Lives of the First World War

Joseph was born in Knutsford in 1890. His parents were Joseph and Mary nee Mulvey. In 1901, Joseph aged eleven was living at Market Place, Knutsford with his parents and siblings, John age seven, Thomas age six, and Margaret aged eight months. In January 1908 Joseph enlisted with the Cheshire Regiment at Knutsford and in December 1910 he was posted to Jubbulpore, India, with the 2nd Battalion Cheshire Regiment. He remained in India until December 1914 where he suffered two bouts of malaria. The local newspaper dated September 1914 included an article entitled 'street of soldiers' which listed those men who had joined up to fight and included Booth three brothers. Joseph returned to serve at home for a short period and was then transferred to France in January 1915. The poor weather conditions had an effect on his health and in February he was hospitalised at No.11 Stationary Hospital as a result of frost bite and bronchitis. He was one of the three Booth brothers Joseph, Thomas and John mentioned in an article in the local newspaper dated 25th of June 1915 entitled 'brothers ill - luck'. It reported Joseph is a private in the 2nd Cheshire Regiment and went out with one of the early batches of the British Expeditionary Force, but since May the 8th when he was reported to be missing, nothing had been heard of him. In July 1915 the Foreign Office received conformation of Joseph's death from the German government, stating that Joseph had been killed in action of the 8th of May 1915 and buried by Germans on hill 30 in front of Wieltje on the 10th of May. He is commemorated on Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Joseph's father Joseph and brothers John and Thomas are listed on the Chapel Street Memorial. He is listed on the Chapel Street Roll of Honour as Joseph Booth Jnr Cheshire Regiment.

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