Joseph Flavell
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Joseph Flavell was born in 1892 the son of George Flavell a labourer and carter and Harriett Flavell née Caswell of 10 Caddick Street, Hurst Hill, Bilston, Staffordshire. His father George was born in 1871 at Coseley and his mother was born in 1873 also at Coseley, they were married in 1891, their marriage was recorded in the Dudley Registration District, they went on to have 14 children, sadly 3 were to die in infancy or early childhood, their surviving children were all born at Coseley and were George James b1891, Joseph b1892, James b1892, Charles b1895, Lily b1896, Amy b1899, Samuel b1900, Ernest b1905, Leonard b1906, Hubert b1907, Amelia b1909 and Fred b1910. In the 1911 census the family are living at 10 Caddick Street, Hurst Hill, Bilston, Staffordshire and are shown as George 40 yrs a labourer carter, he is living with his wife Harriett 38 yrs and their children George James 20 yrs a drilling machine worker, Joseph 19 yrs a blacksmiths striker, Charles 16 yrs a drilling machine worker, Ernest 6 yrs a scholar, Leonard 5 yrs a scholar, Hubert 4 yrs, Amelia 2 yrs and Fred 1 yr. Joseph married Rose Hannah Pountey (born 11th February 1879) in 1903 their marriage was recorded in the Dudley Registration District, they lived at 40 Sherwood Rise, Nuncargate, Kirkby in Ashfield, Rose brought a child to their marriage, Violet May Pountey born 31st December 1901, they had the following children, Eliza Jane b24th December 1904, Joseph b15th February 1907, Lilian May b19th November 1908 and Emily b21st July 1914. Commencing 24th April 1916 his widow Rose was awarded a pension of 27 shillings a week.
Pte. Joseph Flavell, enlisted at Mansfield and served with the 6th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, he was killed in action at Suvla, Gallipoli on 30th September 1915. He has no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Helles Memorial.
Pte. Joseph Flavell, 6th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, was killed in action at Suvla on 30th September 1915. Shortly before his death he wrote to his family describing conditions at Gallipoli. An extract from the ‘Notts Free Press’, dated 5th November 1915. “Dear Wife and Children, “I write you these few lines hoping they will find you in good health as they leave me up to the time of writing only for a touch of rheumatism in my left leg. We are leading a rough life out here, living on the sea coast a hundred miles from anywhere, sleeping in holes like rabbits, and living within range of the enemy’s guns. They have just sent us a few shells for company, but we don’t take much notice of them now, as they keep banging away all the time until our splendid navy start and then they are soon silent. On our second day of landing here we got it a bit thick, and I am sorry to say that a lot of men got put out of action. I had a very narrow escape of being with them, for men were dropping all around like rain, but I am glad to say I was not touched, but I can tell you I did not feel very comfortable. “Still we are here, and have got a firm hold of what we have got, and I think if only we could get to close quarters with the Turks we could soon wipe them out. But it is very hard country, all great hills and rocks to climb up, and it is very hard work indeed, and I shall be very glad when it is all over.” Above extract is curtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.
