Joseph William Ault
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Joseph William Ault was born in 1874 the son of Charles and Eliza Ault née Porter. He married Carrie (Caroline) May on 10th December 1901 they lived at Middleton, Awsworth and later 4 St Annes Square, Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire . Carrie brought a child to the marriage Priscilla born 2nd November 1900 they had a son Harry Ault born 8th May 1906 In 1911 they were living at 88 Norman Street, Ilkeston and are shown as Joseph William 38 yrs a coal miner cutter he is living with his wife Carrie 48 yrs. Commencing 2nd December 1915 his widow was awarded a pension of 15 shillings a week.
Private Joseph William Ault enlisted on 11th September and initially served with the Sherwood Foresters Regiment, he was transferred to the Royal Marine Light Infantry on 16th September 1914. He joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli and was wounded a gun shot wound to his abdomen and admitted to the 11th casualty clearing station where he died on 2nd June 1915. He is buried at Lancashire Landing Cemetery, Gallipoli.
Ault was one of 'Kitchener's Marines' who were transferred from the Sherwood Foresters to the RMLI. Des Turner notes '600 RMLI transfers came from 2 regiments - 200 from the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) and 400 from the Sherwood Foresters. They were predominantly ex-miners and labourers, fit men wanted for their ability to dig trenches and tunnels. The 200 KOYLI recruits were transferred to Plymouth Division RMLI and were given service numbers PLY/1(S) to PLY200(S). This was also the case for the Sherwood Foresters 200 who were dispatched to Portsmouth where already 30 men were recruited and so they became PO/31(S) to PO/230(S). 200 remaining Foresters went to Chatham and were numbered CH/1 to CH/200(S).' It is noted that his age given on CWGC site is 49 yrs, he was born in 1874 and on the 1911 census is 38 yrs, therefore his age at death would be 41/42 yrs.
