The First World War was just five weeks old when Joseph Batty sent a postcard from the troop ship carrying him to France, to his wife Eliza and daughter 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 where we’re 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 in 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. He arrived at the front towards the end of September, 1914.

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

In 1915 he returned home, with another Burnley private, S Malone, on ‘furlough’, to recover from wounds sustained at the Battle of Mons.

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 a 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, 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, 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 about 11.30am, 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.

“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.”

Some time 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 was 28 when he was killed. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in France. He is also named on the roll of Honour at St Mary’s RC Church, Burnley.

n 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.

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

After prayers in St Paul’s Church, the Rev T Williams led a procession to hang the oak shrine festooned with flags after news of Joseph’s Military Medal reached the residents. By then, it revealed three of the men had already ‘died the death of heroes’ – and Joseph’s name would soon be added to the list.