SKINNER, Joseph

Joseph Skinner was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Skinner of 25 The Dock, Lye, and worked for some years in the enamelling department of Messrs Eveson Bros. of Wollescote. He enlisted in the King's Own Hussars in March 1916 and in December was transferred to the 16th Battalion of the Warwicks. In early 1917 they were near Vimy and took part in the highly successful attack of the 9th April north of Arras. They were engaged in a second success at Oppy Wood in June and then moved to Flanders for the third stage of the Third Battle of Ypres. On the 4th October they attacked in the dark along the Menin Road near Polygon Wood in a vast wilderness of mud, shell-holes and shattered tree stumps. German pill-boxes were difficult to overcome but a creeping barrage helped them to their first objectives within an hour. Among the wounded was Private Joseph Skinner, who was taken to a Casualty Clearing Station 10 miles to the rear. He died of wounds on the 7th October and is buried in Godewaersvelde British Cemetery (I F 26). He was 23 years of age and is commemorated on the Lye and Wollescote and Lye church Memorials.