Have You a Tiger In Your Family?

Rank : Lance Corporal

Army Number : 1947 & 240331

Unit : 7th Bn, 1/5th Bn

Biography :

Home address given as Coalville, Leicestershire. Enlisted at Gopsall, LeicestershireServed with the 7th Bn during World War One. Killed in action France and Flanders campaign 24.12.1917, aged 19. He is buried at Epehy Wood Farm Cemetery, Epehy, France.

Entered the war: 28 Feb 1915 - Injured at The Battle of Loos, whilst Serving with the 46th (North Midland Division), 138th Brigade (Lincoln & Leicester), 1/5th Battalion Leicester Regiment. After many battles Joseph was sadly KIA: 24 Dec 1917 during the Cambrai operations, and was among Eleven other men who were gassed in a cellar.

Medal Card: Eaton Joseph - Leic R - Pte 1947 & 240331 - Victory, British War and 1915 Star - disembarked to British Expeditionary Force France 28.2.1915 - k-I-a 24.12.1916.

UK, Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: £6 18s 8d paid to father, Thomas, a sole legatee authorised 23.3.1918 - Gratuity £15 10s authorised 27.11.1919 paid to sole legatee father, Thomas.

1911 Census: Name: Joseph Eaton Age in 1911: 13 Estimated birth year: abt 1898 Relation to Head: Son Gender: Male Birth Place: Church Gresley, Derbyshire, England Civil Parish: Coalville Search Photos: Search for 'Coalville' in the UK City, Town and Village Photos collection County/Island: Leicestershire Country: England Street address: Margaret St 29 Coalville Occupation: Brickyard Labourer
Registration district: Ashby de la Zouch Registration District Number: 404 Sub-registration district: Whitwick ED, institution, or vessel: 14 Piece: 19094 Household Members: Name Age Thomas Eaton 39
Catherine Eaton 39 John W Eaton 16 Joseph Eaton 13 Thomas Eaton 2.

Some information from a private source.

CWGC:

EATON, JOSEPH
Rank: Lance Corporal
Service No: 240331
Date of Death: 24/12/1917
Age: 19
Regiment/Service: Leicestershire Regiment 1st/5th Bn.
Grave Reference: III. L. 1.
Cemetery: EPEHY WOOD FARM CEMETERY, EPEHY
Additional Information:

Son of Thomas and Catherine Eaton, of 12, Melbourne St., Coalville, Leicester. Born at Church Gresley, Burton-on-Trent.

Brother to John William Eaton who served in the Regiment in WWI.

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Extract from A Short History of the Regiment:

'Meantime, in France and Flanders the Regiment had given a splendid account of itself. In a key battle at Polygon Wood near Ypres in October 1917, Lieutenant Colonel Philip Bent was awarded a posthumous VC when in command of 9th Battalion. In the last desperate attacks by the German armies launched in the spring of 1918, the “Tigers” fought with unsurpassed heroism. The sterling courage of the 110th Brigade in the defence of Epehy in March 1918 was a fine example of British grit. Exposed to the full blast of constant attacks delivered by three fresh German divisions, the stubborn soldiers of Leicestershire refused to budge, but met each attack with such devastating rifle and machine gun fire that, when night fell, the front of their position was marked by heaps of German dead. Only at one point did the enemy succeed in piercing the line at Vancellette Farm, defended to the last man by the party of Leicester men who held it. Then in the summer came the final British and French advances against which the German defences availed nothing. Lieutenant John Barrett was awarded the VC while serving in the 1/5th Battalion at Pontruet in September. The enemy’s prepared defences were in turn overwhelmed and the Regiment took a creditable share in the long advance which ended in victory.'

Date of Birth : 21.1.1898

Place of Birth : Church Gresley, Derbyshire

Date of Death : 24.12.1917

Place of Death : France & Flanders

Civil Occupation : Brickyard labourer

Period of Service : 1910s

Conflicts : WW1

Places Served : France and Flanders