Joseph Conlon (1896-1917)
Darlington man served with 9th DLI commemorated on Arras Memorial
Joseph Conlon was born sometime in 1896 to parents Patrick and Mary Conlon, he had one brother named John, as well as a sister named Mary. At the time of the 1911 census Joseph, and his family, were living at 22 Oxford Street in Darlington; Joseph would have been aged 15 and still in school as noted on the census. His father worked as a fellmonger; someone who worked with animal skins, while his older sister was unmarried at the time. By 1915 Joseph had decided to voluntarily enlist with the army, he joined the 9th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) and disembarked in France on 17 April 1915.
9 DLI was assigned to the 50th Northumbrian Division, part of 151st Brigade. After landing in Bologne 9 DLI would fight at some of the largest battles of the war; the Second Battle of Ypres was the first major engagement that 9 DLI fought in. Then, later at the Somme, Joseph is likely to have been involved the attack on the Butte de Warlencourt; a mound of about 60 feet which was fortified by the Germans. 9 DLI captured the objective quickly, but were then savagely counterattacked and the three DLI battalions (including 9 DLI) involved suffered casualties of around 1000 men.
Then, in April 1917, the 50th Division was involved in the Battle of Arras; a major effort to break the German defensive line and force them to retreat beyond the important railways which supplied their army. 9 DLI would have been engaged in action south of the Scarpe River during the Battle of Arras. This is likely where Joseph was killed on 13 April 1917.
He is remembered at the Arras memorial in France and received the 1915 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service.
Civil Parish: Darlington
Birth date: 1896
Death date: 13-Apr-1917
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: 22 Oxford Street, Darlington (1911 Census)
Employment: School (1911 Census)
Family: Father: Patrick Conlon (1911 Census)
Mother: Mary Conlon
Sister: Mary Conlon
Brother: John Conlon
Military service:
9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
Regimental Number: 325875
Private
Disembarked: France, 17 April 1915
Medal(s): Victory Medal
British War Medal
1915 Star
Memorial(s): Arras Memorial Bay 8
Darlington War Memorial Hospital, Hollyhurst Road
Darlington Library roll of honour
DLI Book of Remembrance, Durham Cathedral
Gender: Male
Contributed by Daniel Hyatt
