Name
Joseph Hailey
1885
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/03/1917
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
522386
Royal Engineers
486th Field Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
JERUSALEM MEMORIAL
Panel 9.
Israel and Palestine (including Gaza)
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
Joseph (junior) was born in 1885 in Hitchin and christened on 8 May 1885. His parents were Joseph and Martha Hailey.
In 1891 the family were living at 11 St Andrews Street, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Joseph and Martha (both 47), with Joseph (senior) working as a bricklayer – a trade he remained in for all the censuses below. Their children were: Charles (18), Harry (14), Alice (13), Kate (10), Rachel (8) and Joseph (6).
By 1901 the family had moved to 14 Telegraph Terrace, Lyles Row, Hitchin, where they remain for the rest of the records used here.. Present were both parents. Of the children listed above Charles and Alice are absent and the others have been joined by Albert (3). A visitor Martha May (23) was also present.
In 1911 none of the children were present, a grandchild Albert (13) was. With both grandparents. The census recorded they had been married for 39 years with 10 children, of whom 5 had died.
Before joining up he was employed by the First Garden City Ltd in Letchworth.
He enlisted into the Royal Engineers as Sapper (T) 1805 on 15 January 1915, when 29 years and 240 days, working as a bricklayer and living at 14 Telegraph Terrace, Lyles Row, Hitchin. He was described as 5’ 8 ½” tall
Officially he was recorded as born in Hitchin, Herts. and enlisted in Luton, Beds.
Wartime Service
Joseph served as Sapper (T) 1805 from 15 January 1915 and was on Home service until 27 July 1915. His service record shows that he was tested in Luton on 15 January 1915, the day of his embodiment, by a civilian tradesman and was found to be a “very good tradesman as bricklayer”.
He was allocated for service in the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force and his service with them commenced on 28 July 1915. He was recorded as absent from ship without leave and was given 2-days confined to barracks on 12 August 1915.
He was admitted to 16 Casualty Clearing Station at Port Anzac on 16 November 1915 with enteritis, leaving on the 24th, and then admitted to St Patrick’s Hospital on 24 November 1915.
Then there is another entry, dated 24 November 1915 and it is difficult to read, however it is crossed out with the “Entry cancelled man retained in Malta.” It may be that he was to be returned to England, but that was cancelled.
Later, on 11 April 1916, he rejoined his unit at Sidi Bishi, but must have soon been admitted to hospital because the next entry is that he rejoined his unit from hospital on 15 April 1916
On 1 July 1916 and was appointed Lance Corporal on the 2/1st E A Field Co. Royal Engineers.
He would have been renumbered to 522386 early in 1917.
He was killed in action in Egypt near Gaza where a major attack on the Turks was developing, but as part of te Royal Engineers, his precise location is uncertain.
He has no known grave and is remembered on Panel 9 of the Jerusalem Memorial to the Missing in Israel.
Later, on 11 April 1916, he rejoined his unit at Sidi Bishi, but must have soon been admitted to hospital because the next entry is that he rejoined his unit from hospital on 15 April 1916
On 1 July 1916 and was appointed Lance Corporal on the 2/1st E A Field Co. Royal Engineers and later posted to the 486th Field Company, Royal Engineers.
He would have been renumbered to 522386 early in 1917.
He was killed in action in Egypt near Gaza where a major attack on the Turks was developing, but as part of te Royal Engineers, his precise location is uncertain.
He has no known grave and is remembered on Panel 9 of the Jerusalem Memorial to the Missing in Israel.
Additional Information
His mother was sent his personal effects, including letters, photos and cards on 22 August 1917 and then his ‘soldier’s housewife’ – a pouch containing kit in handy waterproof carrying pouch kit for repairing clothing, e.g. scissors, buttons, needles, cotton thread etc., 3 September 1917. Then later his medals etc. were sent to his father.
After his death £5 13s 5d was authorised to go to his father, Joseph, on 14 August 1917. Later, a war gratuity of £9 10s was authorised to be paid to him on 28 October 1919.
His pension cards record that his mother, Martha Hailey, of 14 Telegraph Terrace, Lyles Row, Hitchin was awarded a pension of 4s a week from 16 October 1917. However she died later and the pension was transferred to her husband, Joseph.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
