Gnr. Joseph Albert Mease
British Army "C" Bty, 12 (Honourable Artillery Company) Regt. Royal Horse Artillery
(d.3rd Aug 1944)
Joseph was born on the 13th August 1916 in Jarrow. He was the eldest son of James Mease and Lilian May (Havelock) Mease and he was the brother of James (Jimmy). In 1931 aged just 15 years old and on his own, he left the North East of England to go to Kettering in Northamptonshire to look for work in the boot and shoe town. He was employed by Messrs. F. Wright & Co. as a boot and shoe operative. On October 8th 1938 Joseph married Dora Emberton who was the eldest daughter of Albert Victor Emberton and Annie (Roberts) Emberton. A daughter Sonia was born of this marriage on 15th November 1939 in the village of Broughton, Northamptonshire.
Joseph joined the army in WWII and was sent overseas in 1942 where he fought in Africa and Italy. On July 5th 1944 he sustained a head wound from which he wouldn't recover. He died aged 27. Joseph is buried in Naples War Cemetery and is commemorated on the WW2 Roll of Honour Plaque in the entrance of Jarrow Town Hall.
