NIGHTINGALE, Joseph Pte. 15447

Joseph Nightingale was born in Withnell near Chorley in May 1888. He married Ellen Henry at St. George’s in Chorley in 1906, having three children – John (born 1908), Joseph (born 1909) and James (born 1915). In 1901 he was living at Feniscliffe Farm at Cherry Tree near Blackburn with his widowed mother, Ellen. By 1911 he was living with wife and family at 55 Preston Street in Chorley, working as a Clay Miner. He enlisted in the Pals on the 18th September 1914 giving his address as 45 Lyons Lane, working as a Labourer at Chorley Wagon Works; he was known to attend St. George’s Church in the town.

Like many other Chorley Pals, he was wounded at Serre on the 1st July 1916 and his medical record clearly catalogues the pain and suffering he endured. Joseph received bullet wounds to the right side of his body – in his shoulder, arm, thigh and foot. He was shipped back from the battlefield in France to the 1st London General Hospital, spending 77 days there from the 6th July to the 20th September 1916. He then spent 58 days at Streatham Red Cross Auxiliary Hospital where his medical record stated “wound re-opened and shrapnel removed”. He was returned to the 1st London Hospital again for a further 114 days, leaving on the 10th March 1917; he spent a total of nine months in hospital.

A medical board convened at Preston on the 5th April 1917 listed his wounds and injuries: “Scar to elbow joint & forearm; four scars in shoulder joint – cannot lift arm without assistance, limb wasted. Wound above right knee cap (healed); perforating wound in right foot. He was discharged from the Army on the 26th April 1917 but still had to attend medical reviews for his pension. On the 2nd August 1918 it was noted that “wound in foot painful at times” whilst on the 24th February 1920 it was reported that his grip from his right hand was “weak”.

Joseph Nightingale died in Chorley in 1953.