In Orchard Dump Cemetery, Arleux-en-Gohelle, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of Tyneside Z/2628 Able Seaman Joseph Mullen, serving with the Anson Battalion Royal Naval Division  Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, who died 28/05/1917.

The son of Elizabeth H. M. Crawshaw (formerly Mullen), of 2, Well Close, Tynemouth, North Shields, and the late Dominic Mullen.

Colin Boyd has submitted the following:

Joseph was born on 8th February 1896. He was working as a labourer living with his mother, Elizabeth Crawshaw at 2, Well Close, Tynemouth when he enlisted in the Royal Naval Division on 2nd January 1915.

He joined the Anson Battalion on 24th July 1915 and was hospitalised on 30th October 1915 suffering from Debility.

After rejoining the Anson Battalion on 6th February 1916 Joseph was invalided to the UK on 13th July 1916 with a sprained right ankle.

He rejoined the Anson Battalion on 10th May 1917 and was killed in action on 28th May 1917. The Battalion War Diary for that date states “….two hours previous to relief a shell fell in “D” Company front causing us the loss of six killed and three wounded.”

Joseph Mullen is remembered at North Shields on N34.77 and at  Tynemouth on T36.01 and in T36.14 page 20.