LATHAM, Joseph

Joseph Latham was the son of Joseph and Mary Ann Latham of 8 Round Hill Lane, Hurst Hill, Blackheath. He enlisted in the South Staffords and went to the 9th (Service) Battalion which in 1916 became the Pioneer Battalion for the 23rd Division. Pioneers operated across the Division in detachments and for the Third Battle of Ypres were particularly busy behind the front line in the attacks along the Menin Road in late August. On the 26th the Germans counter-attacked in force with flame-throwers and intense shelling and this continued for several days. At one point there was hand-to-hand fighting in the trenches. Private Joseph Latham was killed in action on the 31st August and is buried in Bedford House Cemetery (Enclosure 2 III C 28) near Zillebeke. He is commemorated on the Blackheath and Halesowen Memorials.