Brenda McMahon submitted the following :-
Joseph was born to parents John Newrick Scorer and Margaret Annie (nee Gray) in 1898 at Auckland Park. His parents were known as Jack and Meg. He had several siblings including George, James, Ben, William, Sarah, Dorothy, Mary, Thomas and Fred.
His father, Jack worked in the pits, in 1901 as a coal miner hewer then by 1911 a stoneman below ground.
Joseph enlisted at Barnard Castle on 10 October 1914 with 6th Reserve Battalion (Service number 2945) until he was posted to 15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry in December 1916.
His medical papers show him as being just over 5’ 4” tall, having good vision, teeth and physical development. He was considered fit for serving with the Territorial Force.
On Christmas Day 1916 he was posted to France where he joined his unit at Etaples.
He was admitted to hospital 8 March 1917 with gastritis then later was treated for gastric catarrh. He was in hospital for several weeks eventually on the 7 April 1917, he rejoined his unit from convalescent camp.
Joseph was killed in action on 3 May 1917 aged 19 years.
He was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.
Joseph Elliott Scorer is remembered at Auckland Park on A42.01 and in the DLI Book of Remembrance page 107
