L/Cpl 49050 Joseph Schofield Orrell

• Age: 27
• From: Norden, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 28th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Cherisy Rd East Cem, Heninel
  Panel Ref: 33

Joseph Schofield Orrell was born on 29th January 1890 in Norden, Lancashire, the son of James Orrell and his wife Mally (nee Schofield). He was baptised on 06th April 1890 at St Paul's Church, Norden. His parents married at St. Clement's Church, Rochdale in in 1874.

On the 1891 census he is aged 1 living at 1 Back Greenbooth Rd, Norden. Father James 39 tenterer(cloth) b.Bolton, mother Molly 40 b.Rochdale, siblings all born Rochdale, Sarah A. 15 woollen weaver, Mary A. 13 woollen weaver, Leah 11 woollen piercer, Thomas 10 woollen piercer, Margaret 8 scholar, Clara 5 scholar.

His sister Mary Alice died aged 15 in the June quarter of 1893.

On the 1901 census he is aged 11 living at 36 Greenbooth Rd, Norden. Father James 49 woollen fulling miller, mother Molly 50, siblings Sarah A. 25 woollen weaver, Leah 21 woollen weaver, Thomas 20 woollen fulling miller, Margaret 18 woollen weaver, Clara 15 woollen winder.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 22 Tenterfield New Road, Norden. His father is a Cotton dyer born in Edgworth. His mother was born in Norden. Joseph is now 21 and employed as a Stamper. He has a sister, Leah,  living in the household. The Census records that there were eight children born of the marriage six of whom were living and two who had sadly died. Those children listed on previous Census records were; Sarah A, Mary A, Leah, Thomas, Margaret and Clara.

His sister Leah died, aged 35, in the June quarter of 1915.

Joseph enlisted in Bury joining the Lancashire Fusiliers as Private 29729. He was transferred to the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment and was serving as Lance Corporal 49050 when he was killed in action on 28th April 1917, aged 27.

Joseph now rests at Cherisy Road East Cemetery, Heninel, France where he shares a headstone with Peter John, also of the 17th Battalion K.L.R. who died on the same day.

Joseph's headstone bears the epitaph:

"HE LIVETH A GOOD LIFE". 

The village of Heninel was captured in a snowstorm on 12 April 1917 by the 56th (London) and 21st Division. The 50th (Northumbrian) Division, advancing from Heninel on the two following days, captured Wancourt Tower. Cherisy Road East Cemetery was made by the 30th and 33rd Division Burial Officers in April 1917. The cemetery contains 82 First World War burials, 19 of which are unidentified.

His death was reported in the Rochdale Times on 02nd June 1917

Killed

Lance-Corporal J.S.Orrell (49050), King's Liverpool Regiment, of Norden.

Soldiers Effects to father James (exec. Thomas), Pension to mother Mally, Greenbooth Rd, Norden.

Joseph is commemorated on the Norden War Memorial. 

Both parents died in 1918. His mother, Mally, in the September quarter aged 67 and his father, James, in the December quarter aged 67.  

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