Joseph enlisted on 18th November 1915, then joined the R.A.M.C. at Sheffield on the 23rd. He served in the Wharncliffe area up until he was posted abroad, entering Wharncliffe War Hospital, Sheffield on two occasions suffering from Influenza and tonsillitis. He proceeded overseas on 26th July 1916 from Southampton, arriving the following day at Rouen. He was posted to serve with the 56th Field Ambulance on 1st August 1916. He was killed in the Thiepval area close to the Schwaben Redoubt. The Darwen News wrote and article on 21st October 1916 stating: "Mrs Haywood, of 34 Newton Street, received information on Saturday last that her husband Private Joseph Haywood, was killed on the 2nd inst. He was 24 years of age, and enlisted in the St John’s section of the RAMC ten months ago, and had only been in France eleven weeks. Before enlisting, he was employed as a loomer at Union Street Mill, and attended St Joseph’s Church. District Superintendent W R Baxendale of the Darwen Branch of the St John Ambulance Brigade with which Private Haywood was connected, has sent a letter of condolence with the family on behalf of the officers and men of the brigade in which he says: “The Royal Army Medical Corps is looked upon by far and large a number of people us a corps of shirkers, but I think that in the present war they have proved themselves quite the reverse. I am sure you will be proud to know that Private Haywood died helping to save others.” " Joseph was the son of Lawrence Haywood & Margaret Ellen (nee Gill); and the husband of Elizabeth Alice Cowell - married at St Joseph’s R/C Church, Darwen on 11th September 1915. [Information researched and kindly provided by Tony Foster]