Lance/Sgt.William Joll
7266 8th East Lancashire Regiment
Killed in Action 15th July 1916,
Somme France, aged 28
Lived at 14 Bivell St.
Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial France
Commemorated on the Holy Trinity Memorial
Burnley Express 5th August 1916

The 8th East Lancashire’s were involved in an assault on Pozieres near Albert, they assembled on the La Boiselle-Contalmaison Rd. and were deployed behind Contalmaison wood. The attack was launched after a 1 hour artillery bombardment and was met with heavy machine gun and shell fire from the Germans. The ground to be covered was approximately 1000 yards and they suffered heavy losses as the Germans left their trenches and fought hand to hand, driving back the East Lancashire’s who had 1 officer and 56 other ranks killed and 8 officers and 309 other ranks killed or missing.
William, who had previously been wounded in the head in February 1916, had a brother named Jack who received the Military Medal in the Great War, and a brother, also called William, who was to serve for 5 years in the Second World War.

RAILWAY GUARD KILLED (Burnley Express 5/8/1916)

Official news was received on Tuesday, by Mrs. Joll, of 14, Bivell-street, Burnley, that her husband, Lce-Sergt. (7266) William Joll, of the 8th East Lancashire Regt., had been killed in action in France on July 15. The sergeant, who was aged 28 years, and was employed by the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Co. as a guard, volunteered for service shortly after hostilities commenced. He had been out in France over twelve months, and shortly before coming home on furlough four months ago he was wounded in the hand. He attended St. Aidan’s Mission.