Photo: James Pasby
28611 Private
J. Thompson
S. Staffordshire Regt.
12th December 1917
Jacky Cooper has provided the following:
Joseph Thompson’s military records are somewhat confusing: Commonwealth War Graves Commission show his service number as 28611 in the South Staffordshire Regiment, transferred to 14861 in the Labour Corps. Some contemporary documents appear to mix up two Joseph Thompsons. The story that follows relates to the man believed to be the one buried at Whickham.
Joseph Thompson was the sixth child of Thomas Thompson and Isabella Maddison who had married on 28 July at St James Church, Gateshead. James was a stonemason, and when the census was taken in 1881 the family was living at Robson’s Yard, Whickham. Thomas and Isabella had four children at that time. Joseph, their fourth son, was born early in 1883.
When the census return was made in 1891 the family was living at Whorlton Terrace, Whickham, and eight year old Joseph was still at school. The family went through a very difficult time over the next few years and both Thomas and Isabella had died by the turn of the century. Consequently, when the next census was taken in 1901 the children were separated. One of the older girls had married, and she had three of her siblings living with her. Joseph had left school and was working as a labourer in the brickworks, lodging with the Ramsay family in Whickham.
It is unclear where Joseph was in the 1901 census, but we know that he enlisted in the army on 29 July 1916. Given that he didn’t enlist early in the war, and considering his age it looks likely that he received a call up notice after conscription was introduced with the Military Service Act early in 1916. Joseph was posted to the South Staffordshire Regiment and later to the Labour Corps. It is not clear whether he served in the field of battle or remained in England. There is no evidence of a Medal Index Card for him, so it is possible that all of his service was at home. A medal award roll entry for 14861 Joseph Thompson in the Labour Corps shows that man’s previous service as 21819 West Riding Regiment. With this confusion, it is very difficult to be able to say anything about his military service, other than the odd details from the Silver War Badge roll. That document records that Joseph was discharged on 3 August 1917, unfit for further military service. This is confirmed on Joseph’s Soldier’s Effects entry.
Joseph died on 12 December 1917, possibly in Whickham Hospital. His £4 War Gratuity Payment was sent to his younger sister Jane Anne.
Joseph Thompson is remembered in Whickham on W86.10
