FLEMING, Joseph

Joseph Fleming was the son of Mr and Mrs W. Fleming of 50 Spring Street, Lye. He volunteered for the Worcesters and in January 1916 joined the 3rd Battalion on the Western Front. In 1915 they had been fighting at Ploegsteert and Prowse Point but in late June 1916 they went into the front line on the Somme. On the 3rd July they followed up the failed attack on the Thiepval ridge and attempted to capture the Leipzig Redoubt. They fought for three days in the maze of trenches in this enemy strong-point and suffered heavy losses. Private Joseph Fleming was killed by shell-fire on the 7th July when he was in a trench helping stretcher-bearers tend the wounded. He was 19 years of age and is commemorated on the Thiepval and Lye and Wollescote Memorials.