In Cement House Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, is the Commonwealth War Grave of 33777 Private Joseph Craigs serving with the Yorkshire Regiment who died 15/11/1917.

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

Joseph Craigs was born May 17th 1898 in Craghead, County Durham. He was one of 6 children, 5 boys and 1 girl, born to Stephen Craigs 1868 Half Way House, County Durham and Margaret Ann Clarke a native of Coxhoe, County Durham. They were married the last quarter of 1890 in the district of Lanchester, their first home was at 7, Thomas Street Craghead. Stephen his father worked at the colliery as a winding engineman.

As the family grew they moved to 35, Railway Street where they took in two colliery workers as boarders. His family remained at this address, in 1911 as the youngest, only 12 years old, Joseph was a scholar whilst his elder brothers and his father all worked at the colliery.

Joseph first enlisted in Stanley as Private M/272394 in the Royal Army Service Corp attached to Mechanical Transport, date unknown. Later he was attached to the 7th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment as Private 33777. The 7th Battalion was part of the 50th Brigade, 17th Northumbrian Division.

The main body of the Regiment landed in Boulogne July 14th 1914. Joseph should not have been amongst them as he was only just 16 years old at the time. The age limit for service overseas during WW1 was 19 years, so it would appear that Joseph may have lied about his age in order to serve his Country. Even when the Military Service Act was brought in, January 27th 1916, stating that all British men between the ages of 19 and 41 were deemed to have been subject to conscription as of March 2nd 1916, he would still have been underage.

Exactly when he arrived in the field is unknown as his military record no longer exists. Private 33777 Joseph Craigs Yorkshire Regiment was killed in action November 15th 1917 in the days following the Second Battle of Passchendaele during the Third Battle of Ypres on the salient in Belgium.

His body was buried on the battlefield marked with a cross erroneously naming him as 33777 Private Graigs, his name and rank was subsequently corrected when his body was brought into Cement House Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, near Ypres, Belgium, following Armistice for re-burial and interred grave VIII. A. 23. He was 19 years old and single.

His mother Margaret Ann received all monies due to him from the Army, a pension and his awards which may have consisted of the 1914-15 Star but most definitely the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Two of his brothers also served during WW1 John Craigs and Stephen Craigs. Private 33777 Joseph Craigs is buried alongside Private 19160 Ralph Davison also of the 7th Yorkshire Regiment, a resident of 21, Wylam Street, Craghead. They died the same day, buried together on the battlefield and were also brought into the cemetery for re-burial together along with several others, some of whom were unknown.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

Joseph Craigs is remembered at Craghead on C120.01,  C120.02 and C120.04.