Joseph Suddes, one of 6 known children was the eldest of 5 sons and had 1 elder sister. His father William Suddes was born May 15th 1864 at Edmondsley, County Durham, he married Hannah Isabella Tulip born March 24th 1865, native of Ovingham, Northumberland, at Gateshead, County Durham in 1887. They settled at Lanchester where daughter Annie was born in 1888 and Joseph April 21st 1890 while they were living at Cornsay where William was a loader at the coke ovens. Over the next 10 years they had a further 4 children, James born 1892, George Edward 1895, William 1896 and Thomas May 10th 1899. While they were residing at the New Inn, Hamsteels, where William Snr was the licences victualler their son James aged 8 years died, April 4th 1900 and tragedy struck the family again, May 14th 1902 when Hannah Isabella Suddes nee Tulip died aged only 37 years. She is at rest within Hamsteels, St John the Baptist churchyard. Less than 6 months later William Suddes remarried to Dorothy Ann Murtaugh nee Storey, of Tow Law, County Durham, born January 10th 1864, the widow of Daniel Patrick Murtaugh who had died 3 years earlier. Living at 17, Chapel Street, Quebec, in 1911 William Snr still employed at the coke ovens was assisted by son George (16) employed as a labourer at the colliery in order to support his wife, William Jnr (13) and Thomas (11) to increment the family income they had taken in a lodger, coke filler, George Bird, 44 years of age and single.

Joseph Suddes was married during the 1st quarter 1911, in the district of Lanchester, to Elizabeth Ann Copeland, born May 2nd 1889 at Lumley, County Durham. Newly married they were living as boarders at 2, Marley’s Houses Quebec, in the home of coal miner George William Rutter and family, their son Joseph Jnr was born May 5th 1914. Joseph was employed by Messrs Sadler at Malton Colliery as a coal miner/putter but also enlisted, April 24th 1911, assigned as Private 1627 to the 8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, a Territorial Force with HQ at Durham City. He transferred to their camp at Strensall, North Yorkshire, attending their annual camp, July 30th-August 13th 1911, at Scarborough July 28th-August 11th 1912 and July 29th-August 10th 1913. Following the declaration of war with Germany August 4th 1914 he was embodied August 5th at Durham and posted to the 8th Reserve Battalion, December 22nd 1914. Having separated the recruits into 1st and 2nd Line, Private Suddes was posted to the 2nd/8th Battalion consisting of men less fit and intended only to serve at home. With the rank of Acting Corporal, having been promoted May 26th 1915, he joined his regiment at Seaham Harbour as part of the coastal defences. As a full Corporal he was discharged at Gosforth, under King’s Regulations 392(xxi), “termination of engagement time served,” May 5th 1916, having served with the Durham Light Infantry 5 years and 12 days.

All the Suddes brothers were eligible to serve during WW1, his brother Thomas Suddes did not serve overseas. George Edward Suddes died of disease during the Gallipoli campaign and his brother William Suddes seven months later was killed in action on the Somme.

Post war Joseph and Elizabeth possibly had a further 2 children, twins, April 20th 1918, George Edward and Mary Jane.

There is a William Suddes Snr listed as incapacitated and living at the Lanchester Public Assist Institution in 1939 and a death entry for the 4th quarter 1939 of a William Suddes aged 76 years, this may well be Joseph’s father.

In 1939 they were living at Chilsworthy, Sacriston, Chester-le-Street, County Durham. Joseph Snr employed as a colliery master shifter, his son Joseph a commercial motor mechanic.

Elizabeth Ann Suddes nee Copeland died aged 76 in 1965, Joseph Suddes aged 80 years, February 9th 1971, both registered in the district of Durham NW and Durham N, respectively.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.