Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Joseph Hope Teasdale was born at Malton Colliery in 1898, one of 5 children of whom only 3 survived, he was the 2nd born of 2 sons and a daughter. His father Joseph Teasdale Snr of Tow Law born 1868 married widow Helen Wynn nee Hope, also known as Ellen, in 1896 at Lanchester. She was born at Haswell, County Durham in 1866 and had 2 children from her previous marriage, Lily born in 1887 and Ethel 1893. Joseph Snr supported his family employed as a coke drawer, in 1901 they were living at 21, Sadler Terrace, Lanchester and having moved to Malton Colliery by 1911 he was a coal porter at the coke ovens, Thomas (14) a token lad, Joseph (12) and Ann Hope (6) were scholars, half-sister Ethel Wynn (18) also lived with them.
When war broke out with Germany in 1914 Joseph Hope Teasdale was 16 years of age, he enlisted in about 1917 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland as an infantryman and was assigned to the 34th Battalion Machine Gun Corps as Private 163162 when it was formed February 26th 1918 from the Machine Gun Companies of the 34th Division.
Private Teasdale served on the Western Front at the Battle of Estaires, April 9th-11th 1918, the Battle of Bailleul April 13th-15th and the 1st Battle of Kemmel Ridge April 16th-29th 1918 all phases of the Battles of Lys during the 4th Battle of Ypres in Belgium where they suffered heavy losses. They were withdrawn prior to the end of the battle on the 21st and sent to the Poperinge area to reorganise and dig a new defensive line between Abeele and Waton. Reduced to cadre strength during May 1918 around Lumbres they were then used to train the newly arrived American troops. By July 1st 1918 reinforced and ready to return to front line action they engaged the enemy at the Battle of Soissonais, the Ourcq and the capture of Baigneux Ridge before taking part in the Final Advance in Flanders and at the Armistice were resting east of Courtrai.
Private 163162 Joseph Hope Teasdale died 4 days prior to the declaration of the Armistice with Germany, November 7th 1918 and was interred at Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, Pas de Calais, France, grave IX. D. 1. He was 20 years of age and single. No reason is given for his death however the cemetery at Terlincthun was only begun in June 1918 and the area near Terlincthun was established as rest camps for Commonwealth Forces and was quite close to the numerous hospital centres of Boulogne and Wimereux.
His mother Ellen as his sole beneficiary received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at Malton Colliery, Esh, County Durham. His father Joseph commissioned at a cost of 16 shillings 2 pence an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “None Knew Him But To Love Him None Mentioned His Name But With Praise.”
Joseph’s brother Thomas Teasdale also served during WW1with the Durham Light Infantry as Private 105172 and although wounded, survived the conflict.
His father Joseph Teasdale died in 1926 aged 58 years, Helen (Ellen) Teasdale-Wynn nee Hope aged 67 years in 1933 both registered in the district of Lanchester, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Joseph Hope Teasdale is remembered at Malton on M49.01 at Lanchester on L62.01 and L62.04 and at Quebec on Q2.06
