BETTS, JOSEPH

Photograph with kind permission from the Uttoxeter Advertiser

Joseph was born in about 1855 in Uttoxeter and at some stage moved away to Earlestown in Lancashire.

The 1881 Census shows him living in Uttoxeter and five years old.

He married Minnie Goode in April 1905 in Warrington, Lancashire and they had two children.

Before the war he was employed as a Moulder at the Viaduct Works (presumably Earlestown?). He was well-known in the Earlestown district as an ‘exponent for physical culture’, and had been the champion club swinger in the army.

Before serving with the South Lancashire Regiment Joseph served with the Regular Army and fought through the South African War. For some years he was quartered with his Regiment in India.

The National Archives have preserved a wealth of documents related to Joseph and his service. These documents allow us to piece together his military service both before and during the Great War:

Joseph joined the Territorial Force for four years on 11th February 1909 at Warrington. He was accepted into the 4th Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment for four years.

He gave his age as 32 years and 5 months, which implies a date of birth around October 1877.

He also gave his occupation as “Labourer at Viaduct Works”  and answered “Yes” to the question “Are you now an Apprentice”? . Presumably he was learning to be a moulder, as this was later given as his occupation in his obituary.

He was living at 26 St. John Street, Earlestown at the time of joining the Territorials.

He also supplied details of previous military service, stating that he had completed 12 years with the North Staffordshire Regiment. He had seen 2 years and nine months of active service in South Africa and been awarded the King’s and Queen’s South African War medals.

His attestation papers also tell us that at the time of joining the army he was 5 ft 6 or 5 ft 7 inches tall, had a chest measurement of 34 or 35 inches. He weighed 140 lbs, had good vision and good physical development.

He had only been in the army for 3 months when on 12th May 1909, he was promoted to Sergeant.

Joseph attended annual training camp every year from 1910 to 1013 inclusive. His records show that he also passed classes of instruction in Signalling. The report on completion of a 41 day course at the School of Signalling, Bulford, from 5th February to 16th March 1912 said that his conduct had been good, his industry fair and his general proficiency in the subject of the course satisfactory. In consequence he became entitled to additional pay and allowances.

In a fateful decision on 6th March 1913 he re-engaged in the Territorial Force for another two years. Little did he realise that in doing so he would be actively serving at the outbreak of the war only 17 months later and immediately mobilised upon the outbreak of war.

His service record records that he was “embodied” on 4th August 1914, the day that war broke out, and he signed papers on 13th October 1914 declaring himself willing to be posted overseas. He was at the Dunfermline at this time.

He embarked for France with the 1st/4th Battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment on 12th or 13th February 1915 leaving from ~Southampton and disembarking at Le Havre on 13th February 1915.

A month later, on the 12th March 1915 the Newtown and Earlestown Guardian published a letter that he had written, in which he spoke about his unit. The letter was dated 1st March 1915.

The following letter has been received by Mr. D. Garnett, of 10, Rathbone-street, from Platoon Sergt. J. Betts, no 704, B. Coy., 4th Bn, South Lancs Regt, British Expedition Force, whose home is in Leigh-street, Earlestown:

I dare say you will know by the time this arrives that the boys have been in the firing line, and have given a good account of themselves. It would have done your eyes good if you could have seen them. If anyone attempts to say the “Terriers” are no good, just jump on them for me, and I will settle all arguments when I come back, for they are “the goods”. The Germans shelled them for quite a long time, and they simply laughed and asked who said the Germans could shoot. The only thing the “Terriers” asked for was – “Let’s cross bayonets with them.” You would be surprised if you saw the boys now, and when you saw them last on Earlestown Market Square,

Thanks for the matches. I was just run out.

With regard to news, we are worse off than you, because we know nothing of what is going on outside our own line.

With regard to the greatest military power, Germany is not in it; they are complete cowards.

Matches, soap and notepaper are the things we most require, so if any of the boys want to do a kindness to those away from home, here is the chance. I will gladly undertake to distribute anything sent out to the boys from Earlestown. I saw Jim Waterworth the other day. He looks in the pink of condition, but I had no time for a chat as we were on the march. I have seen several boys from Earlestown, and all are in the best of spirits.

Joseph was killed in action at the age of 38 on 7th June 1915.

On 18th June 1915 the Newton Guardian published a brief obituary:

We publish below the photo of Sergt. Joseph Betts, of 127, Le[i]gh Street, Earlestown who, as reported in our last issue, was killed while fighting for his King and Country.

Sergt. Betts, who was 38 years of age, had been in the Territorials five years, and was a member of "B" Company.  Prior to his connection with the Battalion, he served in the Regular Army, and fought through the South African War.  For some years he was quartered with his regiment in India. He was employed before the present at the Viaduct Works, as a moulder. He was well-known in the district as an exponent of physical culture, and as reported in our last week's issue, had been the champion club swinger in the army.

He leaves a wife and two young children.

Mrs. Betts received a letter from Captain Egerton Fairclough, which was published in the Newton Guardian on 18th June 19153a:

In the field, 8th June, 1915.

Dear Mrs. Betts,

I am very sorry to have to inform you that your husband, Sergt. Betts was unfortunately killed early this morning. I feel his loss very keenly, as he always did his work well, and was always ready for any work, however dangerous. Please accept my sincerest sympathy in your misfortune. The only consolation I can offer is that he died doing his duty, and I am sure that the example he always set to other and younger men will not be forgotten.

Believe me,

  yours very sincerely,

    EGERTON FAIRCLOUGH,

      Captain.

She also received a letter from Lieutenant Holden, who was killed while writing it:

8th June, 1915.

Dear Mrs. Betts.

I am very sorry to have to write and inform you that your husband was shot this morning while engaged in sniping Germans. He died instantaneously and suffered no pain whatever.

His death is felt very keenly by myself and all the N.C.O.'s and men in the platoon, to whom he has endeared himself by his bravery and devotion to duty. I am afraid we will never be able to replace him, as his was a character which few men possess, and his cheerfulness has carried us through many a trying day.

Please accept my deepest sympathy in your great loss, which is only softened by knowing, as I his platoon officer know, that he died a soldier.

The Newton Guardian also published a very moving letter sent to Mr. Eckersley, of North Ashton by his son, Lance-Corporal Harry Eckersley. Harry was a personal friend of Joseph:

  "But the worst time I had was when I saw poor Sergt. Betts killed. He was between the lines, sniping, and he had accounted for several German snipers and was about to fire again, when the Germans had him. He was shot through the mouth and through the neck.

When I saw him fall I ran to him, regardless of the enemy's fire, picked up his rifle and fired his last shot for him, and I believe I got the man that shot him. After that it sickened me a little. I was so grieved I could do nothing further that day. It is very hard to lose a friend like him. We respected each other, and he always had a cheery word for me, "Well, Harry how are you going on?  Is there anything I can do for you; if there is I will do it willingly."

That was the sort of man he was, and I was not ashamed to shed a few tears when he was dead-and I was not the only one either, for he was liked by everybody in the Battalion."

These photographs show a sniper’s loophole in Sanctuary Wood in the Ypres area. In all likelihood Joseph will have been using a loophole like this when he was killed.

On 18th June 1915 the Newtown and Earlestown Guardian also published a letter that confirmed details of how Joseph died. It had been received by Mr. Pierce, of 11, Stanley-Street, Earlestown from his son, Private Sam Pierce. Sam, along with his brother Percy, was doing trench work at the front:-

We have been fairly through it since I wrote last. Talk about hell with the lid off! The other night – Tuesday in fact – we were expecting an attack on our position, and only twenty-five yards separated us from the enemy. Percy was in the first line, and I in the reserve. They started rapid firing, and we thought they were coming, so off I bolt to Percy and said “Buck up, kid, I am with you.” And we were on top of the trench together, and our bayonets glittered as we fired. You would have been proud of your two little lads had you seen them then.

I am pleased to tell you that we are both in the best of health, and what do you think, when I first saw Percy he did not know me until I spoke to him. He said I looked better than I had done for years.

I am sending you a pair of cufflinks which I got from Ypres. I should have been able to send you a helmet, only I broke it – with the head inside. I gave one a “clough” with the butt, and it was heavier than I ever struck in the smithy.

I was sent to the dumping ground for a box for headquarters, and a sniper nearly had me. The bullet struck the back of my cap, but “a miss is as good as a mile”. It shook me for a while, but I soon got over it. I went up with water for Percy the other day, and when I was coming back I saw one of our chaps, named Thomas, shot through the chest on the same road as I had just gone over. They had a machine gun trained on the road.

We have been examined by the doctor this morning, and you know what that means. You will be reading great things shortly now. Have you heard that Joe Betts has been killed? Only a few hours before he shouted to me, “How goes it, Piercy,” and waved his hand. He was a good soldier, and he died a soldier’s death with his rifle to his shoulder, sniping from a sap. Two of them were waiting for him, and one got him in the cheek and the other in the neck.

The total period of his service with the Territorials until his death was recorded in his service record as 6 years and 116 days.

On 23rd November 1915 the Colonel of his Regiment sent a letter to Joseph’s widow, Minnie Betts, enclosing his personal effects. In what can only be described as a callously-worded letter, he said the following and listed the effects:

Madam,

Herewith personal effects of the late No. 704 Sergeant Joseph Betts, 1/4th Batt:South Lancashire Regt.

Please acknowledge receipt hereon and return to me.

K. Hodgkinson Colonel, Officer i/c Terr: Force Records

....

Tobacco Pouch,

Purse

Match Box Case

Keys

Whistle

Pencil

Note Book

Diary

Letters and Photographs

2 Writing Cases

Medal Ribbon

On 9th December 1915 a letter was sent to the Officer in charge of Records stating that Minnie had been awarded a pension of 22 shillings a week for herself and two children, with effect from 20th December.

Joseph died in the Ypres salient and, in common with so many of his comrades, has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres.

Unfortunately, when we visited the Menin Gate we looked on Panel 37, where the CWGC says he is commemorated, and could not find his name. We cannot, therefore, include a photograph of his memorial stone yet.

It is said on the Ancestry Website that he is actually commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, which seems unlikely given the date on which he died.

Joseph is also commemorated on the Earlestown War Memorial.

He was awarded the 1915 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.