Driver 5450 Joseph Bannister


 Bannister Joseph 96 400x600


Killed in Action on Thursday, 26th April 1917, age 36.
Buried in Grave D.19. at St. Leger British Cemetery, Pas De Calais, France.

Royal Field Artillery, 35th Brigade, 25th Battery.

Son of James and Mary Ann Bannister, of 29, Chester Lane, Marshall's Cross, St. Helens, Lancs.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: St. Helens, Resident: Unknown.

First landed France & Flanders, 13th November 1915.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on 'Soldiers Died in the Great War'.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/569184/


Genealogical Data

Birth of Joseph Bannister registered June quarter 1883 in Dudley.

1901 Census
3 Chester Lane, St Helens, Lancashire.
James Bannister (42, Labourer in Brickyard, born Tipton), his wife Mary Ann (38, born Tipton), and their 7 children: Joseph (18, Coal Mine Labourer, born Tipton), James (13, born St Helens), Edward (11, born St Helens), William (9, born St Helens), Samuel (7, born St Helens), Margaret (3, born St Helens), and John (1, born St Helens).

1911 Census
29 Chester Lane, St Helens, Lancashire.
James Bannister (52, Brick Manufacturer Labourer, born Tipton), his wife Mary Ann (48, born Tipton), and 9 of their 10 surviving children of 12: Joseph (28, Coal Mine Labourer, born Tipton), James (23, Coal Mine Labourer, born St Helens), Edward (21, Coal Mine Labourer, born St Helens), William (19, Coal Mine Labourer, born St Helens), Samuel (17, Coal Mine Labourer, born St Helens), Margaret (13, At Home, born St Helens), John (11, School, born St Helens), Sarah (8, born St Helens), and Eliza (5, born St Helens).


Personal Data

Joseph Bannister was born in Tipton in 1883, but the amily moved to St Helens, Lancashire, by the time Joseph was 5 years old.


Action resulting in his death

Joseph's 35th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, belonged to the 7th Division. They were in action near Ecoust and Croisilles during the Battle of Arras around the 26th April when Joseph was killed in action. He is bured in St Leger British Cemetery, about 5 miles north of Bapaume.


Newspaper Cuttings

None.