, born on the 5th June 1903 and baptised on the 2nd August 1903 in St. Michael & All Angels Church, Thurmaston and Cecil William, born on the 10th September 1908, the latter three siblings were all born in Thurmaston.
Joseph’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Leicester into the Regular Army. Date not known.
Joined. At Leicester. Date not known.
Posted. To Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 18159.
Posted. To 9th (Service) Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France. 9/9/15.
Promoted. To Lance Corporal. In the Field. Date not known.
Reported. Missing in action. In the Field. 25/9/16.
Death accepted for official purposes to have occurred on or since. 25/9/16.
Body not recovered. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Joseph nominated his father David William Earl as his sole legatee.
The War Diary records: 25 Sep-16 - The morning was spent in making final preparations for attack. Enemy shelling not heavy and a few casualties were sustained. At 12.35pm waves were formed up in front of trenches. At 12.37pm the advance commenced, “C” and “D” Companies in extended order, “A” and “B” Companies in artillery formation, enemy immediately commenced an extremely intense and deep barrage. At 12.45pm the first two platoons of “D” Company reached GIRD TRENCH, but sustained heavy casualties. All the Company officers becoming casualties, 2nd Lieutenant A. E. PETER, 2nd Lieutenant W. S. GILBERT, Company Sergeant Major POTTERTON were all killed, 2nd Lieutenant CLARK was wounded. The remnants of the first 2 waves of “C” Company reached GIRD TRENCH, but owing to machine gun fire from the right, and the Brigade on the right, having failed to take GIRD TRENCH, the party were all killed or wounded. 2nd Lieutenant RENNIE was killed in GIRD TRENCH, Lieutenant HENWOOD was wounded. Captain WEBB wheeled the 3rd and 4th waves of “C” Company and formed a defensive flank down SUNKEN ROAD facing right. At 1.00pm Captain WEBB was wounded and Company Sergeant Major RHODES was killed. “C” Company suffered extremely heavy casualties from machine gun fire. “A” and “B” Companies advanced and established themselves in NEW TRENCH, BULL TRENCH and PATROL TRENCH and shell holes in the rear. Battalion Headquarters advanced from LEWIS TRENCH to PATROL TRENCH. At 1.37pm Captain ALLBERRY led “A” Company forward but was immediately killed by machine gun fire from the right flank. Lieutenant HARDY, 2nd Lieutenant LEWIS, Company Sergeant Major RICE and many of Company becoming casualties through the same cause. Lieutenant Colonel HAIG was wounded in the arm in PATROL TRENCH. At 1.37pm Battalion Headquarters advanced to BULL TRENCH. At 2.00pm the remainder of Battalion Headquarters viz: Lieutenant Colonel HAIG, Captain POPHAM (8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT), Lieutenant TOOTH and 3 orderlies advanced to NEW TRENCH. Captain POPHAM and the 3 orderlies were wounded. At 2.35pm the advance hung up on account of machine gun fire and rifle fire. Enemy still occupying GIRD TRENCH on right of SUNKEN ROAD. Lieutenant Colonel HAIG and Lieutenant TOOTH advanced to NEW TRENCH and finding it empty, crossed over to GOAT TRENCH. Only dead and wounded men were found in GOAT TRENCH, accordingly Lieutenant Colonel HAIG and Lieutenant TOOTH in anticipation that the front two Companies had reached GIRD TRENCH, again advanced to PILGRIMS WAY where 40 other ranks of the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT were found without any officer. Lieutenant Colonel HAIG decided to remain and hold on with the 40 other ranks until reinforcements arrived to clear GIRD TRENCH on right. At 3.00pm connection with 55th Division in GIRD TRENCH on the left of PILGRIMS WAY was established. A bombing group of 8th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT was organised and bombed down GIRD TRENCH on the right of PILGRIMS WAY for 50 or 60 yards. Many of the enemy were killed and 12 were taken prisoner. Owing to the lack of bombs, a block was established, and a Lewis gun posted near the block. Lieutenant Colonel HAIG sent numerous reports on the situation to Brigade Headquarters, only two of which reached Brigade, the orderlies being either killed or wounded. Heavy shelling all the time. At 8.00pm connection with Brigade was established through 2nd Lieutenant KELLY. During the night the ROYAL ENGINEERS constructed a strong point at N.32.a.1.9. The night was spent digging in and consolidating position. The enemy seemed to be working round behind PILGRIMS WAY, but did not attack. From zero (12.35pm) to 5.30pm, the enemy kept up a heavy and very deep barrage becoming intense at times.
On the 6th March 1918, Joseph’s mother Mrs. Edith Annie Earl of Red Hill Cottage, Thurmaston, Leicester, was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of three shillings and six pence, commensurate on the 30th December 1917. This sum was further increased on the 15th January 1919 under Article 21 – 1 – (c), and became payable for life. Upon Joseph’s mother’s death in March 1942 the Pension became payable to his widowed father, and continued until he died on the 8th November 1947.
[recognitum XV-VI-MMXXIV]