Joseph Truswell

Joseph was the son of Joseph and Jane Hanna Truswell nee Lane. His father was born in Old Radford, Nottingham, birth registered 1859 (J/F/M Nottingham) and his mother was born in Dudley, Worcestershire, in about 1854. They were married in about 1883 and had four children of whom one died. Their surviving children were: Alice b. Nottingham 28 September 1884 (O/N/D Nottingham), Edward Frank b. Old Radford 1888 (J/A/S Nottingham) and Joseph b. Derby birth registered 1890 (J/F/M Derby). In 1891 Joseph, an iron founder, and Jane were living on Bath Streeet, Derby, with their three children, Alice (6), Edward (2) and Joseph (1). By 1901 the famiy had moved to Nottingham and was living at 6 Ledger Yard. Joseph was working as an iron moulder and his daughter Alice (16) was a laundress. His sons Edward and Joseph were still at school. In 1911 Joseph and Jane had moved to 7 Forster Street, Radford, Only Edward (22), a boiler rivetter (general engineering firm) was still living at home. Also in the household was Joseph's widowed sister-in-law, Ann Maria Wakelen (75, b. Dudley Worcs). Of their two other children, Alice had married in 1908 and was living independently while Joseph was living with his married cousin, Edward Truswell (30) and his family, at Billings Row, Cropwell Bishop, Nottinghamshire, and was a labourer at a gypsum mine. Joseph's parents later lived at 46 Redoubt Street, Radford. Joseph snr died in 1931 (O/N/D Nottingham) aged 72. Of Joseph's siblings: Alice married Levi Alderton in 1908 (J/A/S Nottingham) and they had one child, Elsie b. 29 April 1909 (A/M/J Nottingham, d. 1989 A/M/J Nottingham). In 1911 they were living at 95 Bulwell Lane, Basford, Nottingham. Levi (34 b. Headley Hants) was a coal miner; he died aged 51 in 1929 (J/F/M Nottingham). In 1939 the widowed Alice, a hosiery ironer, was living at 119 Bulwell Lane, Basford, with her unmarried daughter Elsie, a curtain examiner. Also in the household were Doris Daniels (b. February 1912) unmarried, a typewriter machine operator, and Derek Daniels (b. 14 March 1934). Alice died in 1956 (O/N/D Nottingham) aged 72. Edward Frank married in 1911 (O/N/D Nottingham, Ethel A Smart or Annie Wilkinson). He was killed in an industrial accident on 7 May 1919 (A/M/J Nottingham) aged 30. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 10 May 1919: ‘Truswell. On the 7th. The beloved eldest son of Joseph and Jane Truswell, accidentally killed. Bestwood Furnaces. Father. Mother, sister, and brother [brother-in-law], and niece Elsie.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Joseph was engaged to Agnes at the time of his death.

In 1911 he was a labourer (above ground) at a gypsum mine

68th Siege Bty Royal Garrison Artillery A surviving copy of the 14th Field Ambulance Service's 'Soldiers' Medical Records', records that Joseph Truswell (48800 Gunner RGA, 68th Siege Battery) was admitted to 14th FAS on 13 May suffering from 'JCT shoulder (L)' and was transferred the same day to the 37th Casualty Clearing Station. No other medical records have been traced but it is possible that he was then transfered to hospital in Rouen as family notices of his death in the local paper include the information that he died in Rouen of pneumonia on 10 June 1916 - less than a month after the report of his admission for treatement of a wound/injury. According to the FAS report, he had served 1 year 7 months and completed one month in the field. Joseph is buried in St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen (grave ref. A.18.41)

Personal inscription CWGC headstone: 'Gone from our home but never from our hearts' Nottingham Evening Post notice (abridged), 16 June 1916: ‘Truswell. Gunner J Truswell, RGA, aged 26, late of 46 Redoubt Street. Mother, father, sisters, brothers.’ Nottingham Evening Post,In Memoriam’, 9 June 1917: ‘Truswell. In loving memory of Gunner Joseph Truswell, died of pneumonia, in Rouen, June 10th 1916. Days of sadness still come o'er us, tears of sorrow often flow, memory keeps the loved one near me, whom God claimed a year ago. Fiancee Agnes and family.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 'In Memoriam’, 9 June 1917: ‘Truswell. In ever loving memory of Gunner Joseph Truswell, died of pneumonia, in Rouen, June 10th 1916. Too far away thy grave to see, not not too far to think of thee; but the hardest part has yet to come, when the heroes all return. Sorrowing mother, father, sisters, and brother. (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 10 June 1918: ‘Truswell. In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Gunner Joseph Truswell, died June 10th, 1916, of pneumonia. He sleepeth with the unreturnable brave. Two years of silent sorrow. Sorrowing mother, father, sisters, brothers.’ [siblings and spouses] (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)