Joseph Laverty was the son of James and Margaret Laverty. He was born in Tobermore on 8th December 1886. The family lived in Tobermore Town, County Londonderry. His father was a tailor. Joseph went on to become a National School teacher. Joseph married Gretta Diver on Omagh on 22nd July 1910. Gretta was a teacher too. Gretta died on 23rd July 1913, three years and a day after they were married. She was 26 years old. Joseph Laverty volunteered through Queen's University O.T.C. 2nd Lieutenant Joseph Laverty was serving with the 13th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles when he was killed in action 16th August 1917.
Further Information
Joseph Laverty was the son of James and Margaret Laverty. He was born in Tobermore on 8th December 1886.
Family: James Laverty, Maggie Laverty , Minnie Laverty (born about 1878), Maggie Laverty (born about 1884), Joe Laverty (born 8th December 1886), Samuel Laverty (born about 1889), Elizzie Loftin Laverty (born about 1891), Jenetta Laverty (born about 1892).
The 1901 census lists Joe as age 14 living with the family at house 68 in Tobermore Town, County Londonderry. He was still at school. His father was a tailor.
Joseph went on to become a National School teacher.
Joseph married Gretta Diver on Omagh on 22nd July 1910. Gretta was born in County Roscommon. He was a teacher at Edenderry, Omagh at that time.
The 1911 Census lists Joseph as age 25 living with his wife at house 1 in Gorteenrevagh, Ballinalee, County Longford. Gretta too was a National School teacher as well. They were living with Gretta’s brothers and sisters.
Joseph’s next job was at Wilson's Hospital Endowed School in County Westmeath.
Joseph then moved to work at Newtownards Model School.
Joseph Laverty went on to be appointed as Principal at Castlerobin National School Lisburn.
Joseph Laverty and his wife Gretta are listed on a headstone in Cappagh (St Eugenius) Church Of Ireland, outside Omagh. Gretta died on 23rd July 1913, three years and a day after they were married. She was 26 years old.
Joseph was a member of Queen's University Officers Training Corps during 1915-16.
Joseph Laverty volunteered through Queen's University O.T.C. and was made a temporary Second Lieutenant on probation on the 8th January 1916 he was transferred from the Reserve Battalions to the Regular Forces.
Letter from Joseph Lavery dated 8th August 1916
Dear Mrs Orr, I was glad to get your letter yesterday and learn from it you are well. I am in the usual form, only we have had very wet weather here this week ?? ?? and make everything more sad than it really is. Well you have probably seen by the papers that we have very exciting times out here lately. I am not allowed to give you a full description of everything as I would like to, but it is sufficient to say I should not like to witness such sights during my time again. As you are probably aware, we have had an awful bombardment for 7 or 8 days before the attack commenced. I watched it every day from a distance of 1 or 2 miles, that is where the shells lighted as the guns move close to me, some behind my position, some before and well that I Can’t give you a full description, but the greatest thunderstorm you ever heard in Ireland is the nearest comparison, and that went on night and day. You get used to it, and can sleep quite content after a short time. All you would have seen was flashes of light from the guns, smoke and debris of every description being blasted in to the air and float across the country. You would have thought there was not one single human being in the district, although both ours and the Hun’s trenches were occupied.
The attack the whole division made was considered by everyone one of the finest attacks of the whole war. At the appointed moment, 7.15am, they rushed over the parapet shouting and singing and as the day (1st July) was memorable to them, they were determined to make it much more memorable in future, and they have succeeded in doing so. No doubt the losses were very heavy, but they took trench after trench, not counting the loss. ?? The Inniskillings rushed into the trenches shouting ‘No Surrender’. The captured Huns admit they never witnessed a charge like it. The division has got great pride from the ??. I am sure there will be widespread sorrow over water as there is hardly a house that will have someone to mourn for, but the people at home should be filled with pride for the great deeds that have been done bt their own division. The French edition of the Daily Mail gave them great praise. James Wisener from Tobermore was killed and James Watters, Matt Winton, some of the Lees were wounded, John Davy Moore, Jim Scott and Matt Hassan after the fray they were quite well. Davy says he had the pleasure of doing for one or two of them. We are all (the whole division), moved away back about ten miles from the front now. We may have to go back any day again or we may be moved to the back still, we are not sure yet. I am being sent to the Divisional School some miles from this soon, and I am to be there for weeks, being trained in company drill, etc. The same address will find me. I suppose you go off on holidays soon. No such luck for me this year, but I hope there is a good time coming soon, and I don’t not mind how soon. I wish I had been in ?? now so my in these for five weeks holidays. How did ? get on at his exams? I hope he is successful. Best wishes to all and a happy holiday From affectionate friend J Laverty.
On the 6th August 1916 he was confirmed in his rank in the Royal Irish Rifles Infantry as part of the Machine Gun Corp.
Joseph was very active in sending correspondence home to his loved ones.
2nd Lieutenant Joseph Laverty was serving with the 13th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles when he was killed in action 16th August 1917 at the 3rd Battle of Ypres, a year after going to the front. He was 30 years old.
Telegram from the War Office: To Mrs Richardson, Tobermore, County Derry
Deeply regret to inform you that 2nd Lieut J Laverty, Irish Rifles, was killed in action August 16th. The Army Council express their sympathy. Secretary, War Office.
Mrs W Richardson, Joseph's sister, lived in Tobermore.
Letter from Captain E Ormond Gordon, dated 19th August 1917:
Dear Mrs Richardson, It is my painful duty to have to write to inform you that you brother, 2nd Lieut J Laverty, was killed in action last Thursday, August 16th. Colonel Maxwell was himself wounded in the battle and so is unable to write himself to inform the relations of the officers who were killed. I am at present in charge of A Company, in which your brother was, so I am writing at you to let you know. I know if the Colonel was here, he would have written personally, and told you how sorry he and all the officers were, and how much he was appreciated. I think you may rest satisfied that he did not suffer long, as he died very soon after being hit. Yours sincerely E Ormond Gordon, Captain, 13th Royal Irish Rifles, B.E.F.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 23rd August 1917:
Second Lieutenant Joseph Laverty, Royal Irish Rifles, killed in action on 16th August, was a son of Mr James Laverty, Tobermore, County Derry. A school teacher by profession, he was principal of Castlerobin National School, Derriaghy, from which he volunteered for the Army through the Belfast University Contingent of the Officers Training Corps. He had been a year at the front.
2nd Lieutenant Joseph Laverty has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. The Memorial to the Missing at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, West Vlaanderen, Belgium bears the names of many who fell in the battles for Passchendaele and whose bodies were never recovered.
From a local paper : Tobermore – Memorial to Gallant Soldier
On Sunday afternoon a service was held in the Episcopal Church, at which a beautiful tablet in memory of the late Lieut. J Laverty, who was killed in action on 16th August 1917, was unveiled by the Rev Mr Quin, rector of Derriaghy, where Lieut Lavery had been principal of the National School previous to his joining the colours in 1915. The congregation, which filled the building, was most representative, and the local rector, Rev J R Kelly, M.A., conducted the service. The hymns and various readings of the Scripture were all in keeping with the solemn occasion, and led up to a most impressive address, delivered by Mr Quin from the words ‘For none of us leveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself’. At the close, the preacher paid a glowing tribute to the fallen soldier, who had been a member of his church for a short period, and had, by his kindly disposition, endeared himself to all who knew him. He spoke of his earnest work in the Sabbath School, and of what led up to his decision to join the army. Nurse Cavell’s tragic death was the deciding factor. After that he felt he must go to resist the brutal German. Before leaving he told his minister he was not afraid to die, and that his only concern was for his loved ones at home. ‘The memorial tablet’, said the preacher in closing, ‘will ever be a reminder to the brave and gallant soldier, who gave his life for the cause of freedom and civilisation.’
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 23rd August 1918: Memorial to County Derry Officer
A tastefully designed tablet has been placed in the parish church at Tobermore, County Derry, in memory of the late Second Lieutenant J Laverty, who fell in action in August 1917. The inscription on the tablet reads: - ‘To the glory of God, and the memory of Second Lieutenant Joseph Laverty, Royal Irish Rifles, who was killed in action on 16th August 1917, whilst gallantly leading his platoon.’ Erected by his brothers and sisters, 1918. The dedication ceremony was performed by Rev C E Quin, rector of Derriaghy, who was assisted in the service by the Rev J R Kelly, rector of Tobermore.
2nd Lieutenant Laverty is also commemorated at Queens University on the War Memorial.
All images courtesy of Sam Hudson, Desertmartin. Information provided here is courtesy of the excellent research donated by Mr Sam Hudson.
