Joseph Charles Nash
Memorial: Dyrham - St Peter's Church
Regiment: Gloucestershire Regiment
Medals: British War Medal, Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Victory Medal
Rank and number: Private 20218
Parents: Albert and Harriet Nash
Home address: 8 Dyrham (Lower) Street, Dyrham
Date of birth: 1887
Place of birth: Dyrham
Date of death: 05/11/1916
Buried/Commemorated at: Warlen Court British Cemetery, France
Age: 29
Further information:
Joseph Nash was the son of Albert and Harriet Nash of 8 Dyrham (Lower) Street, Dyrham. Their next door neighbours, the Andrews of number 10 also lost a son, Alfred in February 1917
Joseph was a Private in the 6th Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment. From his service number, he probably joined up just before the outbreak of the war in July1914 as a Territorial
Joseph was killed in action in the battle of Ancre Heights on 5th November 1916, aged 29. He is commemorated in the Warlen Court British Cemetery in France
The 6th Battalion was part of the 144th brigade, 48th Division (South Midland). The 48th Division was held largely in reserve during the intense fighting of the first few days of the Battle of the Somme (Battle of Albert: 1-13th July 1916), but some brigades saw action. Possibly due to losses the Division was replaced by the Reserve Army on the fourth day of the battle. Ten days later, on 16th July, it was involved as part of the Reserve Army in the Battle of Bazentin Ridge (14th-17th July) and captured Ovillers. On 23rd July, the Division, as part of the Reserve Army, was involved in the Battle of Pozieres (23rd July-3 September)
On the 5th November, the day of Joseph's death, the Battalion may have been involved in the support of the unsuccessful attack on the Butte de Warencourt, a Roman mound of excavated chalk, about 17 metres high which the Germans used for their artillery in the Battle of Ancre Heights
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
Edward Walsh
Commonwealth War Graves Commission