TROWSDALE, Joseph
No. 42555, Private, Joseph Ernest TROWSDALE
Aged 18
12th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on Thursday 11th April 1918
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Born in Little Dalby, Leics in Q3-1899 [Melton Mowbray 7a:328], the 3rd son of John Arthur and Alice TROWSDALE (née ROBINSON). 1901 census...At Little Dalby were Joseph E [1] with his father John A [38] domestic butler born Sutton on Street, Yorkshire, his mother Alice [38] born Chiswick, sister Clara B [9] born St George's, London, brothers George Arthur [6] born Hoby, Leicester, Frederick John [3] born Little Dalby, and uncle Tom [31] a butler born Aske, Yorkshire 1911 census...His father was butler for Sir Ernest Cassells at Brook House, Park Lane, London. The rest of the family, mother Alice, Joseph, sisters Clara and Minna, and his brother George and Fred, were at home at Lodge Gate, The Lodge, Moulton, Paddocks, Newmarket, Suffolk (what we usually know now as Well Bottom). Sir Ernest Cassells owned Moulton Paddocks and was the benefactor who had the Newmarket Memorial Hall built. The Exning connection would have been from later living in Ash Tree Villa, Chapel Street, Exning. Joseph enlisted in Bournemouth, where he was engaged to a young lady from Westcliffe. He may have been in the employ also of Sir Ernest since he had properties there as well. CWGC have his parents address as 3, Villas-on-Heath, The Vale, Hampstead, London. |
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The day Joseph died was the day Earl Haig issued his "Backs to the Wall" message as the British were being forced back beyond Ploegsteert. The 12th Suffolk were at Fleurbaix on the 9th, suffered a heavy gas attack and were forced to withdraw to the railway just east of Fort Rompu where they dug in between the 11th Suffolks and 16th Royal Scots. On the afternoon of the 10th April they were ordered to retire further, across the Lys river, rejoin the 121st Brigade and then dig in at Nieppe. A series of attacks and counter-attacks followed until they were withdrawn to Strazeele on the 13th. 3 others of the 12th Suffolks died that day with Joseph, their bodies were found, but not Joseph's |
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