Joseph Bunn was born on 15th January 1894 in the Newton area of Middlewich. He was the son of Peter Bunn (born Middlewich) and his wife Elizabeth (nee Johnson) who was born at Runcorn. The father was a canal clerk.
By 1896 the family had moved to Aston-by-Sutton and this was where the other five children were born, Thomas in 1896, Ann in 1899, May (Mary?) in 1902 and Mabel in 1911. Peter Bunn was still working as a canal check clerk.
The Census of 1911 recorded that Joseph was working as a grocer’s clerk and was unmarried. All the family lived together in Aston-by-Sutton.
Joseph enlisted on 13th November 1914 at the age of 20 years and 10 months. He served in the 20th Battalion of the King’s Liverpool Regiment (Liverpool Pals). His rank was a private and his service number was 22032. Joseph was 5’5’’ tall, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair. He spent the first year at home until November 1915 when he went to France with the British Expeditionary Force. The 20th Battalion took part in the failed attack on the village of Guillemont in the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. He was killed in action (missing presumed dead) on 30th July 1916, one of over 2000 Pals who went “over the top” that day.
He was commemorated on the War Memorial at Aston-by-Sutton, on a plaque in St Michael’s church in Little Leigh and on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme in France. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service in the Great War.
Joseph Bunn was 22 years of age when he died.