Born: 1896, Greengates
Died: 26 September 1916, Somme
Buried:
Address: 62 Institute Road, Eccleshill
Parents: Frederick & Elizabeth Esther, nee Sutcliffe
Spouse:
Siblings:
Occupation: Doffer, Manningham Mills
Organisations/clubs:
Military
Rank: Pte
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: Eccleshill, Park & St Luke’s; Thiepval Memorial
Children:
Regiment: 8 Northumberland Fusiliers
Joseph Barnatt
Joseph Barnatt was born in
Bradford in 1896 the son of
Frederick Barnatt and Elizabeth
Esther Sutcliffe. Frederick was
born in Heckington, Lincolnshire in
1863 and Elizabeth in Bradford in
1867. They married in Bradford in
1885.
Frederick and Elizabeth had four
children and the family moved
around: Emma born 1887 in
Bradford, Fanny born 1889 in
Guiseley, Ethel born 1892 and
Joseph in 1896 both in Greengates,
By 1901 the family were living in
Turnpike Street, Elland, Frederick
working as an excavator’s fireman.
Ten years later they had moved to
62 Institute Road,
Eccleshill. Frederick
was working as a
labourer and at 14 years
of age Joseph was a
doffer in a spinning
mill. At the outbreak of
war he was employed at
Manningham Mills,
Bradford.
Joseph joined the 8th
Battalion of the
Northumberland
Fusiliers on 4th of May 1915 as
Private 20760. The Battalion
departed for the Mediterranean in
July 1915 and landed at Gallipoli
on 7th of August.
In January 1916 it moved
to Egypt where it formed
part of the Suez Canal
defences.
In July 1916 the Battalion
moved to France where it
took part in the Battle of
the Somme which lasted
from 1st July to 18th
November 1916.
Joseph was posted missing
on 26th September 1916
and his mother appealed through
the local newspapers for any news
of her son.
Army records show that at some
time during his army career Joseph
was slightly wounded but had
survived only to fall during the
latter days of the Battle of the
Somme. He was 20 years old.
Joseph is remembered on the
Thiepval Memorial as one of the
many never recovered for burial.
He left his soldiers effects to his
father Frederick, who received £5.
9. 0d on the 26th November 1917
and the War Gratuity of £5. 10. 0d
on the 7th August 1919.
Researched and written by Jean
Britteon, to whom many thanks.
