Fallen Soldiers
Joseph TYRER
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Regiment
Rank / Number
Regiment
Rank / Number
Date of Birth
Date of Death
Grave / Memorial
Rainhill remembers on . . .
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Royal Army Veterinary Corps
Private / 01692
Royal Tank Corps
Gunner / 231218
1894
8th October 1918 aged 24
Brass Plaque St. Ann's Church
Family Grave St. Ann's Churchyard St. Ann's War Memorial Warrington Road Cenotaph Prescot Grammar School Memorial |
Private Joseph Tyrer pictured at the start of WWI.
Stoney Lane Farm
Joseph Tyrer was born in 1894 and lived in Stoney Lane Farm. He was the youngest child of John and Esther Tyrer who had 3 daughters and four other sons, all of whom worked on the farm.
He was educated at Prescot Grammar School and before he joined the army, Joseph was an Auctioneer's clerk working for F.W. Halsall
Joseph Tyrer on horseback
He enlisted in Preston as Private 01692. Royal Veterinary Corps. The Corps was responsible for the medical care of animals used in the army - predominately horses, mules and pigeons. During WWI the Corps was reorganised to provide a mobile Veterinary section as part of each division that went overseas. With his farming background, Joseph must have felt he was suitable for a veterinary unit.
later Joseph became a gunner (No 231218) in the Royal Garrison Artillery.
Joseph wrote home to his mother before leaving for France.
On 20th June 1917, he married Annie Taylor and they had a son called Joseph, born 14th April 1918.
The Tank Corps was formed on 27th July 1917 with each Battalion comprising of 32 officers and 374 men. At some stage, Joseph must have transferred to the Tank Corps, 12th Battalion.
Tanks were increasingly being used during the Allied Advance from the early summer of 1918 when 604 Allied tanks assisted in a 20 mile advance on the Western Front. Between August and November 1918, 2400 men became casualties and Joseph died just one month before the Armistice was signed.
Private Joseph Tyrer, 112819 was killed in action at Crevecoeur on 8th October 1918, aged 24 and he is commemorated on Prescot Grammar School's Roll of Honour and on the family grave in St. Ann's Churchyard. He is buried at Marcong British Cemetery in France and was awarded posthumously the British War Medal and the Victory medal.
Acknowledgement: - John Yates, Mary Jones and Stephen Nulty (Prescot Roll of Honour)
Family grave in St Ann's Churchyard, Rainhill
The CWGC grave stone of Joseph Tyrer.