Joseph Ernest Calver

A Private with the 11th Battalion, Joseph died on 26th of August 1917 at the age of 29. 

Joseph was born at Kirkley on 19 August 1888, a son of Charles and Mary Calver. In 1891 his family lived at 8 Haward Street, and this was still their home in 1901. Joseph was baptised at Saint Peter’s Church, Kirkley, on 23 April 1903, and the family lived at Kimberley Road. By 1909 his family were living at 26 East Street and later his parents lived at 61 Crown Street. 

On 4 April 1909 Joseph married Sarah Ann Elizabeth Gallant at Saint Margaret’s Church. Joseph was a labourer living at 26 East Street and Sarah lived at 1 Erskine Place. The witnesses were Thomas Alfred and Lily Florence Calver: Lily Joseph’s sister, and Thomas his brother-in-law. By 1911 they were living at 14 Sparham’s Buildings, Saint Peter’s Street. 

Joseph enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 2089, and was posted to the 6th (Cyclist) Battalion. Joseph was posted to France to join the 1/4th Battalion and was subsequently posted to the 11th battalion, service number 43434. 

On 26 August 1917, the 11th Battalion, part of 101 Brigade, were involved in a brigade attack on at Quarry, near Bellicourt. The battalion war diary states that the attack started at 4.30 a.m. and by 4.50 a.m. all objectives had been achieved and the battalion spend the rest of the day consolidating their position. The war diary for Headquarters of 101 Infantry Brigade states that the various objectives were obtained but there had been many casualties from enemy shell-fire. Joseph was killed in action on 26 August. 

During August 1917 the 11th Battalion sustained the following casualties:
Officers: two killed, five wounded, one missing
Other ranks: 34 killed, 126 wounded, 2 missing

Joseph’s brother in law, Thomas Alfred Swann, served in the Royal Naval Patrol Service and died in 1940.