J Tarrant Pte W

Joseph Lawrence Tarrant was born at Kington St Michael, Wiltshire, on 9th April, 1876 and was baptised at the Parish Church on 4th June. He was the son of William Tarrant, an agricultural labourer, and his wife, Helena. The family lived in the High Street, Kington St Michael.

Joseph attended Kington St Michael Church of England School until just before his tenth birthday. He then worked for a while as an agricultural labourer. By 1901 father and son appear to have moved into the construction industry: William had become a builder's teamster and Joseph was working as a mason's labourer.

In 1904 Joseph married Kathleen Fry. Kathleen had been brought up at the Red Bull Inn, Brokenborough, which may explain why by the time of the birth of their oldest son, William, in 1908, they had taken over the Mill Inn, Corston. In the 1911 census Joseph is recorded as a self-employed Bricklayer and Inn Keeper.

At some time after the 1911 census, Joseph moved to Highley.

Joseph enlisted at Bewdley soon after the outbreak of war. He served with the 10th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, going to France with his battalion in July 1915. Joseph was killed in action a year later on 3rd July, 1916, during the Battle of Albert. In this opening battle of the 1916 Somme Campaign, Joseph's Division captured La Boisselle. Joseph is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to those who died on the Somme and who have no known grave.

Private Joseph Tarrant, 18742 Worcestershire Regiment, was awarded the Victory and British War Medals and the 1915 Star.

Photograph of Joseph Tarrant courtesey of Dennis Rowles.