Joseph Jowett
Date of birth: 1896
Date of death: 1.6.1916
Area: Kirkhamgate
Regiment: King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Family information: Son of Enoch and Hannah Elizabeth Jowett
Rank: Private
Service number: 4801
War Service
Joseph enlisted into the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 1st/4th Battalion as Private 4801. His Battalion arrived in France on 12th April 1915 and took part in the Battle of Aubers Ridge in May and the defence against the first phosgene attack in December of that same year. Unfortunately the following year an accident befell Joseph when he went swimming and he drowned on 1st June 1916. He was laid to rest in the Aveluy Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Joseph was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. His effects were left to his mother Hannah.
The Wakefield Express announced his untimely death on 14th June.
“KIRKHAMGATE SOLDIER DROWNED
Mr Enoch Jowett of Lumb’s Buildings, Kirkhamgate, has received intimation from the front that his son, Private Joseph Jowett of the 1st/4th KOYLI has been drowned. He went for a bathe on June 1st after a hard day’s work and was drowned, his body being recovered on the 7th inst. Deceased who was 20 years of age worked at Gawthorpe Pit before he enlisted.”
Family Life
Joseph was born in Barnsley on March 15th 1896, the son of Enoch and Hannah Elizabeth Jowett and baptised at St Mary’s Barnsley on April 23rd (although in the margin it says “St Barnabus” which may have been a satellite church of St Mary’s). Joseph was a trammer and they lived at Cawley Place, Wakefield Road.
In 1901 they were living in Graham’s New Row, Kirkhamgate with Enoch being a miner born in the village and Hannah said to come from Derbyshire. Both Joseph’s siblings were born in Kirkhamgate – Mark in 1899 and Lewis in 1901.
In 1911 they were living at Lumb’s buildings, Kirkhamgate with Joseph now a colliery trammer underground. Enoch and Hannah have six of their nine children still alive so there are eight people living in a house with four rooms. They have added James Bowmer (b1902), Harriet Hannah (b1904) and Edgar (b1911) to their family. Sadly, only the previous year, they had lost two children – Claude aged 5 and Doris who died aged 3.
Aveluy Communal Cemetery Extension
