Name
Joseph Dyer
1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
14/06/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
110194
Royal Field Artillery
'D' Battery, 50th Brigade
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POINT-DU-JOUR MILITARY CEMETERY, ATHIES
I. F. 11.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Berkhamsted Town Memorial, St Peter's Church Memorial, Berkhamsted, Northchurch Village Memorial, St Mary’s Church Window, Northchurch
Pre War
Joseph Dyer was born in 1891 in Aylesbury, Bucks, the son of William John and Sarah Dyer (nee Hicks). he was one of seven children, but one died in infancy.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at 15 Prospect Place, Aylesbury where his father was working as a boatman on the canal. Joseph was then one month old.
They had moved to 100 George Street, Northchurch by the 1901 Census and then to 2 George Street, Sunnyside, Berkhamsted by 1911, at which time Joseph was working as a gardener domestic.
His mother died in 1912 and his father's address on pension records was Lock House, Raven's Lane, Berkhamsted.
Wartime Service
Joseph enlisted at Watford and joined the Royal Field Artillery as Gunner 110194 and is known to have served with 'D' Battery L (50th) Brigade. This was a Howitzer Battery and was present at the Battles of Arras and the Scarpe.
He was killed in action on 14 June 1917 and is buried in Pont-de-Jour Military Cemetery, Athies, France.
Additional Information
Mrs Georgina Kempster received a war gratuity of £7 10s and pay owing of £9 17s.
Pension records exist in respect of Joseph and his brother Walter with their father named as dependent, but give no indication of a pension being granted.
Brother Walter served with the 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment and died of wounds on 23 March 1916. Brother Arthur served with the 11th Battalion, Essex Regiment and was killed in action on 23 September 1916.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper, Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild,
