Heslop's Local Advertiser
Thiepval Memorial
Joseph Parmley
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Joseph Parmley, known as Joe, was born at Felling, Gateshead, County Durham in 1882, one of 11 children of whom 4 died, 3 gender unknown and a boy Thomas Parmley 1890-1892. Joseph was the eldest of 2 sons and 5 daughters. His father Henry Parmley native of Alston, Cumberland born 1851, having migrated to the north east, married at Gateshead in 1875, Mary Collins born 1855 at Felling, Gateshead, they settled at Graham Place, Felling. Employed as a chemical labourer Henry supported his wife and daughters, Annie (4) and Mary Jane (2), they had moved to Carlisle Street by 1891. Ten years later Henry had the help of his elder children to support the family Annie (24) was employed at a printing works, Mary Jane (22) as an assistant school mistress and Joseph (19) a brass finisher, daughter Elizabeth (16) although not employed was a pupil at a teacher training school. By 1911 both Elizabeth and Mary Jane were fully qualified and employed as teachers by the Urban District Council, Annie was a sewing machinist at the Co-op Stores whilst Joseph was an electric fitter at the ordinance works, Margaret assisted her mother at home Ellen and Harry were students.
On the outbreak of war Joseph left his employment and enlisted at Felling, Gateshead, September 4th 1914, assigned as Private 13909. After initial training near home Private Parmley was one of over 4,000 recruits that left Newcastle for Bullswater Camp near Pirbright, Surrey, September 16th 1914. Once arrived they were divided into the 12th and 13th Battalions D.L.I. and the 10th and 11th Battalions Northumberland Fusiliers, he was allocated to the 12th Battalion Durham Light infantry. The recruits began their training wearing their own clothes until blue serge uniforms were issued and obsolete rifles. By November the rain had made Bullswater Camp unusable and they were moved to Malplaquet Barrack at Aldershot and later to Ashford in Kent before returning to Bullswater come the spring. February 1915 they were issued with khaki uniforms, leathers and rifles and training began in earnest, by July 1915 it was complete and they were ready to go overseas.
August 26th Private Parmley departed as part of the British Expeditionary Force 12th Battalion D.L.I. attached to the 68th Brigade, 23rd Division, landing in France. Within days they were in the front line trenches but were spared the disastrous Battle of Loos and spent the rest of the 1915 and 1916 in the trenches at Armentieres and Souchez.
Private 13909 Joseph Palely was killed in action July 17th 1916, his sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,596 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating British and South African servicemen who were killed on the Somme 1915-1918 who have no known grave. He was 34 years old and single.
His father Henry received all monies due to him by the Army, a pension and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to him at 37, Carlisle Street, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham.
Henry Parmley died in 1924 aged 74 years, Mary Parmley nee Collins aged 80 years in 1935, both registered in the district of Gateshead, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
His death was reported in Heslop's Local Advertiser 18/8/1916.
Joseph Parmley is remembered at Felling on F32.06
