Driver 64872 Joseph Gee

Driver Joseph Gee

Regiment/Unit: Royal Field Artillery - 24th Div. Ammunition Col.
Theatre of War: France & Flanders
Theatre of War First Served: (1) France
Date Entered Therein: 29/08/1915

Age at death: 24
Date of death: 22nd of March 1918 (Friday)
Born: Billinge, Lancs
Resided: Billinge, Lancs
Burial / Memorial: Pozieres Memorial - Panel 7 to 10.

Census details:
1901 - 7 years old Joseph is living at 190 Main Street, Billinge with parents William (41), Ann (38) and eight siblings: Jane (18), Ellen (16), John T (14), James (11), William (9), Sarah A (5), Elizabeth (3), Mary (1). 1911 - Sees 17 years old 'Collier - Haulier Below Ground' Joseph living at 206 Main Street, Billinge with parents William (50), Ann (48) and seven siblings: John J (24), James (21), William (19), Sarah Ann (15), Elizabeth (13), Maggie (9). Also at the address are married sister Ellen Roby (26) with husband James Roby (32) ad their two children: Will John W Roby (3), Mary Ann Roby (1).

Notes:
[url=lmem.php?lmem=39]Remembered On The St. Aidan's C of E Church Memorial[/url] Age taken from census.

Joseph was born in Billinge on the 3rd of April 1893 the seventh of eleven children of William and Ann Gee (nee Wilson), and was baptised on the 16th of April 1893 at St. Mary`s R.C. Church. The family lived at 206 Main Street, Billinge and Joseph was a member of the local football team, Billinge Albion, and worked at the Billinge Colliery before enlisting at St. Helens in January 1915 to join the Royal Field Artillery, becoming a driver. Joseph was killed in action in France on Friday the 22nd of March 1918 aged 24 years. It is said that after he was killed his parents never locked the front door in the hope that he would walk in. His name is recorded on the Poziers Memorial near Albert, France, panels 7 to 10 and on both St. Aidan`s C.E. Church and St. Mary`s R.C. Church Memorials. His parents received his medals:- 1914-1915 Star; British Medal; Victory Medal. Sources:- Niece; St. Helens Local History Library, Soldiers killed in the Great War; The Commonwealth War Graves Commission; St. Mary`s Church Registers; The Wigan Observer, 1st of June 1918. [url=http://sthelens-connect.net/sitefiles/billinge-history.pdf]Information Courtesy of The Billinge History Society[/url] [pic]imgs/WW1_memorials/JGee_RFA.jpg[/pic][caption]The inscription for Driver Joseph Gee on the Pozieres Memorial (Photograph courtesy of Ste M.)[/caption]