Joseph Green

Joseph's story is very sad. He was born in Dore to Vincent Valentine and Mary Ann Green on 4th December 1888, one of at least six children. They all lived in what at the time was called Fearnehough's Row on Townhead Road (sometimes also referred to as the Barracks). Father Vincent was an agricultural labourer.

By the time of the 1901 Census, Joseph is already in work (he's only 13, remember) as an agricultural labourer for the young William and Clara Unwin at Newfield Lane Farm. William is described as both a farmer and milk dealer. Joseph's father appears to have died soon after the 1891 Census and by the time of Joseph's death in France his mother is listed as Mary Ann Sampson, so may have remarried.

Joseph emigrated to Australia in 1910, and is described in records there as 'in farming' at Cowal North, Forbes, New South Wales. He enlisted in July 1916 into the 25th Machine Gun Company of the Australian Imperial Force. By 1917 he had returned to England with his Company, and then went on to serve with the British Expeditionary Force in France from September 1917.

He died on 27th March 1918 at No. 2 Casualty Clearing Station, of wounds received in action on the 25th. He is buried at the Communal Cemetery, Bailleul.