Joseph Wadkin
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Joseph was the twin son of Richard and Mary Wadkin. His father Richard was born in Rempstone (abt. 1855/56) and was the son of John and Elizabeth Wadkin; John was a miller and farmer and Richard followed in his father's occupation. Richard married Mary Harwood (b. Lenton abt. 1854) in 1884 (registered Nottingham, A/M/J). They were to have seven children five of whom were still living at the time of the 1911 Census; six children were named on the census between 1891 and 1911: John (b. 1885), William (b. 1886), twin boys Joseph and Richard Harwood (b. 1888), Frank (b. 1891) and Alfred Septimus (b. 1893). All the children were born in Rempstone. William died at the age of 13 in 1899 (registered Loughborough A/M/J). It is possible that the seventh child was a daughter, Elizabeth Marguerite, who was born in 1889 (O/N/D, registration district Loughborough) and whose death was registered the same year (O/N/D, registration district Loughborough). In 1891 Richard (35) and Mary (37) were living on Main Street, Rempstone, with their five sons, John (6), William (4), Joseph (2), Richard (2) and Frank (3 months). They employed a young domestic servant, Rose Waling (13). William died eight years later in 1899 at the age of 13. By 1901 the eldest son, John (16), was working on the family farm alongside his father, while the four younger boys, Joseph (12), Richard (12), Frank (10) and Alfred (7) were still at school. Their parents still employed a general domestic servant, Mary Barnett (22). In 1907 John married Hilda Mary Sharpe (b. abt 1887), a waitress living and working in Loughborough, and by 1911 they were resident at The Poplars, Rempstone, where John was a stockman on an estate. There is no indication on the census whether this was his father's farm. However, his four younger brothers, Joseph (22), Richard (22), Frank (20) and Alfred (17) were still living at home and all were working with their father on the farm. Alfred served with the Notts & Derby Regiment as a lance corporal (19335) and went to France on 16 December 1915; he survived the war and qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. It is probable that his brother Frank also served with the Notts & Derby Regiment, initially as 81812 Private, and then with the Labour Corps, Notts & Derby Regiment (479893), qualifying for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. Richard Wadkin died on 1 December 1920 at the age of 65 and his widow, Mary, in 1924 aged 70. Their youngest son, Alfred, married Dorothy Harriss in 1919. He died on 6 May 1927 and Dorothy remarried in 1931 (Thomas W Orton). Frank married Mary Alice Walker (b. 3 July 1892) in 1924 and died on 19 December 1962; his widow died on 23 March 1976 aged 83. John, the eldest boy, probably died aged 90 in 1975; his wife Hilda Mary had died 25 years earlier in 1950. Joseph's last surviving brother, Richard Harwood, died on 15 March 1983; he would have been about 94.
Joseph enlisted on 8th September 1914 in Hucknall soon after war was declared He served in 12th battalion Sherwood Foresters in France from 29 August 1915. He was killed in action the following year on 17th June 1916 when a shell exploded and killed him and six other comrades. He is buried in Dranoutre Military Cemetery (grave ref. I.F.12). Personal inscription on CWGC headstone: 'Willingly offered himself. 3(?).9.14' He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His father, Richard Wadkin, was his sole legatee. Probate: Wadkin Richard of Rempstone Nottinghamshire farmer died 1 December 1920 at 20 Regent-street Nottingham Probate Nottingham 25 February to John Edward Voce retired farmer and Charles William Tams farmer. Effects £8308 15s. 4d. Probate: Wadkin Alfred Septimus of Town street Rempstone Nottinghamshire died 6 May 1927 at the Loughborough and District General Hospital Baxter Gate Loughborough Leicestershire Probate Nottingham 12 August to Dorothy Wadkin widow. Effects £922 0s. 8d Probate: Wadkin Hilda Mary of Marlyn 15 Highfields-drive Loughborough Leicestershire (wife of John Wadkin) died 18 May 1950 Probate Leicester 26 June to Mary Elizabeth Mabel Stevens (wife of Archibald James Stevens) Hilda Marjorie Miles (wife of Eric Miles) and Evelyn Josephine Amos (wife of Freeman Amos). Effects £1963 15s. 4d Probate: Wadkin Frank of The Grange Farm Widmerpool Nottinghamshire died 19 December 1962 probate Leicester 6 February to Mary Alice Wadkin widow Richard Charles Wadkin farmer and Monica Mary Bonser (wife of Geoffrey William Bonser). Effects £1250 4s. 7d. Probate: Wadkin Mary Alice of Grange Farm Widmerpool Notts died 23 March 1976 Administration Nottingham 27 May £8773. Probate: Wadkin Richard Harwood of 5 Leys Ct Leys Rd Ruddington Notts died 15 March 1983 Probate Oxford 25 April Not exceeding £25000 Following is an article from the Loughborough Echo dated 7th July 1916 :- REMPSTONE MAN KILLED Official notification from the War Office was received on Monday by Mr & Mrs Wadkin, of Rempstone, informing them of the death of their eldest son, Joseph Wadkin. It stated that he was fighting in the trenches’ somewhere in France’ when he was killed by a shell along with six others, death being instantaneous, whilst five of his comrades were severely wounded. The deceased, who was 28 years of age, was in the Sherwood Foresters, being amongst the first from this village to enlist. Previous to joining the colours, he assisted his father in agricultural pursuits. It is barely a month since he was home on leave when he looked the ‘picture of health’ and returned to France in the most jovial manner. Amongst the many letters of condolence which his parents have received is one from his sergeant, in which he said that the deceased had been quietly laid to rest in the soldiers cemetery in France on Trinity Sunday, adding that the company had sustained a sad loss, as he had always been a true comrade and was respected by all his fellow men. During his short career Joseph Wadkin has won the esteem of everyone with whom he came in contact, and was a prominent figure in the cricket and football field, and also at the institute. During the service at the church on Sunday, the Rector (Rev A Hartley M.A.) alluded to the loss they had sustained, and spoke in appreciative terms of the service he had rendered in the choir and other parochial spheres. This is the second from this village who has died in battle. The following is a copy of a letter to Richard (Dick) Wadkin , younger brother of Joseph Wadkin from a family friend Harold Hibbert written from a hospital in Boulogne shortly after Joseph’s death. Australian Hospital Boulogne Base, France , Dear Dick No doubt you will have heard the sad news about poor old Joe by now. I thought I would wait till the War Office had sent an official notice. I was never no more surprised in all my life when I was told, in fact I would’nt believe it. Sgt Newham said he would write to your mother so I expect he has told how it all happened. I was admitted into hospital about two or three days after it happened, so I have not had much chance of writing, as I have been moving about such a lot. I have got Joe’s belt as a keepsake, I got if off a Sergeant that was there, and I shall stick to it, and bring it home with me. I cannot express my feelings, so you will have to excuse me Dick. I never was any good at that sort of thing, but you can guess how I felt in losing such a fine pal, and every chap in the company misses him as he was so popular. Well Dick my lad, you will have to bear it, you know what we all came out for, and the Lord has deemed it necessary to take poor old Joe away it must be for the best. Well Dick my lad cheer up, and try to keep smiling. We shall give those swine something to put up with before long. I sympathise with you in your deep trouble. Harold.
