THE First World War was just five weeks old when Joseph Batty sent a post card from the troop ship carrying him to France, to his wife Eliza and daughter, left behind in Burnley.

The card, dated September 12, 1914, sent from HMT Rohilla, said simply ‘Dear wife, just try and make the best of it now. We got on ship at Southampton. We don’t know were going.

Tell Annie not to forget her daddy.’ His granddaughter Christine Waring of Burnley cannot make out the rest of the sentences on the 100-year-old missive, apart from the words ‘ if chance to write’ and ‘get it as soon as possible’.

It was delivered to the family home at 8, Penny Street.

Joseph, who worked as a collier at Bank Hall Pit, was at camp with the Special Reserves, in which he had served for five years, when war broke out and he arrived at the front towards the end of September, 1914.

He served with the Second Battalion the East Lancashire Regiment , but was later killed in action at Arras in 1918.

In 1915 he returned home , along with another Burnley private, S Malone, on ‘furlough’, to recover from wounds they had both sustained at the Battle of Mons, in an area known privately to the soldiers as ‘Plug Street.’ Joseph had been wounded by shrapnel in the right knee.

In August, 1916, Joseph, now promoted to sergeant, was awarded the Military Medal and Eliza received another letter from him, telling her the news: “Just a few lines, hoping to find you in the best of health, as it leaves me at present.

“I have great pleasure in telling you that I have been awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field, but I don’t know what I got it for – I was only doing my duty.

“I am sure they have made a great fuss of me. My colonel and all the officers have been to congratulate me and said I was most deserving of it.”

At the beginning of 1917, records show Sgt Batty was awarded a bar to his Military Medal for bravery.

But then, only weeks later, Eliza, learned her husband had been killed, receiving an official notification from the records office in Preston, as well as a letter from an officer, second Lieutenant H K Roberts of Accrington, who commended the soldier.

He told her: “I deeply regret to inform you of the death of your husband, Sergeant J. Batty, who was killed in action on February 16th. I don't know whether you have already received news of his death, but I will try to describe what happened, as I was not far away when he was killed.

“On Saturday morning February 16th, the Germans were bombarding our trenches, and at about 11:30 a.m., one of the shells burst in the trench, killing your husband and wounding several others.

“ I immediately rushed up to him, but arrived too late, as he must have been killed instantaneously.

“Your husband had been my platoon sergeant for over five months, and was the best N.C.O., I ever had.

“He could be trusted to do anything, and always did it well. I had the greatest confidence in him, and he never failed me in anything.

“He was immensely popular with the N.C.O.s and men of my platoon, and a good sportsman, always willing to take part in our platoon football matches and games.

“I don't know how to express my sympathy and sorrow, but let me assure you of the deepest sympathy of the platoon and myself. "

Later, Eliza was sent her husband’s personal effects from the battlefield – two photos, cards, a pipe, prayer book, Sacred heart badge, a pocket knife, cap badge, pouch and three dice.

She also received a scroll from Burnley Council and was awarded the widow’s penny.

Joseph had fought for three and a half years before his death and his acts of valour included digging out an officer and a soldier from the mud after a bombardment.

He was 28 when he was killed and had been wounded three times. Joseph has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in France and is also named on the roll of Honour at He was on the St. Mary's RC Church, Burnley.

• Sgt Batty’s home in Penny Street, Burnley, off Finsley Gate, was one of 13 houses.

But from them, 20 soldiers had answered the call to arms, thought to be one of the highest numbers in the town.

And a roll of honour, , naming them, plus another two men from nearby Cricket Court was placed in the street in their honour.

After prayers in St Paul’s Church, the Rev T Williams led a procession to hang the oak shrine, which was festooned with flags after news of Joseph’s Military Medal reached the residents.

By then, it revealed that three of the men had already ‘died the death of heroes’ – and Joseph’s name would soon be added to the list