In Solferino Farm Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, is the Commonwealth War Grave of 290827 Private Joseph Daniel Potter, serving with the 1st/7th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, who died 27/10/1917.
Derek Johnstone has provided the following:
Joseph Daniel Potter was born in Edgefield, Norfolk, about 1883. In 1891 Joseph was living at Ramsgate Street, Edgefield, North Norfolk with his widowed mother when he was 8 years old and still at school. Also in the house were siblings James, 16; Mary, 6 and Sidney, aged 4. In 1901, Joseph, aged 18, was a Private in the 2nd Battalion Norfolk Regiment and still living at the family house at Holt, Edgefield, Norfolk.
By 1911, now aged 27, he had moved to Northumberland probably to gain employment in the coal mines. He was single at this time and was living with the Lamb family as a lodger at 18, Doctor Terrace, Bedlington. Later in 1911 Joseph married Annie Lamb, a daughter of the head of the household, which was registered at the Morpeth Registry Office, when Annie would be about 16 years old. Joseph and Annie had a child, Daniel Thomas Potter, who was born in 1912.
Military records show Joseph enlisted at Alnwick, Northumberland into the East Yorkshire Regiment in August 1914 but was discharged due to a problem with his knees in November of the same year. After this he joined up again, this time with the Northumberland Fusiliers and died from his wounds in 1917. Joseph, who had brown eyes and hair, was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal & Victory Medal.
David Thompson has submitted the following:-
Joseph Daniel Potter was born about 1883, at Edgefield, Norfolk.
Three siblings – James (b. about 1875); Mary (b. about 1885); and Sydney (b. about 1887).
By 1911, Potter had moved to Northumberland, presumably to seek employment in the coal mines. He was single and living with the Lamb family as a lodger, at 18, Doctor Place, Bedlington.
Later in 1911 he married Annie Lamb (b. about 1895), which marriage was registered at Morpeth Registry Office. The couple had two sons, Daniel Thomas born October 14th 1912 and Robert born March 1st 1915.
Pre-enlistment occupation: Coal Miner.
Potter had previous military service. In 1901, aged 18, he was a Private in the Norfolk Regiment’s 2nd Battalion but he appears to have been still living in the family home at Holt, Edgefield, Norfolk.
On the declaration of war in August 1914, Potter re-enlisted at Alnwick, Northumberland, into the East Yorkshire Regiment but he was discharged three months later due to a problem with his knees.
Nevertheless, he later re-enlisted, again, and joined Northumberland Fusiliers.
Died of wounds received.
Gary Potter tells us: “Joseph was my great-grandfather. His second son Robert Potter was born to him and his wife Annie in 1915 in Bedlington
The Blyth News 19/11/1917 reports:-
LOCAL CASUALTIES. Private Joseph Potter (32), of 18 Doctor Terrace, Bedlington, who worked at the Doctor Pit prior to joining up has been killed in action. The following letter has been received by Mrs Potter: I expect you will have heard officially by now that your husband has been killed in action. But you will not have heard any of the circumstances of his death. Your husband was carrying out his duty in the transport lines when an enemy aeroplane dropped a bomb close by, wounding him so severely that he died in hospital. Please accept my sincerest sympathy in your great loss I am yours truly Lieut. Frank Merrevale N.F.
Morpeth Herald 16/11/1917 carries a brief obituary:
ROLL OF HONOUR
POTTER.- Died of wounds received in action, Oct. 27th, 1917, Pte. Joseph Daniel Potter (No.290827), N.F., the dearly beloved husband of Annie Potter, 18 Doctor Terrace, Bedlington.-Deeply mourned by his loving wife and two sons, father and mother-in-law, Mr and Mrs Lamb.
Morpeth Herald 30/11/1917 carries the following:
Private Joseph Potter, aged 32, of 18 Doctor Terrace, Bedlington, who worked at Doctor Pit prior to joining up, has been killed in action.
Joseph Daniel Potter is remembered in Bedlington on B15.02, B15.03, B15.06 and B15.26 page 45 and in the Battalion History.
