Driver Joseph Parsons Army Service Corps
The Man Joseph Parsons was born on Saturday 16th July 1898 in Chipping Sodbury, Gloucester, son of Sidney James, a Coal Hewer and Laura nee Millard. He was one of eight children, William Sidney born in 1888, Hester Ann 1890, Frederick Charles 1892-1913, who died in the Universal Colliery Disaster, Senghenydd, Glamorgan, George 1894, Gilbert Allen 1896, Arthur Leonard 1900-1983, Lucy Jane 1900 and Emma Mary 1901.
Joseph was Baptised on 25th September 1898 at All Saints Church, Winterbourne Down, Gloucester. The 1901 census shows the family living at 37 Mays Hill in Gloucester, tragically, his mother Laura died in December 1901 aged just 33 and was buried on 15th December at St Saviours, Coalpit Lane, Gloucestershire.
Sidney remarried in 1903 to Angelina ‘Annie’ Adams at Chipping Sodbury and they had one daughter Angelina Grace, Joseph’s half-sister born in 1904. During the next few years, the family moved to Wales, most likely for Sidney to find employment in the mining industry. The 1911 census shows them living at 5 Coopers Terrace, Ystrad Mynach, Nr Cardiff. Sidney’s occupation is an Underground Collier, Angelina, Confectionary and Refreshments and Joseph aged 12 still at School.
Frederick, Joseph’s brother, had by now moved out of the family home, living at 47 Long Row, Nelson and working as a coal miner, he was sadly killed on 14th October 1913 aged 21 in the Senghenydd colliery disaster, also known as the Senghenydd explosion (Welsh: Tanchwa Senghennydd), which occurred at the Universal Colliery in Senghenydd, near Caerphilly, Glamorgan and remains to this day Britain’s worst mining disaster.
At the start of World War I on 4th August 1914, Joseph enlisted in the Army Service Corps as a Driver, with service Number T/4570, later changed to T/36173.
Following his training he entered France on 4th September 1915 and served throughout the war being injured in the latter stages of the conflict, this appearing in the War Office Daily List No.5757 of 28th December 1918 and he was entitled to wear a wound stripe. Joseph was discharged on 5th June 1919 and awarded the 1914-15 Star, 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal.
During the last quarter of 1925 aged Joseph married Ellen Jane Smith in Merthyr Tydfil and they had one daughter Mavis born in February 1927-1998. The 1936 electoral register shows them living at 17 Commercial Street, Gellygaer, Caerphilly and the 1939 Register at the same address, with Joseph working as a General Labourer, he had also enlisted into the Glamorgan Police as a War Reserve Constable, serving throughout World War II and being awarded the Defence Medal.
In later life Joseph and Ellen lived at 10 Caerphilly Road, Ystrad Mynach and Joseph passed away on 6th June 1960 aged 62 at the Miners Hospital, Caerphilly. Ellen lived another 17 years and died during the second quarter of 1977.
Joseph was Baptised on 25th September 1898 at All Saints Church, Winterbourne Down, Gloucester. The 1901 census shows the family living at 37 Mays Hill in Gloucester, tragically, his mother Laura died in December 1901 aged just 33 and was buried on 15th December at St Saviours, Coalpit Lane, Gloucestershire.
Sidney remarried in 1903 to Angelina ‘Annie’ Adams at Chipping Sodbury and they had one daughter Angelina Grace, Joseph’s half-sister born in 1904. During the next few years, the family moved to Wales, most likely for Sidney to find employment in the mining industry. The 1911 census shows them living at 5 Coopers Terrace, Ystrad Mynach, Nr Cardiff. Sidney’s occupation is an Underground Collier, Angelina, Confectionary and Refreshments and Joseph aged 12 still at School.
Frederick, Joseph’s brother, had by now moved out of the family home, living at 47 Long Row, Nelson and working as a coal miner, he was sadly killed on 14th October 1913 aged 21 in the Senghenydd colliery disaster, also known as the Senghenydd explosion (Welsh: Tanchwa Senghennydd), which occurred at the Universal Colliery in Senghenydd, near Caerphilly, Glamorgan and remains to this day Britain’s worst mining disaster.
At the start of World War I on 4th August 1914, Joseph enlisted in the Army Service Corps as a Driver, with service Number T/4570, later changed to T/36173.
Following his training he entered France on 4th September 1915 and served throughout the war being injured in the latter stages of the conflict, this appearing in the War Office Daily List No.5757 of 28th December 1918 and he was entitled to wear a wound stripe. Joseph was discharged on 5th June 1919 and awarded the 1914-15 Star, 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal.
During the last quarter of 1925 aged Joseph married Ellen Jane Smith in Merthyr Tydfil and they had one daughter Mavis born in February 1927-1998. The 1936 electoral register shows them living at 17 Commercial Street, Gellygaer, Caerphilly and the 1939 Register at the same address, with Joseph working as a General Labourer, he had also enlisted into the Glamorgan Police as a War Reserve Constable, serving throughout World War II and being awarded the Defence Medal.
In later life Joseph and Ellen lived at 10 Caerphilly Road, Ystrad Mynach and Joseph passed away on 6th June 1960 aged 62 at the Miners Hospital, Caerphilly. Ellen lived another 17 years and died during the second quarter of 1977.
The Story The medals awarded to Joseph Parsons were purchased at an Antique Fair at Stoneleigh National Exhibition Centre on Friday 29th March 2024. They were an impulse buy as the cost was reasonable and were sitting together with no ribbons on a table, there was the risk they could be separated at some future point, although the dealer was adamant they wouldn’t be.
Although Ancestry.UK located the medal index card and rolls, confirming Joseph’s first name there were so many people with the same first and surname that nothing else was found. However, a cursory search of Forces War Records revealed Joseph had been injured towards the end of World War I and the next of kin address given as ‘Ystradmynach’, a town in Wales.
A further search of Ancestry.UK using the town name Ystrad Mynach gave an immediate hit, there being only one Joseph Parsons, enabling a brief resume of his life to be pieced together. Of interest was the fact his brother, Frederick had perished in the Universal Coal Mine disaster of 1913 and Joseph served as a War Reserve Police Constable during World War II.
A man who fought through World War I, was injured and survived, has been rescued from obscurity and is now at least remembered for posterity.
Although Ancestry.UK located the medal index card and rolls, confirming Joseph’s first name there were so many people with the same first and surname that nothing else was found. However, a cursory search of Forces War Records revealed Joseph had been injured towards the end of World War I and the next of kin address given as ‘Ystradmynach’, a town in Wales.
A further search of Ancestry.UK using the town name Ystrad Mynach gave an immediate hit, there being only one Joseph Parsons, enabling a brief resume of his life to be pieced together. Of interest was the fact his brother, Frederick had perished in the Universal Coal Mine disaster of 1913 and Joseph served as a War Reserve Police Constable during World War II.
A man who fought through World War I, was injured and survived, has been rescued from obscurity and is now at least remembered for posterity.
Medal Details:
- 1914-15 Star: T-36173 DVR.J.PARSONS A.S.C.
- 1914-18 British War Medal: T-36173 DVR.J.PARSONS. A.S.C.
- Victory Medal: ET-36173 DVR.J.PARSONS. A.S.C.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
This page last updated 21 Apr 24
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