Private 40082 Joseph Partridge

Killed in Action on Saturday, 18th November 1916, age 23 or 24.
Commemorated on Pier and Face 5 A and 6 C of Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

10th Bn., Worcestershire Regiment. 57th Brigade of 19th Division.

Son of Mr Joseph and Mrs Margaret Partridge, of 65 Bridge Road, Toll End, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Wednesbury, Enlisted: Wednesbury, Resident: Tipton.

First landed France & Flanders, post 31st December 1915.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Commemorated on the Tipton Library, and St. Mark's memorials.
Commemorated here because he appears on a Tipton memorial.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/808497/

Genealogical Data

1901 Census
6 Bricklin Croft, Portway Road, Wednesbury, Staffs.
Joseph Partridge (35, Puddler, born Wednesbury) and his 4 children: Mary (10, born Wednesbury), Joseph (8, born Wednesbury), Maggie (6, born Wednesbury), and Julia (4, born Wednesbury). There was no census entry for his wife, Margaret.

1911 Census
5 Bricklin Croft, Portway Road, Wednesbury, Staffs.
Joseph Partridge (48, Iron Puddler, born Wednesbury), his wife Margaret (46, born Wednesbury), and 1 of their 5 surviving children of 9: Joseph (18, Pipe Heater in Tube Works, born Wednesbury). Also, Henry Partridge (64, Brother, Bricklayer’s Labourer, born Wednesbury).

Personal Data

After Joseph's death his outstanding Army pay and allowances amounted to £2/15/1d (2 pounds, 15 shillings and 1 penny); this was paid to his father, Joseph, in August 1918. His War Gratuity amounted to £3/0/0d (3 pounds exactly), this was also paid to his father in October 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Joseph enlisted in the 12 months prior to his death.

Joseph's mother, Mrs Margaret Partridge, was awarded a Dependant's Pension of 6/6d (6 shillings and 6 pence) per week, effective from 7th August 1917. Her address at this time was 65 Bridge Road, Tipton.

Action resulting in his death

The Battle of the Ancre, from the 13th to 18th November 1916, was the final battle of the 1916 Somme campaign. It began with the capture of Beaumont Hamel, St. Pierre Divion and Beaucourt, and later the capture of the Schwaben Redoubt which had been reached but never captured way back on 1st July.

On final push on the east bank of the Ancre was attempted on the 18th November. The 10th Worcesters were in reserve, and allocated the task of "mopping up", and were split by company to support the other 3 battalions of their 57th Brigade.

On the right with the 8th North Staffs the attack was successful, in the centre with the 10th Royal Warwicks the attack failed from the outset, and on the left with the 8th Gloucesters there was confusion. To quote Stacke "On the left the attack swept across "Battery Valley" and became engaged in a wild struggle among the defences on that valley's further slope. There, two Worcester platoons which attacked on the extreme left flank of the Brigade were cut off and never heard of again. All that day the fighting continued. The enemy resisted stubbornly and no more ground could be gained."

Among the 22 Other Ranks of the 10th Worcesters killed on that day was Pte Joseph Partridge. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

Newspaper Cuttings

Birmingham Daily Post 20th January 1917
RANK AND FILE: MIDLANDS MEN.
The following casualties amongst warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and men are reported under various dates:
MISSING.
WORCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT- Partridge, 40082, J., (Tipton).