Person

Joseph Henry Humble was born In Woodland in 1895. His father was coal miner Thomas Humble (1856-1905), from Etherley. His mother was Sarah Elizabeth Humble nee Toppin 1872-1921), a shoemaker’s daughter originally from Skelton, Cumberland. Joseph’s parents married in 1894 in Auckland and are known to have had at least four children, giving him two bothers and one sister. The family were recorded living on Thompson Street, Witton Park at the 1901 census. Father Thomas’s death was recorded in Auckland in 1905. At the time of the 1911 census the family was headed by mother Sarah, living at 7 High Thompson Street, Witton Park. Joseph was working as a brickyard labourer at the time of this census. Also living with the Humble family was Sarah’s brother Arthur Little Toppin, a coal miner born in 1882 in Middleton in Teesdale.

Joseph attested in the Yorkshire Regiment for short service for the duration of war at Bishop Auckland on 23 November 1914. He was enlisted as a private with the service number 16752. His service record shows that he had been working as a miner and that his mother, living at 11 High Thompson Street, Witton Park, was his next of kin. There is a strange anomaly on this service record as on the one hand it records that Joseph was not married but on the other includes details of a wife. It records a marriage to Sarah Stobbs (spinster) of 11 High Thompson Street, Witton Park in Auckland on 4 March 1906. At that time Joseph would only have been ten years old!

Joseph was discharged from the Yorkshire Regiment on 21 June 1915 on medical grounds. His service record includes the following notes “No teeth in upper jaw, suffers from chronic indigestion and is gradually getting thinner and less physically fit, anaemic and debilitated. He is not likely to become an efficient soldier – the fitting of dentures would not render him efficient”. Joseph returned home to Witton park and work as a coal miner.

Joseph enlisted in the Army for a second time when he joined the East Yorkshire Regiment in Sunderland on 25 September 1917. His previous service was noted on his second service record. He was made a private with the service number 38660 and posted to the 4th battalion. Unfortunately it did not take long for ill health to restrict Joseph’s military service. He was admitted to Hornsea Hospital in the East Riding of Yorkshire on 9 November 1917, suffering from broncho-pneumonia which required 26 days as a patient. On 24 January 1918 he was back in Hornsea Hospital, suffering from a dilated heart which required 16 days as a patient. During this stay in hospital a bacteriological test for tuberculosis proved positive and he was transferred to Reckitt’s Hospital in Hull.

Joseph’s second service record includes a form entitled “Medical Report on an Invalid” dated 12 February 1918 in Hull. It reported the following “Patient states not been well since March 1917. Called up at Sunderland 25 September 1917 sent to Hornsea same day. Patient is in weak condition confined to bed. Tuberculosis of lungs”. He was discharged from the Army to a sanatorium on 7 March 1918. An “Award Sheet for Disablement Pension” in his service record notes he was declared “100% disabled whilst in sanatorium then reconsider”. Initially his pension was for 26 weeks and due to expire on 10 September 1918 when it was extended for a further 26 weeks on the same terms.

Joseph Henry Humble was awarded Silver War Badge number 364871 on 24 April 1918. It was noted that he was awarded this medal for tuberculosis of the lungs aggravated by military service and that he did not serve overseas. A note in the UK Army Register of Soldier’s Effects record number 919363 reports Joseph died after discharge and that a war gratuity was not admissible due to insufficient service. The England and Wales Civil Registration Death Index 1916-2007 reports the death of Joseph H Humble aged 23 in the Auckland registration district in the quarter Oct-Dec 1918. The North East War Memorial project notes that J Humble appears on the Plaque 1914-18 in the Memorial Hall, Witton Park and on the Roll of Honour 1914-18, St Paul’s Church, Main Street, Witton Park.

Civil Parish: Escomb

Birth date: 1895

Death date: 1918

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: Thompson Street, Witton Park (1901 census)
7 High Thompson Street, Witton Park (1911 census)
11 High Thompson Street, Witton Park (home address on joining Army, 1917 record of service paper)
54 Lower King Street, Witton Park (discharge address, 1918 record of service paper)

Employment: Labourer at brickworks (1911 census)
Putter in coal mine (1917 record of service paper)

Family: Parents: Thomas Humble (1856-1905), Sarah Elizabeth Humble nee Toppin (1872-1921)
Siblings: James Edward Humble (b 1899), Emily A Humble (b 1901), Arthur Humble (b 1903)

Military service:

16752
Private
Yorkshire Regiment
Attested 23 November 1914, Bishop Auckland
Discharged on medical grounds 21 June 1915
38660
Private
East Yorkshire Regiment
4th Battalion
Enlisted 25 September 1915, Sunderland
Discharged on medical grounds 7 March 1918

Medal(s): Silver War Badge, Number 364871, awarded 24 April 1918 (Silver War Badge Records 1914-1920)

Memorial(s): Plaque 1914-18 Memorial Hall, Witton Park
Roll of Honour 1914-18, St Paul’s Church, Main Street, Witton Park

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley