Joseph Small, Age 29

Private, 24425, 1/4th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry.

K.S.L.I Regiment Cap Badge.

Both Joseph and Samuel were the sons of Benjamin & Sarah Small of 8 Crown Street, The Finger, Dawley. The Family had previously lived at 16 Malinslee. Before the war Samuel worked as a brick maker at the Randley Brick & Tile Works and had done so for 14 years, His brother Joseph had been employed as an insurance agent.

Joseph wrote home shortly after his brother’s death saying that “All Dawley people ought to be proud of Sgt Langford, I do not think there could be a better N. C. O in all the British army” (Joseph was right as Sgt Langford went on to win the DCM & MM). He goes on to say “That I had spent two hours near the place where Sam was buried without knowing that he had been killed, if I had known I could have visited his grave”

Joseph was to meet his death during the German March offensive of 1918. It is unclear to his exact date of death as the 1/4th KSLI were involved in continually fighting from the 21st to the 26th March and accordingly there is some confusion to Joseph’s date of death. Soldiers died listing him as being killed on the 26th and the Commonwealth war graves commission listing him as KIA sometime between the 23rd — 26th.

He may have been killed when on the 25th the right flank was practically enveloped and casualties’ heavy forcing a further withdrawal or the 26th when what was left of the battalion charged the Germans with bayonets fixed at Hebuterne. If he did fall on the 26th he died alongside Private L Lowe (21277 1/4th KSLI) a fellow Dawley soldier.

Joseph’s body was recovered presumably at a later date when the ground was retaken as he lies in Doullens Communal Cemetery extension Nol in grave V.A.83. Doullens is approximately 20 miles to the north of Hebuterne.

Joseph with his wife and son, Photo courtesy of Dave Shaw.

WWI Medal Rolls Index Card

Commonwealth War Graves
Buried Doullens Communal Cemetery

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Victory Medal	British War Medal