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Pte. Joseph Callow
British Army 7th Battalion Border Regiment
from:1 Richardson's Court, Scotch Street, Whitehaven, Cumberland.
(d.19th Dec 1915)
Joseph Callow was born 6th February 1881 at 73,Strand Street, Whitehaven, Cumberland and was baptised on 16th April 1881 as recorded in Holy Trinity Registry Whitehaven, Cumberland England. On 8th April 1905 he married Cordelia Jones at the Registry Office, Whitehaven, Cumberland England.
On 3rd September 1914, my grandfather, Joseph Callow, aged 31 years 7 months, while living with his wife, Cordelia and their children, Tom, Joseph, Jessie, Sarah and Margaret, enlisted in the Border Regiment for the period of the War. He was 5ft 5 1/2 inches height with Pale complexion, Blue Eyes and Light hair and Moles on left side of chest. His Religion is listed as Church of England. This left Tom at aged 9 years the eldest child at home to help his mother.
As a sapper in the Border Regiment (who have their headquarters at Carlisle Castle) 7th Battalion, he was attached to the 182nd Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers. He was killed in action on 19th December 1915 in a crater between Ypres and Ploegstreet in Belgium. His body was never recovered and he is remembered on the nearby Ploegsteert Memorial.
I have a copy of a letter from War Office, London, dated 7th May 1916, which states that the unofficial report of his death cannot be confirmed. I also have copy of Army Form B 104 – 82A, No 19550/17 dated 28th October 1916 which states that: - No further news relative to No 12763 Pte Joseph Callow 7th Border, missing since 19th Dec 1915. Conclude he is dead and death took place on the above date. (or since)
The group soldiers photograph including Joseph Callow shows 459 Borders written on bottom of it. Iain Cogle had a reply from curator Border regiment museum at Carlisle. "The 459 is simply the photographer’s reference number and has no military connection whatsoever. The photograph is a typical group photograph and shows the men wearing the stop-gap blue uniform issued, due to the acute shortage of khaki, to many New army units in the early stages of the War".
I have a letter from Joseph dated 21st Oct 1914 addressed to Mrs Callow, No 1 Richardson Cr, Scotcheath, Whitehaven, Cumberland. It is on a postcard showing lots of tents far off in the distance. On the front is printed Staffs Borders Lulworth: - Dear Wife Just a few lines hoping you and the children is in best of health as I am in the ……………………present. Our Captain read a letter that came from Prestson (??) and he said that our wife’s who had not got there ………………………money all would be settled……………………Wednesday next. I have marked the ………………….sleeping in he as not got the ………………….parades
He was awarded the British War Medal 1914-1920 (110,000 issued), the Victory Medal 1914-1919 (5,725,000 issued) and the 1914 Star and 1914-1915 Star (3 medals total) known as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.
My father Tom Callow's nephew Andy Barnes (in England) has a copy of Joseph's Soldiers Small Book which details Joseph enlistment details and Next of Kin.
