NOT FORGOTTEN: 1914 – (1) Private Joseph Arthur Poulton
Private Joseph Arthur Poulton
9th (Queens Royal) Lancers.
Died of wounds: 29th September 1914 at Longueval, Aisne, France.
Joseph Arthur Poulton was born on Lambay Island on the 23rd April 1876, one of eight children born to John and Johanna Poulton. Joseph was baptised in St Philip and St James’ Church Booterstown on the 26th October 1876. The family lived at No 7 Anglesea Avenue, Blackrock and were members of Christ Church Carysfort.
Joseph was a veteran of the Boer War of 1899 -1902, having joined the 9th Lancers, a cavalry unit as a Trooper (Private). He took part in a raid into the Orange Free State in January 1900, where the 9th Lancers were at the head of the charge. In 1901 the 9th Lancers headed into Cape Colony in pursuit of Boer Commando units. With the ending of the Boer war in 1902, Joe returned to Ireland, but remained a reservist with the 9th Lancers.
At the outbreak of the Great War in August 1914, Joe as a reservist, was amongst the first to be re-called to the colours and ordered to return immediately to his regiment. Joe arrived in France on the 27th August 1914 as part of a draft of replacements for the many 9th Lancers who had become casualties over the last month. The Battalion was now billeted at Longueval, close to the Aisne. The battalion war diary for the 15th September 1914 noted that “a draft of 112 other ranks and 4 officers arrived at the billets”. This draft included Pte. J. A. Poulton.
The next few days were quiet for the lancers, the only thing of note being a church parade. But on 29th September 1914, the billets were shelled by the Germans and seventeen Lancers and one officer were killed. One of the casualties was Pte. Joseph Arthur Poulton.
In an ironic twist of fate, Joe who had survived two years in the Boer War and had been a reservist for another twelve years, died after only four days in action with his regiment. He had not fired a single shot or even seen the enemy; one of the first victims of the new deadly long range artillery fire.
Pte. Joseph Arthur Poulton is buried along with his seventeen comrades at Longueval Communal Cemetery, Aisne France.
Michael Lee
September 2014