Lives of the First World War

known 1st January 1880

Private, 12045, Border Regiment, 1st Battn. Born St Annes, residence St Annes, enlisted St Annes. Killed in action at Gallipoli on 28/06/1915. Named in the Memorial Chapel at St Annes Parish Church and on the memorial in Ashton Gardens and buried at Turkey, Twelve Trees Copse Cemetery, VII. C 17. Joseph was the son of Margaret Gillett, 33 St Andrews Rd. In 1911 he was aged 13 and living with his widowed mother and several siblings. Margaret had 10 children of whom 8 were still living in 1911. We believe he was a Roman Catholic and his name appears on the Roll of Honour of the Young Men’s Guild of the Blessed Sacrament at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church. Joseph was killed in action in the Dardanelles, aged just 17, having enlisted in September 1914 in the Border Regiment. The official notice of his death contained a message of sympathy from the King and Queen. The St. Annes Express reports part of a letter received from the Company Commander Captain JG Lloyd Mostyn “Two parcels have been received by your son who I deeply regret to say has been killed in action. May I be permitted to add an expression of deep sympathy both on my own behalf, and that of the men of the company in the sad loss of your son. We all mourn for a good comrade and a gallant soldier.” The Express also quotes from a letter from a friend: “I can tell you he died a soldiers death. We had orders to charge the Turks and while we were getting over the parapet poor Joe got one through the head, killing him straight out.” Sources of Information CWG. Soldiers who Died. Census. Parish Magazine (Nov 1915). Our Lady Church Centenary Book Guild of Blessed Sacrament Roll of Honour. St. Annes Express 23/7/15

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