Joseph Asman
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Joseph was born in 1891 at Newark and was the son of Richard a foundry worker (died 1897) and Mary (née Asling). He had siblings Alice born 1881 Samuel born 1886, Annie born 1893 and Alfred born 1897. In 1891 the family was living at 9 Priests Yard, Richard was 33 years of age a foundry worker and living with him were his wife, Mary and children Samuel 4 years and Joseph 7 months of age. Joseph's father died in 1897 aged only 39 years of age. His mother remarried three years later in 1900 to William Revill, a blacksmith's striker. By the 1901 census, the family was living at 8 Long Row, Newark. William Revill was head of the family 50 years of age and a blacksmith's striker, he is living with his wife Mary Revill 40 years of age and his step children Samuel 15, Joseph 10, Annie 8 and Alfred 4. By 1906, his mother Mary had died aged 45. In 1911, Joseph, 20, single and a maltster's labourer, was living with his married sister, Alice Bollands and her husband John Thomas Bollands, a maltster, and their 5 children at 7 Lincoln Street, Newark. Later in 1911 Joseph married his wife Mary Hartley in Newark, and they went on to have a daughter Ethel May born in 1912. However by 31st December 1912 she had died. They went on to have a further child, a son, Joseph Richard, born in 1914 who died the same year. Finally they had a third child, Joseph William Hartley born on 11th October 1918. However whatever joy the couple had on the birth of their son soon turned again to tragedy as on 30th October 1918 Joseph died of pneumonia, followed by his wife Mary (28) in December the same year; their newborn son had become an orphan.
Joseph enlisted in Newark on 13th November 1914 and was given a medical the following day in which he was deemed physically fit for service with 8th battalion, Sherwood Foresters. He gave his age as 24 years and 2 months, he stated he was a labourer and resided at 4 George Street Row, George Street, Newark. On 24th March 1915 he was appointed as Lance Corporal, and later that year on 28th June 1915 he went out to the Western Front to join the British Expeditionary Force. On 30th June 1916 , he received a gun shot wound to his shoulder, described as a flesh wound, however he was hospitalised at the Scottish National Red Cross hospital, Bellahouston until 5th August 1916 while it was being treated. On 8th May 1917 at Greencourt, St Quinton, whilst taking part in an attack, he was struck by either a piece of shrapnel or bullet in his face, he was taken to Rouen Hospital where his right eye was removed. On 20th May 1917 he was transferred to the 3rd London Hospital at Wandsworth where he was treated and began his convalescence. However following a medical board hearing held on 2nd June 1917 he was deemed unfit to serve any longer in the Army, he was discharged from the Army on 2nd July 1917, having served for 2 years and 232 days. His address on discharge was 26 Harcourt Street, Newark. He was issued with a silver badge number 205206. He later died of pneumonia on 30th October 1918 and is buried in Newark Cemetery in a family grave.
His brother Samuel also served during the Great War; he was in the Royal Navy and was killed in action on 10th June 1915. Article published on 9th November 1918 in the Newark Herald :- Born Newark 1890. Stepson of William & Mary Revill of 8 Long Row. 26 Harcourt Street, Newark. Wounded twice (right eye lost) and discharged in 1917. Died of pneumonia. Buried November 2nd, 1918. Appears in group photograph taken at Luton, Newark Advertiser, edition of 21st April 1915.
