Pte 64834 Joseph Shortall

• Age: 20
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 29th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Joseph Shortall was born 4th January 1898 in Liverpool and was baptised 16th January 1898 at St Anne's Church, Liverpool. He was the son of the late Nicholas and Elizabeth Shortall (nee Woods) who They were married on the 1st August 1882 at St Nicholas, Liverpool, Nicholas was from 75 Peach St and Elizabeth from 28 Great Orford St.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 43 Egerton Road, Wavertree, Liverpool.

The father Nicholas aged 43, born 1858 is a commercial clerk who was born in Liverpool. His wife Elizabeth is aged 41, born 1860 in Liverpool and has no occupation listed. They have seven children at the time of the Census, Nicholas aged 17, born 1884 is a telegraphist with the G.P.O, Helen aged 16, born 1885 has no occupation, John aged 14, born 1887, Joanna aged 12, born 1889, Elizabeth aged 10, born 1891, William aged 7, born 1894 and Joseph aged 4, born 1898. The children were all born in Liverpool.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 26 Rutland Avenue Liverpool.

The father Nicholas aged 53, is a produce salesman in the West African trade and his wife Elizabeth is aged 51, and has no occupation listed. They have been married for twenty eight years and have had twelve children of whom four had died. At the taking of the Census, they have seven children at the time of the Census, Helen aged 26, and Joanne aged 22 are both school teachers with Liverpool Education Committee, John aged 24, is a commercial clerk in the coal trade, Elizabeth Mary aged 20, is a school teacher with Bootle Education Committee, William aged 17, is a commercial clerk in the shipping trade, Joseph aged 13 is at school and Mary is aged 6, born 1905.  

He enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 64834 when he was killed in action on the 29^th April 1918 aged 20 during the German Spring Offensive.

On the day of his death 29th April 1918, the Battalion was serving on the Ypres Salient and was in the front line at Elzenwalle, near Ridge Wood, awaiting a renewal of the German assault on that front.

At 02.30 am the attack began with a devastating bombardment along the whole battle front, from the forward positions back to a depth of over a mile. At 6am the enemy Infantry attacked, the main force of the assault being directed at a position near Ridge Wood, where one of the Battalion’s forward listening posts was captured and held. Then, 16999 Company Sergeant Major G Sutton of No.1 Company gallantly drove out the attackers with Mills Bombs, an action for which he was later awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. After a strong defence along the Battalion frontage, the Germans withdrew. They continued their artillery barrage throughout the rest of the morning and afternoon, however, and at about 17.00 began to mass once more for another Infantry attack. This was contained by Rifle and Lewis Gun fire, until a large British Artillery barrage at 18.00 finally broke up all enemy activity. 

Joseph has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

SHORTALL - April 29, killed in action, Private JOSEPH SHORTALL K.L.R., deeply regretted by his colleagues on the staff of the United Alkaline Company Ltd (sales department.)

SHORTALL - April 29, killed in action, aged 20 years, Private JOSEPH SHORTALL K.L.R., the dearly beloved youngest son of Nicholas and the late Elizabeth Shortall, 26 Rutland Avenue. Requiem Mass at St. Clare's, Arundel Avenue, on Wednesday next at 8 a.m. R.I.P.

Soldiers Effects to his father Nicholas.

Elder brother William died on 1st July 1916 as Private No 17722 with the 19th Battalion King's Liverpool Regiment. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

Mother Elizabeth Mary died aged 57 on the 20th Oct 1916 and was buried on the 23rd October at Allerton Cemetery. 

Eldest brother Nicholas Joseph has service records, Cpl No 56623 Royal Engineers, 17th Div'l Signals, he enlisted in Nottingham 3rd Nov 1914 and gave his NOK as father Nicholas Shortall 26 Rutland Ave, Sefton Park. He was awarded the MM on 27th Oct 1918. His elder brother Sjt John Shortall joined at the same time as William as 17720 and both survived the war.

Father died aged 62 on the 11th April 1920. 

Liverpool Echo 25th June 1920

Latest Wills

Mr Nicholas Shortall, of 26 Rutland Avenue, Sefton Park, produce salesman for 40 years with Messrs. John Holt and Co. (Liverpool) Ltd, African merchants, left £4,863 (net personality £4,130).

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