Bancroft,+Joseph

Brother of Sam Bancroft

Serjeant, 1st/4th Bn., Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment). Service No: 200453 Date of Death: 4th May 1918 Awards: D. C. M., M. M. TYNE COT MEMORIAL, Panel 82 to 85 and 162A.
 * Joseph Bancroft**


 * Distinguished Conduct Medal gazetted on 1st October 1918:**

30932. 11659 FOURTH SUPPLEMENT TO The London Gazette, OF TUESDAY, the 1st of OCTOBER, 1918. THURSDAY, 3 OCTOBER, 1918. War Office, 3rd October, 1918. His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve, of the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal to the undermentioned Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and Men, for gallantry and distinguished service in the field:

200453 Sjt. J. Bancroft, M.M., W. Rid. R. (Keighley). For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. After the enemy had been driven off with severe loss by the rifle fire of his company, Sjt. Bancroft the same afternoon and three times next day took out a patrol and went over 800 yards securing identifications from enemy dead, and bringing back valuable information regarding the enemy's dispositions. He had only recently been wounded, and set a splendid example of devotion to duty.

Joseph Bancroft is commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial and also on the Cowling Cenotaph.

He was born in 1892 in Oakworth, and joined up in 1915. He originally went out to France in April 1915, serving in the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment and was both wounded and gassed whilst there. We are fortunate that he wrote many letters back to his friends and family, and here are some of the things he mentioned. In a letter received in May 1915 by an Addingham friend he says, //“Our platoon in the 4th Battalion was fetching rations one day and it was a very risky job, going about a mile under fire with no cover. We are just getting used to it, and we have only had one killed so far even though we have been here ten days. I am enjoying myself… “If only he had more Woodbines!”// In a letter to his parents, dated 12th May 1915 he says, //“ We got through the big battle all right. We were kept in the reserve trenches all night and the next day, and then they took us up to the front line when the battle had been on all day. We were at it all night, and in the morning our trench was shelled and we had two killed and some wounded with one shell, but it was a sight when the big battle was on. The guns started at five o’clock in the morning and the noise was enough to make anyone deaf. Then in two hours the infantry charged after which there were wounded men coming down all day. At the beginning of the charge a General got on top of the trench to give the men the word to come on, and was shot dead. Some regiments had hardly any men left. We have now had a month in the trenches and have I have just had my cloths off once since I came, and had one bath, but someone has to put up with it. They keep saying the war cannot last long. We shall be glad to get away from here”// In another latter sent to his parents dated 18th May 1915 after coming out of the trenches after six days he says //“ Yesterday was the anniversary of Waterloo and we had flags up on top of the trenches all day. At daybreak we waited to see what the Germans would do. About dinnertime they put up two black flags in front of us, but soon put them down. At night when we took the flags down some of them had half-a-dozen holes in them. We have recently done a bit of haymaking in front of our trench during the night because the grass was about five feet high, and it had to be cut to enable us to see across”.// He sent word to his parents in a letter received in July 1915, that he was in hospital in France, but did not give the cause of his being there. He said he had been in the trenches for several months. A letter sent by him to his parents in August 1916, informed them that he had been wounded, and was currently in hospital in France. He said //“ I have bad news for you this time: I was hit last night with a piece of shell at the back of my shoulder. We were making a night attack, and had just got back to the trench when a shell dropped amongst my half of the platoon. Only two of us were hit, and I think I got off lucky”// In a letter received the day before he was wounded he said, //“ I have been promoted to full Corporal, so you see I am not doing so very bad”// By January 1917, he had been awarded the Military Medal for ‘meritorious conduct on the battlefield’, and in a communication from the Major-General of the 49th West Riding Division it was stated that //“he had distinguished himself in the field from 18th to 22nd January 1917 during which time an officer was shot through the head and Sergeant Bancroft assisted in bringing him back to the trenches”// An article in the local press dated 29th March 1918 reported that Sergeant Joe Bancroft of the West Riding Regiment had been wounded in the head. His parents received official news that he had been killed in action on 4th May 1918. The letter went on to state //“ I am awfully grieved to tell you of your son’s death. He along with others was left in the line to assist a famous foreign battalion and it appears that he was accidentally killed by a shell. There are thousands of very brave men out here, but I have to say I have never seen a man so utterly indifferent and regardless of personal danger as your son. After one German attack, which was repulsed with very heavy losses to the enemy, your son went out about eight times on patrol close to the enemy’s position. He had already gained the Military Medal and I have recommended him for the DCM for great gallantry, and I sincerely hope it will be awarded. I can ill afford to loose such men as your son, as his influence on his comrades was great, and enabled them to hold out in many a tight corner. You and your family can be proud all your life of your son’s record in this terrible war, and I can say most sincerely that I never came across a braver man”.// Joe was 25 years old when he died, and was buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery in Belgium. He was awarded the DCM posthumously, and in the London Gazette of 1st October 1918 it was reported as follows: //“His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal for the following officer…// //200453 Sjt J Bancroft M.M,// //For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. After the enemy had been driven off with severe loss by the rifle fire of his company, Sjt Bancroft the same afternoon and three times the next day took out a patrol and went over 800 yards securing identifications from enemy dead, and bringing back valuable information regarding the enemy’s dispositions. He had only recently been wounded, and set a splendid example of devotion to duty.//