Joseph Harbisher: Photo Ann Davis
Ploegsteert Memorial
Ploegsteert Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Joseph Harbisher, one of 10 children of whom only 7 survived, was the 2nd born of 4 sons and 3 daughters. His parents were both born in Yorkshire, Frederick Harbisher in 1863 at Easingwold and Ellen Robinson at Stearsby in 1869. Their families had migrated to the north east where they met and married in the district of Lanchester in 1890. Newly married they lived at 116, Chadwick Street, Cornsay where Frederick was employed as a coke drawer. Son Francis was born in 1893, Mary Hannah 1895 and Joseph in 1899, Elizabeth 1903, James Richard 1906, Edith Annie 1908 and Frederick in 1910. They were still living at Chadwick Street in 1911, Frederick’s parents George, a retired fat labourer and Hannah Harbisher were also living in the household. Francis had joined his father at the colliery as a braker. Joseph (12) and his younger siblings were scholars.
When war broke out with Germany, at 15 years of age, Joseph was far too young to enlist. He was called up when he turned 18 years of age in 1917. Joseph enlisted at Consett, County Durham and assigned as Private 51154 Highland Light Infantry he departed for the Western Front in late 1917/early 1918, exact date unknown, where he joined the 10th/11th Battalion, 46th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division, in the field in Belgium.
Private 51154 Joseph Harbisher was reported as missing during day to day trench warfare and is presumed to have died April 4th 1918. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 11,403 names inscribed on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Hainaut, near Ypres in Belgium, commemorating servicemen from Britain and South Africa who were killed in the sector from Caestre-Dranoutre-Warneton to the north and Haverskerque-Estieres-Fournes to the south, including the towns of Hazelbrouck, Merville, Bailleul, Armentieres, the Forest of Nieppe and Ploegsteert Wood, who have no known grave. Private Harbisher was 19 years of age and single.
As his sole beneficiary his mother received all monies due to him (listed in Register of Soldiers Effects in error as Helen), a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 163, Double Chadwick Street, Cornsay Colliery, County Durham.
Frederick Harbisher died during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1929, aged 65 years, Ellen Harbisher nee Robinson aged 61 years during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1929.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Ann Davis has submitted the following:
I have come across the entry for whom I believe to be my great uncle whilst researching him. My grandma, Lucy Harbisher was born and raised in Cornsay to parents called Frederick and Ellen. Having visited the village and seen its size, I am sure that that the Joseph listed is the same Joseph my grandma told us about as children. Her sister Elizabeth emigrated to Canada before the outbreak of WW2 and my aunt Ellen was said to have been named after Lucy’s mother. I hadn’t realised that her parents had died when she was so young. This might explain why she moved down to Yorkshire where she trained as a nurse.
I have cousins in Canada who I will be sending details of your website to so they can read about the Harbisher side of our family.
I would like to thank you for the time you and your colleagues have put in to adding stories behind those that died. If you believe your Joseph and mine to be the same, if at all possible I would love it if you could add my grandma Lucy to the list of his family on the website.
Joseph Harbisher is remembered at Cornsay on C116.01 and at Quebec on Q2.06
