Name
Joseph William Gladding (DCM)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/07/1917
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
266426
Hertfordshire Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Distinguished Conduct Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 54 and 56.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Thundridge War Memorial, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Born 6th September 1882 in Stondon, Herts. Son of George and Elizabeth Mary Gladding. Baptised 15th October 1882 in High Cross, Herts.
The 1891 Census shows him aged 8 years living with his parents and his two brothers James and George. Joseph enlisted into the 13th Hussars on the 1st October 1900 aged 18 years.
The 1901 Census shows him aged 18 years, his occupation is Private in the Cavalry, the location is Cavalry Barracks, St James with Pockthorne, Norwich, Norfolk.
He married Emily Elizabeth Mallett a spinster of Norwich, Norfolk, in the Parish Church of St Mary Magdalen, Norwich, Norfolk, on the 3rd July 1909. Joseph and Emily had one daughter Hilda Ellen, born in 1910, she was baptised on the 9th July 1910, in High Cross, Herts. and one son William George, born 27th September 1912, he was baptized on the 20th October 1912, in High Cross, Herts.
1911 Census shows him out of the Cavalry and living in Wadesmill, Herts. Occupation Horseman on Farm. He has a wife and a daughter aged 9 months.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hertford. Initially in to the 1st/1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment (TF), with the service number 4589.
He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions on the 13th November 1916 at the Battle of Ancre (13th – 18th November 1916). The Battle of Ancre was the last large Battle of the Somme. (The Battle of the Somme, 1st July – 18th November 1916).
The Citation for his DCM was published in the Supplement to the London Gazette on the 26th January 1917.
He was killed in action on Tuesday 31st July 1917, at the battle of St Juliaan where the Herts suffered terrible casualties (459). He has no known grave and is Commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.
Additional Information
CWGC Inscription – Son of George and Elizabeth Gladding, of 3 Wades Mill, Ware, Herts.; Husband of Emily Elizabeth Gladding of 4 Railway Street, Norwich, Norfolk.
Acknowledgments
Maurice Charge, Stuart Osborne, Pat Bird, Jonty Wild
