Brenda McMahon has submitted the following:-
Joseph was born in 1884 at Heugh Hall, Durham the son of Robert and Elizabeth (nee Huntley).
The 1891 census shows the family living at Heugh Hall. Father Robert was a coal miner wasteman. The couple had several children - Christopher, John, Margaret, Elizabeth and Thomas. There had been another, Isabella, born in 1880 but sadly she died aged 8 years old.
By 1901 a few changes had occurred within the household. Joseph was now a coal miner hewer/helper below ground. Son, Christopher was now married to Jane and they had 2 children of their own. The family seemed to live very near each other.
On November 27th 1909 Joseph had married his sweetheart, Ethel Tatham. For some reason it appears about 1910 they adopted a son Robert William (aged only 6 months) who had been born in Stockton.
1911 Joseph is still working as a coal hewer. The couple had also a boarder, Alfred Wilson living with them. This resulted in 4 people living in 2 rooms.
Their daughter Margaret Elizabeth was born December 4th 1911.
The military records for Joseph are not available so very little is known about his service.
Joseph enlisted at Coxhoe and joined the Royal Field Artillery. He was posted to France on July 11th 1915. He died of wounds received in action on September 4th 1918.
The inscription on his headstone reads: “Dearly remembered by his sorrowful wife and little daughter”
Medals: 1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
His widow, Ethel, remarried to John Keyland in 1919 by whom she had 2 further children. However it was a short marriage as she died in 1925 aged only 35.
Joseph Huntley Bestford is remembered at Quarrington in Q3.03 and Q3.05 and at Tursdale on T62.02
