Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Joseph Harrison was born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, date unknown, mother Isabella, brother Robert.
Joseph Harrison enlisted at Gateshead, County Durham as Private 251118 assigned to the 1/6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. Neither his military record or service medal record exists, one of the 70% destroyed during the blitz of WW2, it is therefore impossible to know his exact movements during the conflict.
The 1/6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry was originally formed as a Territorial Force in 1908 with headquarters at Bishop Auckland. August 3rd 1914 they were at their annual camp in North Wales with the rest of the Northumbrian Division when orders came to return home and prepare for war. Over the next 9 months they were formed into four companies and trained at Boldon, Ravensworth, and Bensham for full time service overseas.
The 1/6th left Newcastle railway station for France, April 19th 1915 and moved on within days to participate in the fighting in Belgium during the 2nd Battle of Ypres where they suffered heavy losses from shelling and gas attacks at Frezenberg and in the front line trenches around Ypres. They served on the salient in Belgium and around Armentieres until August 1916 as part of the 151st Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division and during September 1916 were moved south to the battlefields of the Somme again suffering heavy losses at High Wood and Eaucort L’Abbaye. November 5th 1916 they attacked the Butte at Warlencourt in heavy rain and mud, the attack failed with the loss of 150 men.
During 1917 they were at Arras, France in April and in October, by November they had returned to Belgium spending another winter in the trenches on the salient.
March 21st 1918 the German Army attacked on the Somme, they were moved forward to the front line at Peronne but were soon in retreat fighting on the River Lys reduced in strength then May 27th the 1st/6th Battalion was destroyed in fighting on the River Aisne.
Private 251118 Joseph Harrison Durham Light Infantry went missing between May 27th/30th 1918 and was later declared as, “presumed dead”. The CWGC have adopted May 31st 1918 as the official date of his demise.
His sacrifice is recorded as one on the almost 4,000 names of officers and men of the United Kingdom inscribed on the Soissons Memorial who died during the Battles of the Aisne and the Marne in 1918 and who have no known grave.
All monies due to him were divided equally between his mother Isabella and brother Robert. His mother would also have received a pension and his awards of the British War Medal, Victory Medal and the 1914-15 Star had he served overseas during that period.
In God’s are keeping. Rest In Peace.
Joseph Harrison is remembered at Heworth on H92.03
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 137
