Main CPGW Record
Surname: HIRD
Forename(s): Joseph
Place of Birth: Eskdale, Cumberland
Service No: 13548
Rank: L/Corporal
Regiment / Corps / Service: Border Regiment
Battalion / Unit: 8th (Service) Battalion
Division: 25th Division
Age: 35
Date of Death: 1918-05-27
Awards: M.M.
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: ---
CWGC Cemetery: ---
CWGC Memorial: SOISSONS MEMORIAL
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: GARGRAVE, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Joseph Hird was the son of William and Esther Hird, née Hartley and brother of Corporal John Hird, 14773, 7th Bn Border Regiment, killed in action, 21 October 1917. Both parents were born at Eskdale, Cumberland.
1891 Eskdale, Cumberland Census: Hollinghow - Joseph Hird, aged 6, born Eskdale, son of William and Esther Hird.
1901 Eskdale, Cumberland Census: Hollinghow - Joseph Hird, aged 16, born Eskdale, son of William and Esther Hird.
Joseph was married to Jane Sharpe in 1908. Jane married John Bateson in 1920.
1911 Eskdale, Cumberland Census: Randlehow - Joseph Hird, aged 26 years, born Eskdale, husband of Jane Hird.
The British Army Service Record for Joseph Hird exists but may be incomplete.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Joseph Hird (M.M.), 13548, 8/Bord. R. Theatre of War first served in: (1) France. Date of entry therein: 26.9.15. K. in A. 27.8[sic].18.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte Joseph Hird M.M., 13548, 8th Border Regt.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: L/Cpl (unpaid), Joseph Hird, 13548, 8 Bn Border. Date and Place of Death: 27.5.18 in Action. France. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Widow - Jane. £16 0s. 10d. Grantees and Executors - Henry Victor and Sharpe [Hird]. £17 10s. 0d.
UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: card(s) exist for Joseph. Name(s) on card(s): Widow: Jane Hird/Bateman, remarried. born 16.7.88. Address: Swan Hotel, Gargrave Leeds, Yorks. Children: Margery Hird, born 11.10.08. William Sharpe Hird, born 27.7.10. Joseph Roger Hird, born 7.4.12.
Joseph was killed in action during the Battle of the Aisne, 1918, 27 May-6 June.
Joseph and his brother John are commemorated at St. Peter's Church, Drigg, Cumberland.
The 1921 Census shows that Joseph's widow Jane (born Eskdale, Cumberland), husband John and her three children, were living at Bond End [Skipton Road], Gargrave. The 1939 Register shows that Jane, husband John and Jane's son William S. Hird were living at Elverdinghe, Skipton Road, Gargrave. Jane died in 1978: Lancaster Registration District.
A short biography of Joseph is included in: ‘From Mills to Marching and Back Again – A History of Gargrave from 1900 to 1925’ by Sue Lyall and Donavon Slaven with contributions from George Ingle, Ray Jones and Martin Thompson (2019).
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
HIRD, Stretcher Bearer, aged 35, Swan Hotel, [Gargrave], killed in action May 27, 1918.
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L/Corporal Joseph HIRD
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Border Regiment
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 25th Division
View Additional Image(s)
Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records
Soissons Memorial, Aisne, France
Courtesy of Paul R (Find a Grave website)
Amerval Communal Cemetery Extension, Solesmes, France
CWGC Headstone
Courtesy of Len (Find a Grave website)
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
14 June 1918
Mr. Joseph Hird, Gargrave
Last weekend Mrs. Hird, of the Swan Hotel, Gargrave, received news that her husband, a stretcher-bearer, had been killed when assisting in removing a wounded comrade on May 27th. Mr. Hird, a native of Eskdale, in Cumberland, was thirty-five years of age and joined up about three years ago. His brother, John, was serving along with him at the time, and in a letter says:– “He had just got on the top to help to bring in one of our men who had been wounded when a German machine gun opened out and a bullet hit him in the head and killed him instantly. He never spoke a word.”
His body was buried close to where he fell in ground now occupied by the enemy. The Vicar very feelingly referred to his death in his Sunday evening sermon, and Mr. Burland played the Dead March in Saul on the organ, the congregation standing meanwhile.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
14 June 1918
CRAVEN AND THE WAR
Gargrave Soldier Killed
Last week-end Mrs. Hird, of the Swan Hotel, Gargrave, received news that her husband, a stretcher bearer, had been killed when assisting in removing a wounded comrade on May 27th. Mr. Hird, a native of Eskdale in Cumberland, was 35 years of age, and joined up about three years ago. His brother John was serving along with him at the time, and in a letter says:– “He had just got on the top to help to bring in one of our men who had been wounded, when a German machine gun opened out and a bullet hit him in the head and killed him instantly He never spoke a word.” His body was buried close to where he fell in the ground now occupied by the enemy. The Vicar very feelingly referred to his death in his Sunday evening sermon, and Mr. Burlend placed the ‘Dead march’ in ‘Saul’ on the organ, the congregation standing meanwhile.
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