Commemoration to my Great Uncle Joe

Born at Waterside, Cumbria in 1896, my Great Uncle was the eldest brother to three sisters, Evelyn, Doris and Blanche.

My Grandmother remembers seeing him off at Waterside on his return to active duty at the end of March/beginning of April.  She waved at him as he crossed the bridge at Waterside not knowing this would be the last time she would see his elder brother alive.  He was killed a few weeks later when the area around Bethune suffered heavy shelling. According to his commanding officer, Joe and Sgt Danley had gone out to repair a telephone line which had been hit.  It was whilst carrying out this repair that a piece of shell hit and killed Joe.  He died almost at once in the arms of Sgt Danley.  He was buried by a Chaplain at Bethune cemetry attended by his friends, comrades and commanding officer who had returned the day of his funeral following injury he himself had received. His commanding officer wrote, 'I know no words of mine can fully console you in your great loss, but I do assure you of the deep sympathy of all the officers and men of the Battery and of mine own heartfelt sorrow for yourself.  In conclusion, I do ask you to remember and be always very proud of having had such a very......'  The last part of the letter is missing from the family records, but it is obvious that they thought very highly of this young man and my Great Uncle whom my Grandma had often likened to me.   Peter Ellwood (Great Nephew)

Peter Ellwood