BORN COTTINGHAM 1892. SON OF ALBERT & MARTHA (ADKINS) GRANTHAM ABOVE. LISTED WITH AARON ON THE COTTINGHAM WAR MEMORIAL. HIS PHOTOGRAPH WAS PRINTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL ON 26TH OCTOBER 1914. *
Joshua Grantham (born 1892) was the son of Albert, a labourer, and Martha Grantham, who lived at West Green. They had another son, George, who was also killed in the war, on the 20th July 1916. When war was declared in August 1914, Joshua had already joined the army and was in the 2nd Batallion of the Coldstream Guards at Aldershot. Although in his letter (below) printed in the Beverley Guardian, Joshua says he has been made a Sergeant. According to military records he was a Lance Corporal. He is buried in Ypres. Joshua’s death was reported in the Beverley Guardian on November 28th with his picture, and his last letters to his family were printed a week later on December 5th.
This letter to his sweetheart is dated November 18th, and is as follows:-
How you must have been wondering what has become of me; it is such a long time since I had an opportunity of writing. I have not been with the Battalion since September 2nd. I got lost and after wandering about for two days joined the 1st Cheshire Regiment, and have been with them ever since. I have been in some pretty hot corners, but never so hot as Friday 16th. I was leading about 30 men down a road about 12 o’clock midnight when we suddenly rang bang into the Germans, and it’s a wonder we weren’t all done in. As soon as they fred on us we dropped into a ditch and let them have it hot and strong, and after a while succeeded in driving them back, but not before they had killed one and wounded four of us. After we had been ordered to retire three officers and I went back to fetch the wounded, and were chased again, but we eventually succeeded in getting three away, and the others were found in the morning after the enemy had been finally driving off. Our Captain was wounded, and he recommended me for the Distinguished Conduct Medal, but whether I shall get it or not I don’t know. Anyhow, I’ve done my duty up to now, and am ready to do it again as soon as necessary. I should be glad if you could send me some sweets and Woodbines. It has been dreadful not hearing from home for so long, but I couldn’t let you know where i was before. How are you all at home. I am well enough, but I am getting very tired and worn out, but am keeping at it, and I hope I shall come though all right. How many boys from
Cottingham have enlisted since the outbreak of the war. I hear they have been asking for recruits everywhere, so I hope some of them had the pluck to chance it. We can do with some reinforcements. I have only had my clothes off since we came out, as for a bed, I shall not know how to get out of one if I ever get in one again. We had been in the trench for fve days.”
