Tipton

Private 3019 Joseph Stackhouse

Killed in Action on Tuesday, 18th May 1915, age 35.
Buried in Grave IV. B. 6. at Calvaire (Essex) Military Cemetery, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium.

'B' Company of 1st/7th Bn., Worcestershire Regiment. 144th Brigade of 48th Division.

Son of Francis Philip and Sarah Stackhouse, of Dudley Port; husband of Adah Stackhouse, of 213, Dudley Port, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Dudley Port, Enlisted: Dudley, Resident: Dudley Port.

First landed France & Flanders, 31st March 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/92537/

Genealogical Data

1891 Census
197 Dudley Port, Dudley Port, Tipton, Staffs.
Francis P. Stackhouse (44, retired stone miner, now blind, born Tipton), his wife Elizabeth (39, born Dudley), and their 7 children: Eliza (17, born Tipton), Frank (14, Labourer in Foundry, born Tipton), Joseph (12, Scholar, born Tipton), Annie (6, Scholar, born Tipton), Sidney (4, Scholar, born Tipton), Lily (1, born Tipton), and James A. (2 months, born Tipton).

Marriage of Joseph Stackhouse and Edith Humphries registered June quarter 1900 in Dudley.

1901 Census
164 Dudley Port, Dudley Port, Tipton, Staffs.
Joseph (22, Ironworker, born Tipton), and his wife Edith (20, born Tipton). Living in his brother Frank's house (no children, their first child Edith was born later in 1901).

1911 Census
3 Sharp Street, Dudley Port, Tipton, Staffs.
Joseph Stackhouse (32, Nail Caster, born Tipton), his wife Edith (28, born Rowley), and 3 of their 4 surviving children of 6: Harry (5, born Tipton), Horace (3, born Tipton), and Joseph (11 months, born Tipton). The eldest child was at her grandparents house at the time of the census.

According to a family source, Joseph and Edith had 5 children, but a 6th was on the way when he was killed: Edith, Harry, Horace, Joseph, Harold & Sidney.

Personal Data

None Available.

Action resulting in his death

The 1/7th Worcesters arrived in France in 1st April 1915 and had their first experience of trench life around Armentieres, being schooled in the necessary skills by experienced soldiers of the 6th Division. After a fortnight they were allocated an area of front line near to Ploegsteert, covering Ploegsteert Wood. They alternated their duties in the front line with their sister battalion, the 1/8th Worcesters.

No heavy fighting took place at this time, but ‘stunts’ were carried out to keep the enemy occupied and prevent the enemy moving troops to the action taking place at Aubers Ridge. Each day the enemy’s lines were bombarded, and after dark patrols crossed no-man’s land to interfere with the enemy’s wire to give the impression of an impending attack.

These dummy patrols, in addition to enemy shell-fire, brought a number of casualties with 11 Other Ranks being killed by the end of May 1915. Joseph was one of these casualties, being killed in action on 18th May 1915; he is buried in Calvaire (Essex) Cemetery, about a mile south-east of Ploegsteert.

Newspaper Cuttings

Tipton Herald 12th June 1915
ANOTHER TIPTON SOLDIER KILLED.
Private J Stackhouse of the 1/7th Worcesters Regiment, who only enlisted last October, has been shot whilst on sentry duty with the Expeditionary Force. Deceased resided at Dudley Port. He was 36 years of age, and leaves a widow and 5 children. He was a moulder by trade.

Tipton Herald 19th June 1915
DUDLEY PORT SOLDIER SHOT THROUGH THE EYE.
A MARRIED MAN WHO FELT HE HAD TO ENLIST.
Private J Stackhouse of the 1/7th Worcesters Regiment Territorials, whose widow and parents reside at Dudley Port, was killed in action in France whilst on sentry duty on May 18th.
The deceased, who had previously served in the Territorials, joined the battalion in October last. He was then 35 years of age, and he leaves a widow and five children. He had always been fond of shooting as a sport, and as the war progressed he felt it his duty to go to the front, telling his wife how he regarded the war. The iniquities of the Germans exasperated him and he was convinced they would serve the English the same as the Belgians. Accordingly he threw up a lucrative position as a moulder at Messrs Richards foundry. He was 36 in February last. He was the eldest of four sons of a very worthy resident in Dudley Port - Mr Francis Philip Stackhouse, a blind seller of this newspaper, whose eyesight was destroyed while blasting limestone. The dead soldier's mother is known far and wide as a maternity nurse. Sidney, one of the deceased soldier's brothers (married with one child) has joined the South Staffs since the war broke out.
The widow and parents of Private Stackhouse have received many letters of sympathy in their bereavement.
THE FUNERAL.
Lieut W. Timis wrote that the deceased soldier was killed at 7.20 am., while on sentry duty, by a shot in the head. He added that the funeral was attended by Captain Chamberlain (representing the officers of the company) and the Colonel of the regiment (representing the headquarters staff). The service was taken by the chaplain. He states that the graves are carefully tended, and an inscribed wooden cross records the burial place of those who have given their lives to the great cause of liberty.
The Rev. Frank Wheeler and the Rev. P Thomas (senior chaplain, Church of England) both wrote to the widow, the latter saying "We all lament the loss of such a brave man and good soldier."
TESTIMONY FROM TIPTON SOLDIER.
Private W. Pearce (whose home address is 69 Albert Street, Princes End) wrote " I was deeply grieved to hear of the death of your husband, which occurred this morning - Tuesday, the 18th inst. He was bright and cheerful and in the best of spirits. We two have been the best of 'pals' since we left Dudley, for he was always quiet and knew how to behave himself like a soldier and a man. He was on sentry and was shot through the eye by a German sniper."
OTHER COMRADES WRITE.
Private Leonard Poole wrote "I was deeply grieved on the morning of May 18th to hear of the death of your dear husband, while doing his duty for King and country, and the sorrow it has brought to you and your dear little children. I had not the slightest idea we would lose a loving 'pal' like Joe in such a short time. The last time we had a stroll together was on a bright sunny Sunday morning, and I don't think I ever saw him in a happier mood, but you never know what a day brings forth in such a struggle. The pain, I think, would be very little as he was killed instantly."
Lance-Corpl. W Jenkins wrote to the parents "Dear Mrs Stackhouse, I have no doubt by now you have been informed officially of your great loss. I desire, on behalf of his comrades, to express our deep sympathy in your sad bereavement. Your son has given what so many have given, and what more of us must inevitably give to our country - his life. It may be some comfort to know he suffered no pain, for he lay where he fell, motionless, and without murmur. He was shot through the eye. I was with him shortly before his death, and he was then the picture of health. Although he had only been with us a short time, he was one of us. We are all of us brothers out here. If anything possible could have been done for him, believe me, it would have been done. He rests near here in a pretty little cemetery we have made, beside some of his comrades who fell before him. His grave is nicely turfed, the soldier's cross at the head. At present it is covered with flowers. I myself will see that there are at least a few upon it while I am near here. I trust you will try and bear the sharpness of this sad affliction bravely, as so many other poor mothers have done, and let us hope he has found everlasting peace with God."

Tipton Herald 26th October 1918
SEQUEL TO A WAR FATALITY.
Francis P Stackhouse (72) of Dudley Port, a blind man, was summoned for using obscene language to his daughter-in-law, Edith Stackhouse.
Complainant stated that her husband was killed in the war three years ago, and she was left with six children. The defendant used the language complained of after knocking at her door with a stick.
Defendant was bound over to keep the peace for six months, and ordered to pay the costs (8s 6d).
ASSAULTING GIRL.
Benjamin Round (43) of 216 Dudley Port, was summoned for assaulting Edith Stackhouse, a daughter of the defendant in the previous case.
Complainant stated that on the 16th October, about 9 p.m., defendant struck her on the neck. The previous witness was her mother. She alleged that her mother had drawn some of her (witness's) War Loan money, and had turned her out. She went to the house of Round to ask for her mother, and Round threatened her and struck her.
Clara Ledbury stated that she saw defendant deliberately strike Miss Stackhouse. Minnie Stackhouse corroborated.
Defendant denied that he struck the girl, and called Harold Stackhouse (a brother of the complainant), aged 10, who was not sure of the night it happened, but denied that the defendant struck the blow.
The Bench inflicted a fine of 25 shillings.