Private, 6774 (302243), 1st/8th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry.
Joseph was born in South Shields, Co. Durham on 9th March 1899, one of the six children of Henry (a fruiterer and grocer) and Elizabeth Nicholls. The family later lived at 11, South View West, Ryton, Co. Durham.
He began working at the Emma Colliery, Ryton on 10th March 1913, aged 14, being employed there as a driver.
He enlisted at Blaydon, Co. Durham on 9th April 1915 and went to France on 12th May 1916 and joined the 9th Battalion in the field on 5th June, transferring to the 8th Battalion on 9th September.
Joseph died on 5th November 1916, aged 17, during an attack on the Butte de Warlencourt and Gird Trench.
His mother believed that he was a prisoner of war, but his death was confirmed in October 1917 by Private Albert Barker, DLI, then a prisoner of war in Germany.
He is also commemorated on the Ryton War Memorial, the Emma Colliery Memorial, Crawcrook, and the Robert Young Memorial Methodist Church, Crawcrook.
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