Name
Joseph Rock
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/10/1918
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
L/11792
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
53rd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BELLS HILL BURIAL GROUND
Plot C.3. Grave 151.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
I.H.S. JESU MERCY! MARY HELP! GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
UK & Other Memorials
We are not aware of any memorial in Bells Hill
Pre War
Joseph was born in1887 in Enfield to Guaranacious (George) and Caroline Rock. His parents had been born in Naples, Italy and worked as confectioners. On the 1901 Census Joseph’s parents were living at 175, High Street, Hadley. Barnet but there is no record of Joseph. His parents had moved to 139 High Street, Barnet by the 1911 Census and had been joined by daughter Elsie (aged 24).
Joseph, when aged 17 years, enlisted on 25 Aug 1904 in 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 5017, a Militia Soldier, and on 23 Aug 1907 he became a Private in the Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex) Regiment with the serial number L/11792 and committing to a period of 7 years with the colours and 5 years on Reserve. On 20 Sep 1907 Joseph was posted to 4th Battalion in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. On 16 Sep 1908 he was posted to 3rd Battalion Stationed in Singapore and India.
Wartime Service
Following the outbreak of war in Aug 1914 Joseph’s Battalion remained abroad while a replacement Battalion was arranged. He returned to UK on 21 April 1915 having been posted to 5th Battalion Middlesex at Chatham.
He went to France on 29 Apr 1915 having been posted to 2nd Battalion joining them on 8 May 1915. On 11 May 1916 He received a shell splinter wound to his face but quickly returned to his unit the next day.in Nov 1916 he was promoted to Lance Corporal.
On 9 Jan 1917 in an accident he received a bayonet wound to his buttock and after treatment at 10 Field Ambulance he returned to duties on 15 Jan 1917. Joseph was made Corporal on 25 April 1917 and attended Lewis Gun School rejoining on 17 May.
In action at Langemarck, Ypres on 16 Aug 1917 he was wounded in the left leg and treated at 55 Field Ambulance and 26 General Hospital, Etaples before being evacuated to UK on 22 Aug 1917 (the hospital whereabouts is not known but his convalescence was at Irish Convalescence Depot, Tipperary). On 7 Nov 1918 Joseph was attached to 53 (Young Soldier) Battalion at Aldershot. Joseph was treated for Haemoptysis (Coughing of Blood) and Tuberculosis at Barnet War Hospital from 5 Aug 1918 until his death on 4 Oct 1918.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £25 10s and arrears of £24 10s 10d was paid to his mother.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
