Name
Joseph Henry Tasker (MM)
1 Mar 1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/09/1917
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14319
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Military Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 48 to 50 and 162A.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Letchworth Town Memorial, Central Methodist Church Memorial, Letchworth, Willian Village Memorial
Pre War
John Henry Tasker was born on 1 Mar 1893 in Willian (baptised 30 Apr 1893 in Willian to Joseph Tasker, farm labourer, and Elizabeth (nee Walker).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Clara E (born 1885), Kate V (born 1888), Ernest A (born 1891), Joseph H, Lottie M (born 1890) and Albert J (born 1899) were living at 32, the Terrace, Willian, Hitchin.
On the 1911 Census the family of parents, Ernest A, Joseph H (both farm labourers), Albert J, May (born 1896) together with grandaughter Violet May (born 1906) and Clara Sugden (nee Tasker) and her family of Leslie (born 1910) and a baby (born 1911, Harry) were living at the Terrace, Willian.
His parents later lived at 42 Ridge Avenue, Letchworth, Herts. Harry worked at Ewarts, Letchworth.
Wartime Service
Joseph Henry (known as Harry) enlisted in Sep 1914 as Private 14319 in the Bedfordshire Regiment. Following his training he was posted to 2 Battalion and went to France on 21 Apr 1915 to join that Battalion in ‘A’ Company. The Battalion at that time were a part of 21 Brigade of 7th Division and took part in the Battles of Aubers (9 May), Festubert (15- 25 May) and Loos (25 Sep- 8 Oct).
In Dec 1915 the Battalion and Brigade were transferred into 30th Division taking part in 1916 in the Battles of the Somme at Albert (1-13 Jul) and Le Transloy (1-18 Oct). In 1917 they took part in the Arras Battles at 1st Scarpe (9-14 Apr) and 2nd Scarpe (21-24 Apr) before being transferred to the Ypres Sector and taking part in the Battles of 3rd Ypres (Passchendaele) at Pilkem Ridge (31 Jul-2 Aug) and Menin Road (20-25 Sep). Although the Division were not involved in this last Battle there would lots of return shellfire from the German Artillery landing not only on the attacking troops but also in the back reserve positions to prevent reinforcement of the Allied attack.
Harry was posted missing on 20 Sep 1917 and later his death was presumed to have been that day, His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Ypres.
Past research : Military Medal October 1916. On leave August 1917. Missing in action 2 weeks later. Missing note 26/04/1918.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £13 10s and arrears of £1 1s 1d was paid to his mother.
Brother (not named in previous research) wounded in hand and thigh 1918 and again after.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Dan Hill, Janet Capstick, Jonty Wild
