Pte 51640 Joseph James Stretton

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 26th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Arras Memorial
  Panel Ref: Bay 3

Birth records show that his birth was registered as Statton. 

Joseph James was born 15^th August 1895, the son of Albert Stretton and his wife Sarah Ann (nee Baines, formerly Cartwright). His parents married at St Mary's Church, Kirkdale on 07th January 1895. Sarah Ann had been widowed in 1893 when her husband Richard Cartwright had died aged 36.  

At the time of his birth his parents were living at 143 Netherfield Road, Everton. This was a public house and his parents were running the pub. His mother was born in Liverpool whilst his father was born in Staffordshire and was originally a flour mill labourer.  Joseph James had a younger sister Annie, who was born after their father’s death. Joseph grew up with his sister Annie and half siblings James, Rachel, and David Cartwright. 

His father died on 15th October 1899, aged 31, when Joseph was 4 years old. He now rests at St. Chad’s Churchyard, Farndon. 

In 1901 his mother is 36 years of age and is the manageress of the public house, still living at 143 Netherfield Road. She lives with four of her children. James Cartwright aged 15, Rachel Cartwright aged 13, David Cartwright aged 7 and Annie Stretton aged 1. Joseph is not listed.  

In 1911 the family has moved to 240 Netherfield Road. Joseph is 15, and employed as a junior clerk in a ship’s stores company. He lives with his widowed mother now shown as aged 49, his siblings are recorded as James Cartwright aged 25 and a carter, Rachel Cartwright aged 23 is a ward's maid, David Cartwright is 18 and also a carter, Annie is 11 and is at school. Also recorded are a boarder James Smith and David Cartwright aged 1 listed as adopted. 

His mother died in the June quarter of 1913, aged 50.

Joseph enlisted in Liverpool as Rifleman 4797 joining the 6th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment (Liverpool Rifles). He embarked from Folkestone-Boulogne on 15th July 1916, reached the 24 Infantry Base Depot on 16th July, proceeded to 11th Entrenching Battalion on 02nd August, then proceeded to 17th Battalion K.L.R. on 05th August and was posted from 05th September 1916 to the 17th Battalion K.L.R. as Private 51640.

He was killed in action on 26^th April 1917, aged 21.

The Battalion diary gives an insight into the conditions that the 17th Battalion faced:

April 26th

At 10.15am message was received from Brigade cancelling pending operations (00 95) and advising that the Division would be relieved between 27th and 29th and instructing that consolidation and improvement of observation must be carried out energetically. At 3.45pm orders were received from Brigade for one Company to act as a burying party, reporting to an officer of KOPJE at cross roads HENINEL CEMETERY N.29a 8/5 at 8.0pm. D Coy were detailed for this work and left at 7.15pm. At the same time, orders were received for the other three companies to act as carrying parties for KNIGHT and KOPJE, carrying wire and pickets in proportion to the front line. Guides of KNIGHT and KOPJE met the Companies at cross junction N.28b 6/2 at 8.15pm, 6 platoons carrying for KNIGHT and 6 platoons for KOPJE, the material being collected and en route from Dump at HENINEL N28b 9/5. These three Companies moved off at 7.15pm. ‘D’ Company commenced digging graves at 8.30pm at N.29c 6/8 and worked until 10.45pm and arrived back and reported all present at midnight. ‘A’ Company carried pickets and wire for the 20th BattalionK.L.R. to the front and support lines. The Company returned and reported in at 11.15pm, having had one man wounded. ‘B’ Company carried for 17th Battalion K.L.R. to the front and support lines and reported all in at 1.30am. ‘C’ Company was divided, two platoons carrying for the 20th Battalion and two platoons for the 17th Battalion K.L.R. The latter two platoons returned with ‘B’ Company at 1.30am but the platoons carrying for the 20th Battalion K.L.R. Had to make a second journey and only returned at 4.20am.

Joseph's body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as his name is recorded on the Arras Memorial in France.

The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Both cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on the 31 July 1932 (originally it had been scheduled for 15 May, but due to the sudden death of French President Doumer, as a mark of respect, the ceremony was postponed until July).

He was reported killed in the Chester Chronicle on 02nd June 1917

Stretton (Liverpool Regiment) 51640. J. J., Farndon (killed)

[Note: the place name given is always of the NOK, hence Annie in Farndon]

His family placed a memorial notice in the local newspaper on 27th April 1918

STRETTON-CARTWRIGHT

In ever loving memory of Joseph James Stretton K.L.R., who fell in action, April 26th 1917, aged 21 years. Also of James Cartwright (brother) Grenadier Guards, who died from wounds, December 3rd 1917, aged 31 years.

There upon the field of battle,

They calmly took their place;

They fought and died for Brittain(sic)

And the Honour of their Race.

They bravely answered duty's call,

It was God's will that they should fall.

- From sister, grand-parents and aunts, Farndon.

His half-brother Guardsman L/Cpl 17923 James Cartwright died of wounds on 03rd December 1917 serving with the 4th Battalion of the Grenadier Guards. He was originally buried at Clary German Cemetery but after the war, when graves were being concentrated, his body was exhumed. He now rests at Honnechy British Cemetery.

Joseph's soldiers effects to sister Annie, half-sister Rachel Cartwright, half-brothers John and David Cartwright, no Pension found

His next of kin was his sister, Miss Annie Stretton, of Belmont House, Farndon, Chester. 

Joseph is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance in Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 38 left.

The War Memorial Book, Liverpool Anglican Cathedral 

Farndon Memorial Hall

Farndon War Memorial

Joseph’s name is inscribed on his father’s headstone at St. Chad’s Churchyard, Farndon. :

"Joseph James Stretton, son of the above, 17^th Batt. K.L.R., Killed in action, France, 26^th April 1917, aged 21 years. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man may lay down his life for his friends.  St. John 15:13".

Grateful thanks are extended to Kevin Shannon the author of the book The Liverpool Rifles for providing details of Joseph's service with the 6th Rifles. 


We currently have no further information on Joseph James Stretton, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.