Joseph Staley
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Joseph Staley was born in 1893 at Newhall and was the son of Levi a coal miner and Mary Hannah Staley née Sparrrow of 31 Tudor Street Sutton in Ashfield. His father was born in 1866 at Newhall and his mother Mary Hannah Sparrow was born in 1860 also at Newhall, they were married on 12th October 1886 at St Johns Church, Newhall, they went on to have 9 children, sadly one died in infancy or early childhood there children were Annie b1888, Daniel b1889. Henry b1891, Joseph b1893, Frank b1895, Harriett b1897, Hannah b1899, William Baden b1901 and Daisy b1902, all were born at Newhall. In the 1911 census the family are living at Tudor Street, Sutton in Ashfield and are shown as Mary Hannah 51 yrs head of the family no occupation listed, she is living with her children, Daniel 22 yrs a coal miner, Joseph 18 yrs a coal miner, Frank 16 yrs a coal miner, Harriett 14 yrs a hoisery chevoner, Hannah 12 yrs a scholar, William Baden 10 yrs a scholar and Daisy 9 yrs On the army form W5080 which gives details of the next of kin of the serving soldier completed by Daniels mother following his death it states his father Levi's whereabouts were unknown as he had 'been away since 1906.'
Private Joseph Staley, enlisted on 31st August 1914 at Mansfield, he was 21 yrs and 242 days old, he was a miner, he was posted to the depot on 1st September 1914 and to the Leicestershire Regiment on 5th September 1914. He served with the 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and landed in France on 29th July 1915 , he was killed in action on 14th July 1916. He has no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
His brother Sapper Daniel Staley enlisted on 2nd September 1914 at Doncaster, he gave his age as 25 yrs 9 months and his occupation as that of a coal miner, he was lodging at Doncaster his next of kin was his mother Mary Staley of 31 Tudor Street, Sutton in Ashfield. He was posted to the 10th battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and landed in France on 11th September 1915. He was posted to the 182 Tunneling Company of the Royal Engineers on 22nd December 1916. On the 14th November 1918 at 1845 hrs whilst he was riding a pedal cycle just outside Avesnes, France he was struck by a motor lorry, he was admitted to the 32nd Division medical centre at 1900 hrs with a compound fracture of the skull and fracture of the ribs which penetrated his lung. He died approx 20 mins after being admitted. He is buried at Avesnes-Sur-Helpe Communal Cemetery. An article published 18th August 1916 in the Notts Free Press :- “Another Suttonian to be added to the list of those who have fallen in the great war is Private Joseph Staley, who was 23 years of age and lived with his parents at Tudor Street, Kirkby Road. Prior to his enlistment in September, 1914, Private Staley worked at the Summit Colliery. He was killed in action on July 14th. “His parents have received the following letter from Sergeant C. Mellors, another Suttonian who is with the same Company: –– “It is very hard for me to have to write this sad news to you and let you know that your son Joe was killed in the advance. He was killed outright. I am sorry I cannot tell you anything about him, for I was not there at the time, but I know definitely he was killed outright, so he did not suffer. The parcel which you sent has been opened and shared out amongst his platoon. His pal Spenny got wounded too, and I miss them very much.” Above article is courtesy of Jin Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
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