Joseph William Campey was born on 16th March 1884 to Yorkshire born bricklayer Tom Campey and his wife Margaret (nee Lister). Born the year after his parents’ marriage, Joseph was their first child and was brought up brought up with his siblings Joseph, Thomas, Elizabeth, Rhoda, Flora, Mark, Michael and Mabel Margaret living at 17 Hill Heads, Monkseaton.

Joseph served his apprenticeship as a bricklayer and in the summer of 1906 sailed to New York to visit a friend. On his return on 18th September 1907 he married Sophie Hannah Allen from West Cornforth in St. Paul’s Church, Cullercoats where the service was conducted by the Rev. Bailey. By 1911 they had moved into number 12 Hill Heads along the street from his parents and were themselves parents of 3 year old Gladys and one year old Rhoda. They went on to have another four children, Sarah, born in 1914, Margaret, Joseph and lastly Allen, born in 1921.

Joseph received his call up papers on 29th August 1914 and became Gunner 96400 in the 166th Battery Royal Artillery, but was discharged as medically unfit in December. He tried again and was accepted into the Royal Engineers on 13th May 1915 as Sapper 304262 and served with them until discharged on 16th March 1919.

His brothers George, Michael and Tom also served in WW1.

The 1939 Register shows that Joseph and Sarah moved to lived in Warrington, Lancashire where he continued to work as a bricklayer.

Joseph William Campey died in late summer 1971 in Warrington

Joseph William Campey is remembered at Whitley Bay in W84.30