Joseph Sloan

Died on the 02/11/1914 of Tetanus in Cork Military Hospital. Wounds received at the Battle of Langemarck (part of the 1st Battle of Ypres)

Joseph was wounded on the 21/10/1914 and was transferred to Cork Military Hospital where he died of tetanus (contracted while on service) on the 02/11/1914. JOSEPH RECEIVED HIS WOUNDS JUST 15 DAYS AFTER ARRIVING AT ZEEBRUGGE. Around 1904, when he was 23, he left for Scotland in search of work and found employment in Coatbridge. He served in the Royal Scots Fusiliers prior to the war and was called up when war was declared. Joseph and the Battalion arrived in Zeebrugge aboard S.S. "Cymric" on the 06/10/1914 and were part of the 21st Brigade, 7th Division. Joseph served in the front line almost continuously until he was wounded on 21/10/1914 at the Battle of Langemarck, 21st - 24th October 1914. This was part of the Battles of Ypres (First Ypres), 19th October - 22nd November 1914 : Often known as the First Battle of Ypres, this is a series of named battles that also form part of the outflanking encounter. It becomes a desperate epic fight east of the city of Ypres which finally results in stalemate and entrenched warfare. It takes place at the same time as the Battle of the Yser, fought nearby by the Belgian Army against the Germans, and the Battles to the south at Messines, Armentieres and La Bassee. SEE PHOTOS x 15 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY OCTOBER 1914. Joseph arrived at hospital in Cork a week later and died on the 2nd November. His sister, Mrs. Cheevers, had received a number of letters from the Chaplain of the Hospital, Reverend J.H. Murphy, telling her of Joseph's condition. The Chaplain conducted the funeral service on the 03/11/1914 with the burial in Grangegorman Cemetery, Cork. News of his death from wounds was received with shock in Coatbridge where he was fondly remembered as an active member of East United Free Church and as a keen player with Summerlee Britannia Football Club in Coatbridge. Joseph was survived by a brother and two sisters and is commemorated on Cookstown Cenotaph and on and the Roll of Honour in St. Luran's Parish Church. This was inserted by his family (see photos x 4 for Mid Ulster Mail) : "Now the labourer's task is o'er, now the battle day has passed, now upon the farther shore, lands the voyager at last, father, in thy gracious keeping, leave me now thy servants sleeping". Joseph was a member of Loyal Orange Lodge 133, Coatbridge District 22. In front of the Grangegorman Memorial in Dublin stand 83 headstones, memorials to British First World War dead who are actually buried in Cork Military Cemetery, but whose graves there could not, for various reasons, be properly maintained. Joseph's main grave photo is the headstone in Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Dublin. He was a member of Loyal Orange Lodge 133, Coatbridge District 22. See photos for Joseph's name on the embroidered fall which is held within the Lodge. Many thanks to the Lodge who provided the photo. The Lodge was founded on the 08/06/1906 by 11 Ulstermen hence the name The Loyal Sons of Ulster LOL133. Joseph is also remembered on the Maxwell Parish Church, East United Free Church, St. Luran's Church, Stewarts and Lloyds Rolls of Honour and also on the Cookstown War Memorial x 3 (see photos for Scottish Poppy placed at Joseph's name by my good friend Richard Lee x 2). See photos for Joseph's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clipping, his listing in De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour, his listing in the Ireland Casualties WW1, his listing in the Scotland's Orange Lodges at War booklet, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, the 83 Headstone Memorials in Grangegorman Cemetery, Dublin x 6, the Royal Scots Fusiliers Cap Badge, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2 and another photo of Joseph.