Joseph Nordstrom

Postcard from his daughters

Yorks & Lancs Regimental badge

Derek Johnstone has provided the following:

Joseph Burrel Nordstrom was born at Woodbury, near Otterburn, Northumberland on 21st May 1888. His parents were Alias Nordstrom, originally from Denmark, and Mary Nordstrom (nee Burrel) who was born in Cowpen, a village near to Blyth. His father was a stone quarry man and then began working in the coal mines.

In 1891 the Nordstrom family was living at Bells Place, Bedlington at a time when Joseph was about two years old. In the house at this time were siblings John William, 4, and Robert James, aged less than one year.

By 1901, Joseph’s family had moved to Sunnyside Cottages, Choppington, near to Bedlington, and the census shows an addition to the family, Minnie Josephine aged 8.

In 1909 Joseph married Elizabeth (Lizzie) Marley when he was about 20 and Lizzie was 18 years old. The marriage was registered at Morpeth. The 1911 Census records Joseph and his wife living at Foggan Yard, Bedlington with their first child, Sarah Jane, who was one year old at this time. They went on to have two more daughters: Mary born in 1911 and Ester who was born in 1914 (she died in 1990) and a son, Joseph Burrel, who was born in 1918.

In 1939 records show Joseph living at Middle Row, Barrington with his wife Lizzie and their son Joseph (born in 1918) who is shown as single. Both father and son were working in the coal mines.

The First World War commenced on 28th July 1914 and Joseph enlisted in September of the same year. His medical took place at Bedlington and shows he was about 5’ 4” tall and weighed about 132 pounds. Joseph was originally in the Northumberland Fusiliers before joining the York and Lancaster Regiment.

His military records show he spent two periods in France. The first was from 9th September 1915 to 20th June 1917 when he was wounded and spent a period in hospital in the England. He returned to France a second time from 3rd January 1918 to 19th September 1918, and was wounded again on 14th September 1918.

Joseph finally left the army service in February 1919.

Both of Joseph’s brothers served in the Great War. John William Nordstrom , serving with the Somerset Light Infantry did not survive but his other brother Robert James, who was in the Royal Army Medical Corps, did survive.

Joseph died on 7th February 1976.

Joseph Burrel Nordstron's service is remembered in Bedlington on B15.26 page 94