207630 Pte. Joseph Craik British Army 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers from:Jarrow (d.8th May 1915) Private Joseph Craik, 3260, 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, was born in Howden, Tyneside in 1893. He was the son of Jonathan and Margaret Craik. Joseph was one of 6 sons to serve in World War I. Originally, Joseph was a labourer in a working class family and enlisted at the outbreak of war. The family story is that Jonathan marched his six sons to the recruiting office, set up at a cinema in Jarrow.
Joseph died on the first day of the the Battle of Frezenberg Ridge, 8th May 1915 near Ypres, along with 82 of his comrades, their trenches over-run by a huge German attack on that day. Due to the Germans capturing the ground, no known graves exist. Joseph is commemorated with his 82 comrades on the Menin gate. His younger brother John, serving in the same Battalion was wounded by gas in his lungs, and was so disabled that he was never able to work again. John died from gas related complications in 1940.
Joseph's brother William, serving with the Gordon Highlanders was killed 8 weeks later at Neuve Chappele. The loss of two sons and the wounding of another took its toll on the family and their mother Margaret died in June 1915, presumably from grief and shock. All very sad.
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