Private Joseph Smith. 

23485 Royal Army Medical Corps 50th Fld. Amb.

Killed in Action 9th October 1917. Aged 35.

Joseph was born in Burnley about 1882. The son of William and Sarah Smith. In the 1891 census the family were living at 48 bridge St, Burnley. William 39 miner, born in Darwen, Lancs. Sarah 32 spinner, born in Chorley, Lancs., John 13, spinner, Thomas 11 spinner, Joseph 9, Ephraim 7 and Jacob 4 months. All the children were born in Burnley.

The family had moved to 60 bridge St by the time of the 1901 census. William 49, Sarah 42, Joseph 19 miner, Jacob 10, Elizabeth Ellen 8 and Alice 1.

Joseph married Bridget Howley in the March quarter of 1904 in Burnley.

In the 1911 census Joseph’s (29) family were living at 46 Baron Terrace, Burnley. Bridget 28 spinner, Thomas 6, Ellen 4 and William 2.Joseph and Bridget had lost another child in infancy.

From The Express and Advertiser dated 27th October 1917: STRETCHER BEARER KILLED BY SHELL FIRE.

Several letters of sympathy have been received by Mrs Smith 40 Baron, Terrace, Healey Wood, with reference to the death of her husband, 23485 Private Joseph Smith (35) RAMC. He was killed in action on October 9th. He enlisted in April 1915 and went on Active Service 10 weeks ago. Prior to the war he served in the volunteers. In civil life he was a fireman at Towneley Colliery. He was organ blower at St. Mary's church and was a member of the Catholic band. He had studied as a mining engineer and had passed in explosives. His fellow workmen who held him in high esteem sent a message of sympathy to his wife, in addition to whom he leaves four children. Three brothers are serving in France and one has been wounded. A G Hick, Chaplin, wrote as follows on the 16th inst: "Your husband was killed by shell fire whilst working a stretcher bearer behind our infantry. I have been with this ambulance 20 months, and I can assure you that the men of the unit are saddened by the loss of your husband." in his letter to Mrs Smith, written on the 17th, Private A Stephenson writes: "His death was instantaneous. Joseph was highly esteemed by us all. We shall miss him greatly."

Joseph left his effects to his widow Bridget.

Joseph is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium: Panel 160.