Person

Born in Maldon, Essex, on 8 May 1871, Joseph Arthur Crosthwaite was one of two children born to Joseph and Laura Crosthwaite. Joseph senior and Laura married on 11 September 1869, at which time Joseph was working as a banker. Laura was a widow, having been previously married to Frank Selby Gill before his death in 1860. Joseph was the older of the two children born to Joseph and Laura; their second child a daughter, Laura, was born two years later.

At the time of the 1881 census, Joseph was a scholar living away from home in Steyning, West Sussex. Following education at St. Paul’s College in London, he returned to live with his family in Kensington. Joseph was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion Manchester Regiment in January 1889. At the time of the 1891 census he was a lieutenant in the same battalion. Later that same year Joseph transferred to the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI).

On 4 November 1896 Joseph married Edith Amy Northen, the daughter of a stock broker. In 1901 Joseph was living with Edith’s mother and siblings in Hove, and is listed on the census as a captain in the DLI. By 1911 Joseph, still a captain in the DLI, had moved with Edith to Colchester and they had had four children, three of whom had survived childhood. They were living in a large house with four servants.

During the First World War Joseph began serving as part of the DLI in France, embarking at Southampton on 8 September 1914. Between 4 February 1915 and 11 June 1915 he was in command of the 2nd Battalion. On 2 July 1915 Joseph was attached to the 1st Somerset Light Infantry (LI) to take over command temporarily. After around two weeks it is recorded in the 1st Somerset LI war diary that he “went off sick with a liver complaint.” He was examined by a medical officer, declared unfit for service, and transferred to a clearing hospital at Bailleul.

Joseph left France on 20 July 1915, presumably to receive treatment for his illness. Around two months later on 28 September he took command of the 12th Yorkshire and Lancaster Regiment and went to Egypt to serve on 21 December 1915. Joseph remained in Egypt until 8 March 1916 when he returned to France. He finished serving in France on 3 July 1916, remaining with the Yorkshire and Lancaster Regiment until after the war.

At the time of the 1939 Register Joseph was living in Chelsea with his daughter Joan who had remained unmarried. When the Register was taken, Edith was in the household of Robert Willett in Cuckfield, Sussex. Joseph died on 27 July 1948 in Cheltenham leaving his effects to Edith who died nine years later in 1957.

Joseph’s son Denis followed his father into the army, becoming a major in the DLI. He fought during the Second World War, serving with the 1st Battalion DLI in the Middle East between 1940 and 1942.

Joseph’s sister Laura also served during the First World War. She enrolled into the Royal Air Force on 3 June 1918 at the age of 31. She was posted to the 141st Squadron, based at Biggin Hill. Her Air Force records show she signed up for service in her own district as a driver.

Birth date: 8-May-1871

Death date: 27-May-1948

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: Dyke Road 3 Belmont, Steyning, West Sussex (1881 Census)
164 Holland Road, Kensington (1891 Census)
61 The Drive, Hove (1901 Census)
The Towers, 6 Oxford Road, Colchester (1911 Census)
37 Beaufort Mansions, Chelsea (1939 Register)

Education: St. Paul’s, London University

Employment: Lieutenant 3rd Manchester Regiment (1891 Census)
Captain DLI (1901, 1911 Census)

Family: Parents: Joseph Crosthwaite, Laura Crosthwaite
Siblings: Laura May Crosthwaite
Spouse: Edith Amy Crosthwaite nee Northen
Children: Joan Crosthwaite, Peter Crosthwaite, Denis Frank Crosthwaite

Military service:

12 January 1889: 2nd Lieutenant of the 3rd Battalion, Manchester Regiment
22 November 1890: Lieutenant
9 September 1891: 2nd Lieutenant DLI
19 April 1893: Lieutenant
9 October 1899: Captain
5 June 1903 - 4 August 1908: Adjutant 3rd Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment
24 June 1911: Major

France and Belgium: 8 September 1914 - 20 July 1915 and 9 March 1916 - 3 July 1916
Egypt: 21 December 1915 - 8 March 1916

4 February - 11 June 1915: Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel in command of 2nd DLI
3 June 1915: Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel
28 September 1915 - 28 September 1917: Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel in command of 12th Service Battalion York and Lancs Regiment
29 September 1917 - 6 November 1919: Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel in command of York and Lancs Regiment (attached)

7 November 1919 - 8 May 1926: Lieutenant-Colonel Reserve Officers on Retirement
1933: Appointed Officer of the Most Excellent British Empire for work starting and running and officers Employment Bureau at the War Office

Mentioned in London Gazette 17 February 1915 and 22 June 1915

Medal(s): 1914 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal

Gender: Male