Joseph Sharples
Joseph Sharples was born in Brindle on the 3rd December 1893, the son of Alice and Robert Sharples. He lived at Bay Tree Farm in Clayton-le-Woods for most of his life. The records at Brindle St. James’ Church show that Joseph was baptised there on the 11th February 1894, beginning a lifelong association with the church where he sang in the choir each Sunday. A single man, the 1911 Census had him working on the family farm but upon enlisting in the Pals in September 1914 he was working at Swansey Mill in Whittle-le-Woods.
It was known that Joseph was wounded sometime during his active service (but not at Serre on the 1st July 1916). He died in his bed at Bay Tree Farm on the 22nd February 1919 and was interred in Brindle St. James’ churchyard five days later on the 27th. A copy of Joseph Sharples death certificate gave his cause of death as influenza (probably the Spanish flu strain that was sweeping through Europe at the time) and double pneumonia. The certificate stated that he was a Farm Labourer, rather than a serving solider.
Other Information: Joseph was a neighbour of fellow Chorley Pals, Percy and James Allsup.
