Son of Robert T. and Mary Oswald; husband of Irene Edna Oswald, of Hetton-le-Hole, Co. Durham
The Durham Chronicle of 06/09/1940 carries the following report:
A few days ago Mrs Irene Oswald, of 58 Lilywhite Terrace, Easington Lane, received a letter enclosing a photograph from her husband, Joseph Henry Oswald, a gunner in the Royal Navy, stating that he hoped soon to be home on leave. A few hours later she received a telegram from the Admiralty informing her that her husband had been lost at sea.
Aged 42, Mr. Oswald joined the Navy as a youth in 1914 and served throughout the Great War on destroyers. As a Royal Naval Reservist he was called up in July last year when again he was posted to a destroyer until February this year when he came ashore to go through a gunnery course, and on completing this he was transferred to a merchant ship as a gunner.
Mrs. Oswald has since received a letter from the Commodore at Portsmouth expressing sympathy on her bereavement on behalf of the officers and men of the Royal Navy, and adding that her husband had helped to maintain the high traditions of the service.
Mr. Oswald was a member of a well-known butchering family and he himself, in civil life, was engaged in the trade. He leaves a widow and three children.
Joseph Henry Oswald is remembered at Easington Lane on E71.01 and at Hetton-le-Hole in H125.14
