Ploegsteert Memorial
Ploegsteert Memorial
Brenda McMahon submitted the following :-
Joseph William Dinsley was born at Auckland Park in 1898 to parents Henry and Dorothy Ann. He was their eldest son. The couple had 4 children but unfortunately 1 died. His remaining siblings were Thomas and Elizabeth Ann.
His father was a coal miner/hewer.
Joseph enlisted at Bishop Auckland aged 18 years serving with Durham Light Infantry, Battalions 10th/12th & 1/7 keeping his same service number 33326 throughout.
His army papers show Joseph to have been a boot shop assistant. He was 5’4” tall and his religion was Primitive Methodist.
He was posted to France 26 October 1916. The following year he was admitted to hospital suffering from a gunshot wound to the arm. The hospitalisation lasted from 3 June 1917 until 30 July 1917 but was back in hospital for a further stay between 9 August 1917 and 19 October 1917. Whether it was a second wound or problems with the first not healing properly is difficult to say. He was sent to hospital for treatment in England on H.S.S. David.
He returned to his battalion but by 13 April 1918 he was reported missing. His fellow soldier, Corporal Haggis, last saw Joseph as being wounded but in the heat of battle he lost sight of him.
The War Office later stated 'death presumed, as lapse of time as having occurred on or since 13 April 1918'. He was 20 years old.
He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Joseph William Dinsley is remembered at Auckland Park on A42.01 and at South Church in S144.05
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 83
