Name
Joseph Richard Allwood
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/07/1917
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
265900
Hertfordshire Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 54 and 56.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St James' Church Memorial, Watford Fields, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Son of Minerva Annie (nee JONES or maybe JAMES) ALLWOOD of Watford, and Joseph James ALLWOOD.
His parents married 15 February 1885 at St Thomas’, Stepney, London. Joseph died 1925 in Watford aged 61, and was buried 1 January 1926 in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Minerva died 1930 in Watford aged 63, and was buried 17 April, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Joseph was born 7 August 1894 in Wapping, London, and baptised 4 September 1894 at St Peter’s, London Docks. He attended first Red Lion Yard Infants’ School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 3 February to 26 March 1902. He resided in Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 6 he lived in Mile End Old Town, London, the grandson of Joseph and Harriet ALLWOOD. On the 1911 Census, a golf caddie aged 16, he lived in Watford, with his parents and seven siblings.
Officially recorded as living in Watford when he enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
He enlisted 21 September 1914 in Hertford, four years service with the Territorial Force Hertfordshire Regiment: aged 20, 5’6½” tall. He was at Home 21 September to 9 July 1915, and in France 10 July 1915 to 31 July 1917.
He was wounded at Cambrai 7 September 1915, gassed 27 September 1915 and sent to No. 6 Field Ambulance. On 2 September 1916 he suffered a sprained ankle whilst carrying bombs in a communication trench, and was sent to No. 133 Field Ambulance. He was awarded 7 days Field Punishment no. 2 for hesitating to obey an order on 30 March 1917, and was granted leave to England from 9 July to 19 July 1917.
He was formerly Private 3232 Hertfordshire Regiment; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 10 July 1915, and was killed in action, officially regarded as having died on or since 31 July 1917, one of 147 men of the Hertfordshire Regiment who lost their lives in the Battle of St Julien.
The 1st Hertfordshire Battalion were in support of an attack on the Langemarck Line and a general bombardment of the German lines commenced at 3.45am on the 31st July and and the planned assault began. It had three objectives to achieve known as Blue, Black & Green and units of the 116th Brigade easily captured the first two objectives, preparing the way for the forward companies of the Hertfordshire battalion, to take the third objective.
They had marched from Vlamertinge to their assembly position arriving by midnight on the 30th/31st July 1917. A general bombardment of the German lines commenced at 3.45am on the 31st July. At 05.00am the Hertfordshires left their assembly positions to attack their objective, which lay over the crest of a ridge.
As they made their way forward they came under heavy fire from both German machine guns and snipers but after eliminating a German strongpoint moved up towards St. Juliaan, which was only lightly held. The Battalion crossed the Steenbeek with some difficulty and two of its supporting Tanks became bogged down in the mud. Things then went from bad to worse. A pre-arranged artillery barrage never materialised due to the guns being unable to move forward over the muddy terrain and the German barbed wire defences, which were fifteen feet deep in some places, were found to still be intact. It was soon realised that ground could only be won by section "rushes" supported by the unit’s own fire.
The Cheshire Regiment were on the right of the battalion but the Black Watch, who were due to cover the left flank, had been seriously delayed. This left the Hertfordshire Regiment seriously exposed, the Germans exploited this by bringing a hurricane of fire down upon the stricken troops. This was followed by a German counter-attack and by 10.30am it was clear that the objective could not be achieved. Casualties were very heavy with 459 men being killed, missing or wounded. This was 100% of its Officers and about 75% of its Other Ranks.
Additional Information
Note that the regimental memorial list J E Allwood who we believe to be this man: J R Allwood.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk, Glenda Lake
