A Cotton Thread - part 3
Sapper Joseph William Lenton Royal Engineers
The Man Joseph William Lenton was born on Wednesday 26th September 1888, son of Joseph Senior, a Gardener and Mary nee Deeley in Milverton, Leamington Spa. He was one of five children, Henry (1890–1891) Kate Deeley (1891–1891), Gertrude Mary (1887–1981) and Evelyn Violet (1894–1962) who later emigrated to Canada. Sadly Henry and Kate died very shortly after their birth.
Joseph junior’s religion was Church of England and he was Baptised in the Parish of St Pauls, Leamington on 16th January 1889 and the 1891 census shows the family living at 1 Barratts Place, Rugby Road, Milverton. Barratt was probably the landlord and the properties were initially named Barratt Court but changed to ‘Place’ at the request of residents. They were demolished and replaced by Stamford Gardens in about 1961, although the old Barratt Place still exists as a service road.
By 1901 the family had moved to Keytes Lane in Barford, most likely in a tied cottage and working for the Barford Manor as there were many other people listed as doing domestic type duties in the same Lane. Following his education, Joseph junior began working in the Motor Industry and on 25th March 1911 he married Ethel Cotton, sister of James Henry (Harry) Cotton, in Leamington Spa.
The 1911 census shows Joseph senior and Mary still living in Keytes Lane. Joseph junior and Ethel were living as boarders at 37 St George’s Road, Leamington with the Neale family and his occupation was given as a Body Worker for a Motor Works. Shortly after they moved to 197 Heeley Road, Selly Oak in Birmingham, and had one daughter Hilda Madge born on 20th June 1913.
By 1914 they had returned to Leamington Spa, living at 6 Somers Place with Ethel’s sister and husband Minnie and George Pitman and following the start of World War I on 4th August, Joseph enlisted the following year into the Royal Engineers as a Sapper with service number 167157. He was attested on 30th November 1915 aged 26 in Chatham and his occupation was given as a Wheelwright, ‘a person who makes or repairs wooden wheels’, this fitting in with his civil occupation as a motor mechanic. He was described as 5’ 3¼” tall, weighing 133lbs chest of 37”, with brown hair and light blue eyes and a good physical development.
Following enlistment, he was transferred to the Army Reserve and mobilised on 29th April 1916, he embarked for the British Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders on 13th November 1916. On 30th July 1917 Joseph was wounded in a gas tack, possibly as a precursor to the Third Battle of Ypres the next day because on the eve of this battle the Germans introduced two new chemical weapons to the battlefield, one of which was Mustard gas which blistered the skin, eyes, and lungs, and killed thousands. Sadly his medical report is not readable.
Following the war, Joseph was demobilised on 1st March 1919 and returned to Somers Place. He was awarded the 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In 1922 Joseph and family were living at 10 Northcote Street, Leamington and his occupation still shown as Wheelwright. By 1939 they had moved to 31 Lincoln Road North in Solihull and Joseph now aged 51 was a Motor Vehicle Builder. It isn’t known if Joseph served in any of the various civil defence organisations during World War II. However following the war he and Ethel lived with his Brother in Law ‘Harry’ Cotton at 16 Leam Street, but following Harry’s death on 5th February 1948 they moved, to 74 Beauchamp Road, Warwick to be nearer Minnie, whose husband ‘George’ had also passed away a few months previously.
Joseph passed away on 19th December 19169 aged 81 leaving a net amount of £501.12/- (approx. £9,800.00 in 2022). He left everything to Ethel, with his daughter Hilda and son in law Brian Wilkins acting as executor.
The Story For the story on these medals - see James Henry COTTON
Joseph junior’s religion was Church of England and he was Baptised in the Parish of St Pauls, Leamington on 16th January 1889 and the 1891 census shows the family living at 1 Barratts Place, Rugby Road, Milverton. Barratt was probably the landlord and the properties were initially named Barratt Court but changed to ‘Place’ at the request of residents. They were demolished and replaced by Stamford Gardens in about 1961, although the old Barratt Place still exists as a service road.
By 1901 the family had moved to Keytes Lane in Barford, most likely in a tied cottage and working for the Barford Manor as there were many other people listed as doing domestic type duties in the same Lane. Following his education, Joseph junior began working in the Motor Industry and on 25th March 1911 he married Ethel Cotton, sister of James Henry (Harry) Cotton, in Leamington Spa.
The 1911 census shows Joseph senior and Mary still living in Keytes Lane. Joseph junior and Ethel were living as boarders at 37 St George’s Road, Leamington with the Neale family and his occupation was given as a Body Worker for a Motor Works. Shortly after they moved to 197 Heeley Road, Selly Oak in Birmingham, and had one daughter Hilda Madge born on 20th June 1913.
By 1914 they had returned to Leamington Spa, living at 6 Somers Place with Ethel’s sister and husband Minnie and George Pitman and following the start of World War I on 4th August, Joseph enlisted the following year into the Royal Engineers as a Sapper with service number 167157. He was attested on 30th November 1915 aged 26 in Chatham and his occupation was given as a Wheelwright, ‘a person who makes or repairs wooden wheels’, this fitting in with his civil occupation as a motor mechanic. He was described as 5’ 3¼” tall, weighing 133lbs chest of 37”, with brown hair and light blue eyes and a good physical development.
Following enlistment, he was transferred to the Army Reserve and mobilised on 29th April 1916, he embarked for the British Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders on 13th November 1916. On 30th July 1917 Joseph was wounded in a gas tack, possibly as a precursor to the Third Battle of Ypres the next day because on the eve of this battle the Germans introduced two new chemical weapons to the battlefield, one of which was Mustard gas which blistered the skin, eyes, and lungs, and killed thousands. Sadly his medical report is not readable.
Following the war, Joseph was demobilised on 1st March 1919 and returned to Somers Place. He was awarded the 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In 1922 Joseph and family were living at 10 Northcote Street, Leamington and his occupation still shown as Wheelwright. By 1939 they had moved to 31 Lincoln Road North in Solihull and Joseph now aged 51 was a Motor Vehicle Builder. It isn’t known if Joseph served in any of the various civil defence organisations during World War II. However following the war he and Ethel lived with his Brother in Law ‘Harry’ Cotton at 16 Leam Street, but following Harry’s death on 5th February 1948 they moved, to 74 Beauchamp Road, Warwick to be nearer Minnie, whose husband ‘George’ had also passed away a few months previously.
Joseph passed away on 19th December 19169 aged 81 leaving a net amount of £501.12/- (approx. £9,800.00 in 2022). He left everything to Ethel, with his daughter Hilda and son in law Brian Wilkins acting as executor.
The Story For the story on these medals - see James Henry COTTON
Medal Details:
- 1914-18 British War Medal: 167157 SPR. J.W.LENTON. R.E.
- Victory Medal: 167157 SPR. J.W.LENTON. R.E.
This page last updated 16 Dec 22
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