Selected Biographies

Joscelyne, Edwin Robert – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 12.6.1884.[1]  Parents: Robert James Joscelyne (Agricultural Labourer) and Anna Lucinda [née Farrents].  Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Alfred Younger of Long Melford [b1881]. Home: The Green, Long Melford (1891), Bishop Yard, Westgate Street, Long Melford (1901), Westgate Street, Long Melford (1911), 2 Bixby Cottages, Westgate Street, Long Melford (1939), 3 Scutchers Cottages, Westgate Street, Long Melford [1965].  Occupation: The Green, Long Melford (1891), Bixbys Yard, Westgate Street/Lane, Long Melford (1901 to 1939), 3 Scutchers Cottages, Westgate St, Long Melford [1965].  Married: Nellie Rising in 1913.  Service Record: Edwin was conscripted on 11.12.1915 as Pte.8425 with 1/1^st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment, transferring as Pte.260230 to 2/8^th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment in France.  The Battalion was posted to the Western Front from May 1916 as part of 183^rd [2^nd Gloucester and Worcester] Brigade up to February 1918 and thereafter to 182^nd [2^nd Warwickshire] Brigade, both being under the command of 61^st [2^nd South Midland] Division.  The Division saw action at the Battle of Langemarck in August 1917 and in 1918 during the German Spring Offensive, at the Battles of St Quentin, Estaires, Hazebrouck and Béthune.[2]  Edwin was wounded in action, and although when and where is not recorded, it would seem probable that this occurred during the maelstrom of March and April 1918.  He was issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged on 14.8.1918 due to the injuries he had sustained.[3]  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk on 23.3.1965.[4]

Joscelyne, John ‘Jack’ – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 22.5.1891.[5]  Parents: John Joscelyne (Chimney Sweep) and Emma Beeton [née Boreham]. Family Connections: Brother to William Joscelyne [b1893]. Home: 22 Norris Road, Bromley-by-Bow, London (1901), living with mother and Charles Overton (stepfather) at 88 Barchester Street, Poplar, London (1911), 39 Rook Street, Poplar [1916], 7 Sturry Street, Poplar (1921), 85 Rutland Road, East Ham, Essex (1939).  Occupation: Dock Labourer (1911), Crane Driver for the London Asphalt Company (1921 to 1939).  Married: Louisa Morton in 1916.  Service Record: Jack was conscripted on 18.9.1916 as Stoker N^o. K36663 with the Royal Navy, serving on the acorn-class destroyer HMS Sheldrake in 1917.  He received his discharge in 1919.[6] Died: Poplar, London in 1957.

Joscelyne, William – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 4.9.1893.[7]  Parents: John Joscelyne (Chimney Sweep) and Emma Beeton [née Boreham]. Family Connections: Brother to Jack Joscelyne [b1891]. Home: 22 Norris Road, Bromley-by-Bow, London (1901), Military Barracks, Woolwich, London (1911), 85 Rutland Road, East Ham, Essex (1939). Occupation: General Labourer [1910], Soldier (1911) to [1914], Furnace Stoker (1939). Married: Esther Walker in 1925. Service Record: William enlisted in 1911 as Dvr.11421 with 16^th Battery, Royal Field Artillery.  At the outbreak of the First World War he transferred to 19^th Reserve Battery, RFA being discharged in November 1914 as ‘no longer physically fit for war service’.[8]  Following the end of hostilities he joined the Merchant Navy,[9] serving as a stoker on the SS Grantully Castle, a Union Castle Line vessel which had been requisitioned as a hospital ship during the First World War.[10]

Related Biography

Younger, Alfred – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 20.3.1881.[11] Parents: Henry Younger (Horsehair Weaver) and Emma [née Allen]. Family Connections: Brother to Harry Younger [b1876]; also, uncle of Evelyn Dorothy Younger [b1898] and brother-in-law of Edwin Robert Joscelyne [b1884]. Home: High Street, Long Melford (1881 to 1891), 20 Astbury Road, Camberwell, London (1901), Briggate, Knaresborough, Yorkshire (1911). Occupation: Horse-keeper at a Tram Stand (1901), Agricultural Labourer (1911). Married: Ellen Anna Joscelyne [1885-1968] in 1909 and Louisa Hardy in 1916 bigamously.[12] Service Record: Alfred enlisted in 1915 as Pte.18036 with 10^th [Service] Battalion, Prince of Wales’s Own [West Yorkshire] Regiment and was posted to France from 13.7.1915 as part of 50^th Brigade, 17^th [Northern] Division.[13] Died: Private Younger was killed in action on 1.7.1916, the first day of the Battle of Albert, the opening phase of Somme Offensive. The Battalion was so severely mauled by German machine-gun fire on this day that it had to be withdrawn from the front line. Upwards of 750 men were either killed or wounded within minutes of entering no man’s land.  Alfred is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme [pier and face 2a, 2c and 2d], Somme, France.[14]

Notes – [1] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 6.7.1884, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [2] For details of 2/8^th Worcester’s movements see War Diaries [WO 95/3057/2 and WO 95/3060/4]. [3] Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War, Silver War Badge [WO 329] record [ref: 434045], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [4] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar. [5] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 22.5.1891, St Catherines Mission Church, Long Melford recorded as Jack Joslin. [6] See also his RN Record [ADM/188/940] under the name John Joscelyne. [7] Date of birth from his BOTRS [BT 350/445662]. [8] Soldiers’ Documents and Pension Claims, First World War [WO 364]. [9] Photograph and details from Britain, Merchant Seamen, 1918-1941 [TNA – BT350]. [10] See http://roll-of-honour.com/Ships/HMHSGrantuallyCastle.html. [11] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 22.5.1884, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford.  [12] Name of his spouse is taken from his British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 file [ref: 370368].  Alfred’s marriage to Louisa appears to have been bigamous as he was still married to Ellen Joscelyne at the time of his death.  My thanks to his granddaughter Pamela Prosser for bringing this earlier marriage to my attention. [13] For details of 10^th West York’s movements in 1916 see War Diary [WO 95/2400/1].  See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [14] Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.