5091 PTE. J. BAMFORD.  E.LAN.R.

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Joseph Bamford was born in Bamber Bridge on 1 November 1897.  His father was Daniel Bamford (b. 1870 at Moons Mill, Walton Le Dale), an overlooker in a weaving shed.  His mother was Alice Culshaw (b. 1871 in Bamber Bridge).  Daniel and Alice were married in 1894 and they had 10 children, seven of whom survived infancy:  Elizabeth (b. 1896), then Joe, then Margaret (b. 1900), William (b. 1902), Harry (b. 1908), and Alice (b. 1910).  In 1911, the family was living at 96 Stone Row, School Lane.  Joe (aged 13) had started working across the road at Orr’s Mill, as a weaver.

 

Joe turned 18 in November 1915 so that’s probably when he enlisted.  He joined the East Lancashire Regiment, with service number 5091, and was posted to 2/5 Battalion.  2/5th Battalion was formed at Blackburn in September 1914 as a home service (“second line”) unit.  In November 1914, it moved to Southport and came under command of 198th Brigade in (2nd East Lancashire) Division.  They moved to Burgess Hill in May 1915 but next month to Pease Pottage.  They moved to Crowborough in October 1915 and on to Colchester in March 1916.  It was here that Joe died while still in training.  I don’t know the circumstances of his death.  His body was brought by rail to Brownedge and he is buried in Brownedge St Mary’s Churchyard.

 

Rank:  Private

Service Number:  5091

Date of Death:  24/11/1916

Age:  19

Regiment/Service:  East Lancashire Regiment, 2/5Bn

Cemetery:  BROWNEDGE ST MARY’S CEMETERY

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