Brenda McMahon has submitted the following:-
Joseph was born at Gateshead in 1898. His parents were Samuel (coal hewer) and Margaret Ann Lamb who had 6 children but 1 died. Both parents pre deceased their son - his father in 1914 whilst his mother died 1912.
He had several siblings of whom he was the youngest. They were Margaret Ann, Mary, Elizabeth, Thomas and Ann.
Joseph enlisted on 15 August 1915. His few military records show he was 5’5” tall, had light brown hair and was a member of the Church of England. His trade was as a horsekeeper.
By 5 December 1915 he was drafted for service with Mediterranean Expeditionary Force where he joined the Royal Naval Division, Hawke Battalion at Mudros, a small Greek port on the Mediterranean island of Lemnos.
Joseph was admitted to hospital from 7 December 1916- 24 April 1917 with a shrapnel wound to the left foot. About that time he was also suffering from impetigo to the head. He rejoined Hawke Battalion from 23 Jun 1917- 9 October 1917. On 7 November 1917 he was brought before a Field General Court Martial charged with negligently self-inflicting a wound with his revolver. He suffered a bullet wound to his left index finger and was sentenced to 42 days Field Punishment No. 2.
Once again he rejoined his battalion ie from 30 November 1917 until 28 December when he sustained a fatal shrapnel wound to the head. He died at 149th (R N) Field Ambulance the same day aged 19 years.
A note on his records states “wound noted in Disease column = wound can be put forward as an eligible candidate to be awarded a wounded stripe?” He is shown as being ‘discharged dead’.
His Commonwealth War Grave is located at the small burial site of Sunken Road Cemetery which contains only about 50 graves of which a few are unidentified.
Medals :- British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1915 Star
Joseph Flint is remembered at Gateshead Fell on G39.064
