Joseph John Bright
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(Also 'John Joseph'). Joseph was the second son of Lawrence Bright and Hannah Bright nee Lee (b. 1847 Spilsby Lincolnshire) who had four children, one of whom died in childhood. Three children were named on the census between 1881 and 1911: Lawrence Lee b. 1872 (O/N/D Nottingham), Joseph John birth registered 1879 J/F/M Nottingham and Neville Lee b. 1882 (J/A/S Nottingham). Lawrence Bright was an architect's managing clerk in 1871 but later qualified as an architect. In 1881 he and his wife Hannah were living at 19 Gedling Grove, Waverley Street, Nottingham with their two sons, Lawrence (8) and Joseph (2). Also in the household was one female domestic servant. Their third son, Neville, was born the following year in 1882 and by 1901 the family was living at 3 Zulla Road, Mapperley Park. Lawrence junior (29) was an architectural assistant, presumably in his father's firm, Joseph (23) was a commission agent on his own account (working from home) and Neville (19) was a student at an accountants. The family had one domestic servant. Lawrence Bright died aged 61 on 14 November 1908. By then the family home was at 8 Third Avenue, Sherwood Rise, Nottingham, and his widow, Hannah (67), was still living there in 1911. Only two of her sons were still at home, Joseph (32) and Neville (28) both of whom were estate agents. Hannah employed one domestic servant, Mary Holt (Note: Likely identification of Mary Holt - her brother Harry Holt, 28802 Private 7th Bn Sherwood Foresters, KIA 22 February 1918, buried France). The eldest son, Lawrence, had married Lucy Marian Crossman on 8 April 1903 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, and in 1911 Lawrence (38) an architect, and Lucy (37) were living at 16 Ebury Road, Mapperley Park, with their two children, Lucy Kathleen (6) and Geoffrey Newnham (5 months). Lawrence employed one domestic servant. Neville married Edith Robey on 13 October 1912 (O/N/D Nottingham); they had a daughter, Vera Marjorie, born 11 November 1913. In September 1914 when Neville attested in the RFA (98524 Gunner) they were living in Burton Joyce. Neville was discharged from the RFA on 14 April 1915, when he held the rank of sergeant, on his promotion to Second Lieutenant in the Special Reserve attached to the 10th Divisional Artillery. Joseph's mother, Hannah, died on 9 January 1928; she was still living on Third Avenue, Sherwood Rise. Joseph's elder brother Lawrence died on 15 August 1951 at the age of 78; he was then living at 13 Elmsthorpe Avenue, Lenton Sands, Nottingham. His younger brother, Neville, died on 13 April 1958 at the age of 75; he was then living at 5 Premier Road, Nottingham. His wife, Edith, survived him. Three of Joseph's cousins also died in the war: Lieutenant Archibald Viccars Bright, Sherwood Foresters (7 June 1917) and Second Lieutenant Harold Viccars Bright, Sherwood Foresters (21 September 1918), the sons of Arthur and Margaret Ellis Bright, and Second Lieutenant Frank Arnold Bright, 7th Bn Sherwood Foresters (13 October 1915) the son of Sir Joseph and Lady Bright.
Joseph John Bright attested on 2nd March 1916; he was 41 yrs and 4 months old, his address was Somersby House, Sherwood Rise, Nottingham. His next of kin was his mother Hannah Bright of the same address. He was mobilised on 27th April 1918 and posted to the 7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire) Regiment (Robin Hood Rifles) on 13th May 1915. He died at No 4 Northern General Hospital in Lincoln of influenza on 27th June 1918 and buried in Nottingham General Cemetery on 2nd July 1918.
Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 1 July 1918 (abridged): 'BRIGHT, on June 27th in military hospital, Private Joseph John Bright, Sherwood Foresters, second son of the late Laurence Bright and Mrs Bright, Third Avenue, Sherwood Rise. General Cemetery.' Article published on 3rd July 1918 in the Nottingham Journal and Express :- “BOY SCOUT PIONEER. “FUNERAL IN NOTTINGHAM OF PRIVATE JOSEPH J. BRIGHT. “The funeral of Private Joseph John Bright, the Sherwood Foresters, well known in Nottingham as a pioneer of the Boy Scout movement, took place at the General Cemetery yesterday. [2nd July 1918] He was the second son of the late Mr. Lawrence Bright and Mrs. Bright, Third-avenue, Sherwood-rise, and died in a Lincoln hospital after a brief illness. “Deceased was the principal partner in Messrs. Bright Bros. and Butler, estate agents, of Pepper-street. He formed the Caledonian Troop, and was City Commissioner of the movement for several years, and he also organised the cadet unit which has since been attached to the Territorial Force, being its first major. “The Rev. J. .Stuart, of Derby-road Baptist Church, of which the deceased was a member, officiated at the funeral, and among the mourners and friends present were: Mrs. Hannah Bright (mother), Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence S. Bright (brother and sister-in-law), Capt. and Mrs. Neville L. Bright (brother and sister-in-law), Mr, Horace D. Bright (cousin), Mr. and Mrs. Walter Stubbs, Dr. R. M. Caven, Mr. Joseph Harrison, Mr. A. C. Wheat, Mr. J. H. Stanger, Mr. Allen Davidson, Mr. W. E. Shaw, and Mr. C. A. Howell.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Probate: Bright Lawrence of 8 Third-avenue Sherwood Rise Nottingham architect and surveyor died 14 November 1908 Probate Nottingham 7 May [1909] to Hannah Bright widow and Lawrence Lee bright architect and surveyor. Effects £33914 19s. 4d. Probate: Bright John Joseph (sic) of 8 Third-avenue Sherwood Rise Nottingham estate agent died 26 June 1918 at the Military Hospital Lincoln Administration Nottingham 27 October [1920] to Hannah Bright [mother] widow. Effects £263 16s. 8d. Probate: Bright Hannah of Somersby House, Third-avenue Sherwood Rise Nottingham widow died 9 January 1928 Probate Nottingham 21 March [1928] to Lawrence Lee Bright architect. Effects £13775 8s. 9d. Probate: Bright Lawrence Lee of 13 Elmsthorpe-avenue Lenton Sands Nottingham died 15 August 1951 at The General Hospital Nottingham Probate Nottingham 3 December to Alfred Stanley Bright [cousin] solicitor and Geoffrey Newnham Bright [son] architect. Effects £11807 13s. 10d. Probate: Bright Neville Lee of 5 Premier Road Nottingham died 13 April 1958 at the City Hospital Nottingham Probate Nottingham 16 May to Edith Wright (sic) widow and Cedric Field Butler solicitor. Effects £538 15s. 4d.
