Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Mrs Elizabeth Satchwell. The War Diary for today records. Work. Machine gunners continued sandbagging corner of 93 and No. 14 machine gun emplacement and continued work on dug out in 107. 22 large ‘goose berries’ were fixed in front of Group 5 from listening posts, bay 18, 92D, towards 92C. Continued clearing NITRATE STREET. In 93 trench work was continued on mine, officers dug out, and sandbagging N.C.O.’s shelter. Continued traverse to bays 8 and clearing way to entrance of bomb proof. 94B continued sandbagging traverse. The clearing of sumps and the making of fire steps was continued in Group 8. Bay 10 – 101 and bay 18 – 103 were almost completed. New bay No. 1 – 106 continued, and finished traverse in bay 8 – 108. Cleared sumps and repaired trench boards in 108. Repaired banket bay 1 – 105. Repairing entrance to officers dug out 107. Helping ROYAL ENGINEERS on dug out in 108. Situation. The enemy bombarded Group 8 and the RAVINE as far as 40 yards south of NOTTAGES FOLLEY from 10.15am. to 11.20 am. Nine 105mm shells, fifteen 77mm and six ‘whizz bangs’ were fired in all. No material damage. 1 man killed and 4 wounded. The RANSART and ADINFER guns were supposedly used by the enemy. The enemy sent rifle grenades over at frequent intervals during the afternoon, and 50 were fired in return by our Battalion grenadiers from 4.30pm onwards. Enemy fired a few more after we had opened, but none did any damage. Enemy seemed to use more powerful grenade than hitherto. Snipers active opposite Group 7. Wind north, north easterly.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday March 3rd, 1916

IBSTOCK SOLDIER KILLED

News has been received by the parents of Private Joseph Satchwell, of Ibstock, who had been serving in France since last summer with the 8th Leicesters, that he was killed in action on February 6th.

Coalville Times article - Friday March 10th, 1916

IBSTOCK SOLDIER KILLED

STRUCK WITH SHRAPNEL WHILE ASLEEP

OTHER IBSTOCK LADS HAVE NARROW ESCAPES

We regret to state that news has been received by the parents of Private Joseph Satchwell, of Ibstock, who joined the 8th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, stating that he was killed in action on the 6th February last. He joined the army at the commencement of the war, and has been serving in France since last summer. When he enlisted he was working at Ellistown No. 1 Pit. He was very popular with his workmates, and soon became so with his comrades in the army. Mr and Mrs Satchwell have received letters of sympathy from friends, including one from Captain H. L. Bransley, and Lance-Corporal J. Riley, who state death was caused by a shrapnel shell bursting immediately in front of the hut in which Satchwell was sleeping after he had been on sentry duty all night. A piece of the shell pierced the top of the hut, and cut his neck, causing instantaneous death. A tribute to the deceased is paid by his officer and comrade in the letters received by the parents.

Captain Bransley writes: “On behalf of myself and brother officer of the B. Co., please accept our deepest sympathy in the loss of your boy. He was killed in his sleep by a piece of shell piercing the top of the hut, and cutting his neck. Death was instantaneous. He had only just turned in at 9 am for a well-earned rest after doing sentry all night long. We shall miss his cheery face and good humour. He was always willing, and thoroughly conscientious. I feel his death, as we all do after eighteen months together, more like that of a comrade than one under my command. He rests in peace in the churchyard at ________, where his grave will receive every attention. The only consolation I can offer you in your great loss is that your boy, ‘Jumbo,’ died fighting for his King and country, which is the grandest way of passing into a happier life, where trouble and sorrows are no more. Be assured of our sincere sympathy.”

Lance-Corporal J. Riley, 13298, B. Co., 8th Leicestershire Regiment, B.E.F., in his letter stated: “It is with a feeling of deep regret that I write these few lines to you on behalf of myself and all the Ibstock boys in the regiment, who deeply sympathise with you in your sad bereavement. No doubt you will have been informed of the sad news before this reaches you, and I know my letter will not give you much consolation, or relieve you of any of your sad trouble and great loss, but the death of your son has caused his chums and comrades much grief. We have practically known each other all our lives, and since he joined our regiment, we have fought and worked side by side the whole time, so it is a big blow to us all to have to part with him, although we know that our grief is nothing to be compared with the suffering of you, his parents, and relatives. It will perhaps relieve you a little to know that he suffered no pain whatsoever, but passed away quite peacefully in his sleep. His death was caused by shrapnel from a heavy shell which burst immediately in front of the hut in which they were sleeping. My brother, and several more Ibstock boys were in the hut at the time, but miraculously escaped any harm. One or two were slightly injured. Your son was known by all our company, and by most of the battalion, and is greatly missed by all. The only consolation we can offer you, his dear parents, is that he died fighting for a noble cause , and we, his pals, express to you our deepest sympathy in your sad bereavement.”

Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 12/10/2017