JOYNER Albert William

1. Private Albert Joyner was a member of the church choir and the son of William and Mary Joyner who lived in Village Street, Harvington (1901 census). He volunteered as soon as the war broke out leaving Harvington on the 2nd September 1914. He joined the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, which became part of 5th Brigade 2nd Division. The battalion itself had left England on the 12th August, only eight days after war had been declared, and took part in the fighting throughout the autumn and winter of 1914/1915. Albert Joyner arrived in France on the 18th February 1915, and by early March the battalion was billeted in the village of Annequin about 20 miles north of Arras alternating in the front line at Cuinchy about 60 miles south-east of Calais with the 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry in what had now become static trench warfare with frequent artillery and sniper fire an ever present danger even on what were supposedly quiet days.

The Evesham Standard reported that he had been shot through the head and died almost instantly on the 8th March 1915. However, his name is recorded at Le Touret Military memorial on the D171 Bethune to Armentieres road in the Pas de Calais along with over 13000 others who have no known grave. There was a memorial service at Harvington for him on 21st March 1915. He was aged 20.

2. A photograph of Private A.W. Joyner of Evesham can be found in Berrow’s Worcester Journal Supplement, Saturday 20th 1915, available at Worcestershire Archives.