Sergeant Joseph Batty MM & Bar.
4695 2nd East Lancashire Regiment.
Killed in Action 17th February 1918. Aged 26.
From the Burnley Express dated 3rd April 1915: TWO BURNLEY LADS HOME. WOUNDED IN THE SAME BATTLE.
At present home on furlough suffering from wounds sustained at the front are two Burnley soldiers who in separate companies, have been through the fighting together in the East Lancs. They are Private S Malone 6127 and Private J Batty and both, singularly enough, were wounded in the same District, the place that has been named, and named appropriately, by our soldiers as " Plug Street."
Private Batty who lives at Penny Street, and whose portrait we give, was at camp with the Special Reserve when hostilities commenced, and he got to the front in September. He had done 5 year’s service with the East Lancs (on the special reserve) and he received a shrapnel wound in the right knee on March 3rd. Since then up to Friday last, when he came home to Burnley, he had been in hospital at Brighton.
Private Batty in a letter home some time ago wrote: "I wish to God this war was at an end, for it is terrible to see those "Jack Johnsons" coming."
From the Express and Advertiser dated 11th Oct. 1916: Burnley Sergeant’s Medal. Only Doing his Duty.
Mrs J Batty of Penny Street Burnley has received a letter from her husband Sgt J Batty, of the East Lancashire Regiment, dated September 27th in which he says: "just a few lines hoping to find you in the best of health as it leaves me at present. I have great pleasure in telling you I have been awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field but I don't know what I got it for, I was only doing my duty. I am sure they have made a great fuss of me. My Colonel and all the Officers have been and congratulated me and said I was most deserving of it." He adds that he had been inquiring about Ben Place, and has been informed that he was killed on July 7th.
Sergeant Batty was at camp with the Special Reserve when war broke out, and he got to the front in September. He had done 5 year’s service with the East Lancs on the Special Reserve, and he received a shrapnel wound in the right knee on March 3rd 1915. In April 1915 he came home to Burnley, after being in hospital at Brighton.
From the Burnley Express dated 10th Jan 1917: BAR TO HIS MEDAL BURNLEY SERGEANT'S SECOND HONOUR.
The king has been pleased to award a bar to his military medal for bravery to Sergeant J Batty of the East Lancashire Regiment. Sergeant Batty's home is in Penny Street, Burnley and on September 27th he wrote to his wife that he had been awarded military medal in the field. He stated he did not know what he got it for as he was only doing his Duty. His Colonel and officers congratulated him and as he said made a fuss of him.
Sgt Batty was a camp with the Special Reserve when war broke out and he got to the front in September. He had done 5 years’ service with the East Lancs (on the special reserve), and he received a shrapnel wound in March 3rd 1915. In April, 1915 he came home to Burnley, after being in hospital at Brighton.
From the Burnley Express dated 2nd Mar. 1918: DURING A BOMBARDMENT. MILITARY MEDALLIST'S CAREER ENDED.
Second Lieutenant H E Roberts, an Accrington officer, has written to Mrs Batty 8 Penny Street Burnley (whose husband he commended), telling of Sgt Joseph Batty's death, he writes: "I deeply regret to inform you of the death of your husband, Sergeant J batty who was killed in action on February 16th. I don't know whether you have received the news of his death, but I will try to describe what happened, as I was not very far away when he was killed. On Saturday morning, February 16th, the Germans were bombarding our trenches and about 11:30 am one of the shells burst in the trench, killing your husband and wounding several others. I immediately rushed up to him but arrived too late, as he must have been killed instantaneously. Your husband has been my platoon Sgt and he was the best N C O I ever had. He could be trusted to do anything, and always did it well. I have the greatest confidence in him, and he never failed me in anything. He was immensely popular with the NCO's and Men of his Platoon, and a good sportsman, always willing to take part in our Platoon football matches and games. I don't know how to express my sympathy and sorrow, but let me assure you of the deepest sympathy of the Platoon and myself."
Sergeant Batty was in camp at Workington with the reserves when the war broke out. He went on service with the first Expeditionary Force in August 1914. In the course of his experience he was wounded three times. The last occasion was so recent that his wife thought, up to the time of receiving the letter with news of his death, that he was still in hospital. The first injury he sustained was at the Battle of Mons. He won the military medal early in the war for bravery Under Fire, and then in January 1917 the announcement of a bar to his medal was made. There are many relatives with the forces. Just before Christmas information was received that Joseph Smith, was killed. A modest man, the sergeant wrote to his wife that he did not know why he received the military medal: he had only done his Duty. All the same his officers made a fuss of him. From another source comes the story of a piece of drama quite recently on his part. He dug out an officer and an N C O during the fighting. Sgt Batty was 28 years of age. Before the war he was a Collier at Bank hall pit. He was on the St Mary's R C Roll of Honour.
From the Burnley Express dated 29th June 1918: BURNLEY HERO'S DOUBLE HONOUR.
Military medal and bar awarded to the Sergeant Joseph Batty, East Lancashire Regiment, will be presented to his widow Mrs Batty of 8 Penny Street Burnley, at Preston, on Saturday next, by the military authorities on Parade. Particulars of his gallant actions and a portrait have appeared in the Express.
Joseph left his effects to his wife Elizabeth which included, 2 photos, cards, pipe, 1 prayer book, scared heart badge, a pocket knife, cap badge, a pouch and 3 dice. From a post card he sent to his wife we know he had a child called Annie.
Joseph lived at 8 Penny St.
Joseph left his effects to his widow Elizabeth.
Joseph is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Arras, France: Addenda Panel 1.
