Person

Joseph Summerville was born in Collierley in 1889. His father was also called Joseph Summerville (1862) and was a saddler and harness-maker, originally from Ponteland, Northumberland. His mother was Frances Todd (1861) from Ovingham, Northumberland. Before his parents were married his mother, who was working as a domestic servant, gave birth to a son, Thomas Todd in 1881. She married Joseph senior in Newcastle in 1884. He took her son into their family and they had a further six children together.

At both the 1891 and 1901 censuses the family were living in Pontop Row, Annfield Plain. At the time of the 1911 census their address was 15 Thomas Street, Annfield Plain. Joseph was working as a sand quarry labourer. He married Mary Hannah Richardson in 1911. She was a coal miner’s daughter living in Oxhill. They had a daughter who they named Doris in 1911 and a son, Joseph, in 1913.

At the outbreak of war Joseph enlisted in the Durham Light Infantry (DLI). He entered the theatre of war in France on 9 October 1915 as a Lance Sergeant and was subsequently promoted to Staff Sergeant. In June 1916 Joseph was awarded the Military Medal (MM). Recorded in The Gazette (London Gazette), issue 29608, 2 June 1916, page 5597 was the following ; “His Majesty has been graciously pleased to approve the reward for Distinguished Service in the Field”.

Later in 1916 Joseph was promoted to Company Sergeant Major and at that rank was awarded the Military Cross (MC). The Gazette (London Gazette) issue 29859, 11 December 1916, page 12109 reported; ” For conspicuous gallantry in action. He showed great courage and skill in assisting in the consolidation of the position. Although wounded he continued at duty until the work was well advanced”.

Because of the excellent service he had given Joseph was commissioned from the ranks of the DLI and became a temporary 2nd Lieutenant in the Yorkshire Regiment on 25 April 1917. He fought with the 8th Battalion during the 3rd Battle of Ypres, Passchendaele Offensive in late 1917. In November 1917 his battalion moved to the Italian Front. It was here that he was awarded a Bar to his Military Cross. The Gazette (London Gazette), issue 30651, page 4992, reported; “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in making 2 separate reconnaissances in daylight of enemy strong points 700 yards in front of our wire. On each occasion he brought back valuable information”.

Joseph died in action on 29 October 1918 at the age of 29. He is buried in Tezze British Cemetery near Treviso to the north of Venice in northern Italy.

Joseph Summerville was awarded the 1915 Star, the Victory Medal, the British War Medal, the Military Medal, the Military Cross and Bar to the Military Cross for his service in World War One.

Further details on Joseph’s service in the Yorkshire Regiment are given on page 208 of Robert Coulson’s Biographies of Officers of the Yorkshire Regiment (http://www.ww1-yorkshires.org.uk/pdf-files/bob%20coulson/officers-died-ww1.pdf)

Civil Parish: Kyo

Birth date: 1889

Death date: 29-Oct-1918

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: Pontop Row, Annfield Plain (1891 and 1901 census)
15 Thomas Street, Annfield Plain (1911 census)

Employment: Sand quarry labourer (1911 census)

Family: Parents: Joseph Summerville (1862), Frances Summerville nee Todd (1861)
Half -sibling: Thomas Todd (1881)
Siblings: Margaret Ann Summerville (1885), Hannah Jane Summerville (1893), George Summerville (1895), Frances Summerville (1897), Mary Ellen Summerville (1899)
Spouse: Mary Hannah Summerville nee Richardson
Children: Doris Summerville (1911), Joseph Summerville (1913)

Military service:

22504
Staff Sergeant, Durham Light Infantry
Company Sergeant Major, Durham Light Infantry
2nd Lieutenant, Yorkshire Regiment

Medal(s): 1915 Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal
Military Medal, 3 June 1916
Military Cross, 8 December 1916
Bar to the Military Cross, 23 April 1918

Memorial(s): Tezze Cemetery, Italy. Plot 4, row A, grave 13
Cenotaph 1914-18, Annfield Plain Park
Roll of Honour 1914-18, Saint Aidan’s Church, Annfield Plain

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham