Private Joseph Lavelle.
16316 9th Scottish Rifles.
Died of Wounds 25th September 1915, aged 21.
(Joseph’s brother John was killed in action 20th Sept 1917.)
Cambrin Churchyard Extension, France.
Joseph was born in the Dec quarter of 1893,Blackburn. The son of James Lavelle and Elizabeth Garretty. In the 1901 census the family had moved to 157 Park Rd, St Helens, Lancs. James 35, Elizabeth 32, Catherine 11, John 10, Joseph 7, Mary 4 and Ruth 3 months.
In the 1911 census the family had moved to 43 Anne St, Burnley, sharing it with Peter Rourke’s family of 4. James 44, Elizabeth 42, Joseph 17 weaver, James 1, Mary Elizabeth 14 and Ruth 10. All these people in 4 rooms!
It is not known when Joseph enlisted but he entered the “Theatre of War” on the 12th May 1915 and was killed on the first day of the Battle of Loos on the 25th Sept 1915.
The Battle of Loos.
The Battle of Loos took place from 25 September – 8 October 1915 in France on the Western Front, during the WW1. It was the biggest British attack of 1915, the first time that the British used gas and the first mass engagement of new army units. The French and British tried to break through the German defences in Artois and Champagne and restore a war of movement. Despite improved methods, more ammunition and better equipment, the Franco-British attacks were contained by the German armies, except for local losses of ground. British casualties at Loos were about twice as high as German losses.
From the Burnley News dated 9th October 1915: BURNLEY WORKMATES KILLED. A SAD COINCIDENCE.
A very sad coincidence attaches to the fate of two Burnley men who were employed at Messrs' Tunstills Mill Brierfield. They had been workmates for some time, joined the 9th Battalion of the Scottish Rifles together, and from letters received it would appear that both were killed in the same action in France on the 2nd inst.No official news of their death has been received from the war office, but communications from different sources leave little room for doubt concerning their fate. One of the men is Private Joseph Lavelle, whose mother lives at 61 Anne Street Burnley. He was a spinner at Messr's Tunstills was 21 years of age and then listed about 12 months ago. He was a very promising footballer, having played for Colne and had offers from other clubs.He was well-known and well-respected. Private Joseph Thickett, another employee at Messrs' Tunstills, and a friend of Lavelles, who enlisted with him in the Scottish Rifles, is also reported killed on the same day, though no official confirmation has yet been received. Private Thickett is married and lived in Robinson Street.
From the Burnley News dated 13th October 1915: BURNLEY WORKMATES. SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN KILLED IN SAME ACTION.
Though no official notification has been received from the war office, Mrs Lavelle of 61 Anne Street Burnley, entertains little or no hope for the safety of her son, Private Joseph Lavelle of the Scottish Rifles, information having come from different sources of his death in action in the recent advance in France. Private Lavelle as we announced on Saturday, was 21 years of age, and was a spinner at Messrs' Tunstills Mill at Brierfield. No further news has been received of Private Joseph Thickett a workmate of Lavelles, who enlisted with him and is said to have fallen in the same engagement.
Lived at 61 Anne Street.
Joseph left his effects to his Parents, James and Elizabeth. (one tree on Ancestry has Alice Padden as the wife of his brother Joseph, but I cannot find any trace of this marriage and it also gives his children as Mary Ruth born in 1914 and Anne Nora born in 1915, but their mother’s maiden name was Green).
Joseph was buried in Cambrin Churchyard Extension, France: Grave Ref; Special memorial in front of Row J Grave 1.
Photo courtesy of George Coppock 2025