Private 27279 Joe Kirk

8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment.

Killed in action in the France and Flanders Campaign on the 11th April 1917 aged 28 years.

He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. Pas de Calais, France. Panel Ref: Bay 5

He lived on Cross Green, Rothley with his wife Sarah Jane Kirk and daughters Win and Gladys. Born in Oadby, son of Thomas and Mary A. Kirk and brother to Tom, Fred, Ellen and Clara.

Named on the War Memorial, Parish Church Roll of Honour, Parish Church Triptych Roll of Honour.

The War Diary entry for the events from the 5th to the 14th April 1917 records:
The battalion moved forward and occupied the outpost line on the HENIN-CROISILLES ROAD. "D" and "C" Companies held the front line of posts in the sunken roads T.17.d and a. due north of CROISILLES, "B" Company were in support in the sunken road running through T.16.b., 17.a. and c. "A" Company in reserve in the sunken road T.21.d. Battalion HQ in the railway embankment T20.d.80.25. The battalion held this line until the night of the 12th/13th April, patrols were sent out continually at night and contact was established with the enemy.? in dispositions was made as follows:-
On the 9th April Battalion HQ moved up to the sunken road in T.22.a.20.35, ? then "A" Company from reserve relieved "D" Company in the front line as a consequence of heavy casualties suffered by "D" Company who had lost 4 officers and 15 other ranks on the night of the 10th/11th April from enemy shell fire. 2nd Lt W.H.BENNETT was killed and 2nd Lt's MESNY, DOUGLAS and UNDERWOOD (died of wounds 16th April) being wounded. On the morning of the 12th April "D" Company under Major T.L.WARNER carried out a minor enterprise in conjunction with the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT and the 64th Infantry Brigade. The operation was to bomb down the HINDENBURG TRENCH and take up a line close to and on three sides to FONTAINE-LES-CROISILLES. "D" Company continued the line of attack on the right of the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT, who were to keep in touch with the line of the attack of the 64th Infantry Brigade, but were to remain outside the wire of the HINDENBURG LINE. The operations were held up, very early in the day owing to the failure in supply of bombs. Major WARNER using every bit of cover afforded by the folds in the ground remained with "D" Company out in the open until midnight 12th/13th April, during which time the Company suffered casualties to 20 other ranks, 8 being killed. The same night the Battalion was relieved by the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. Bivouacked in MOYENVILLE whence it marched to ADINFER and bivouacked on the 14th April.