Friday 29 August 2014

Joseph Oxley Steele 1897-1916

Joseph Oxley Steele
Born:
9th January 1897 in Silkstone

Son of:
Frederick Shaw Steele b.1859 Dodworth d.1936 aged 76
1911: Fall Head Cottages Silkstone age 50 Iron Foundry Engineer and Farmer
married Q4 1884 to
Lucy Anne (nee Oxley) b.1858 Leeds d.1918 Silkstone aged 60
Lucy Ann had previously been married in 1882 to Benjamin Horsfield who died Q3 1883 age 29.

Position in family:
8th of 12 children
1. Step-brother William Oxley Horsfield b.1883 d.1932
2. Caroline Mary b.1886
3. Thomas b.1887
4. Lucy Ellen b.1889
5. Elizabeth Oxley b.1892
6. George Frederick b.1894
7. Margaret Alice b.1895

8. Joseph Oxley b.1897
9. Lillian  b.1899
10. Unknown
11. Unknown
12. Unknown
 

1911 census shows 12 children born 9 living. Since William Oxley Horsfield was from a previous marriage, there may be another 'Unknown' birth.

Home address, age and occupation:
1901: Fall Head Cottages, Silkstone age 4
1911: Fall Head Cottages, Silkstone age 14 Scholar

Marriage:
Unmarried

Military Service:
Regiment and Battalion: 1st/5th Btn. York and Lancaster Regiment
Service number and rank: 2387 Private promoted Sergeant
Awards: Victory Medal, British War Medal, and 1915 Star

Personal information:  
5 feet 10¾ inches tall with a chest 36¾ inches and had normal vision and physical development.

Death: 
10 am Monday 3rd July 1916 age 19
CWGC Remembered: Thiepval Memorial, France on Pier and Face 14A and 14B.

Remembered:
Silkstone War Memorial and Dodworth War Memorial

Notes:
Remained in England until sent to France on 13th April 1915. During training he was twice put on a charge - 4th May 1915 for being twenty five minutes late on parade (docked two days pay) and 12th June 1915 for not complying with an order for not loading a dixie (seven days fatigue).

Joseph was killed in action when a German shell exploded in his trench. He has no known grave.


He is remembered on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.



With special thanks to late Rosemary Lee of the Roggins Local History Group, and Heritage Silkstone who hold Rosemary's archive of research into the men remembered on Silkstone War Memorial.
Additional research by Pete Schofield

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