Born: 1880, Wetherby
Died: 5 April 1917
Buried: Laventie Military Cemetery, La Gorgue
Address: 501 Bolton Road, Eccleshill
Parents: Thomas & Jane Elizabeth
Spouse: Catherine, nee Prydderch
Siblings: six
Occupation: printer’s reader, Yorkshire Observer
Organisations/clubs:
Military
Rank: Sgt
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: St Luke’s, Eccleshill
Children: Geoffrey, Laurence
Regiment: 1/5 West Yorkshire
Joseph William Crossley
Joseph William Crossley was born
in 1880 in Wetherby the son of
Thomas and Jane Elizabeth
Crossley and was baptised on the
24th October 1880 at Wetherby
Parish Church.
The family were living at West
End, Wetherby and Thomas was
working as a foreman carpenter.
Thomas and Jane moved around
quite a lot and their children’s
births reflect this. Sarah Jane was
born in Pendleton; Thomas, Joseph
William and Alexandria, in
Wetherby; and John Herbert, Mary
Elizabeth and Amelia Ann, in
Salford.
Thomas became a printer
compositor and at 20 years
of age Joseph was working
as a news copy holder for
the Manchester Guardian.
He remained there for some
years before taking up a
similar position with the
Yorkshire Observer as a
printer’s reader, living in
Bradford.
At St Peter’s Parish Church,
Bradford in 1909 Joseph, at the age
of 28 years, married Catherine
Elizabeth Prydderch who was 24
years old.
When their first son Geoffrey
Arnold Eaton Crossley was born on
the 2nd June 1910 they were living
at 22 Airedale Crescent
and they baptised their son
at St Augustine’s Church.
A second son, Laurence,
was born in 1912 and at
the outbreak of World War
1 the family were living at
501 Bolton Road and
Joseph was still working
for the Yorkshire
Observer.
Joseph enlisted on the 17th May
1915 as Private 203248 in the 1/5th
Battalion of the West Yorkshire
(Prince of Wales Own) Regiment
and he served on the Western Front.
In 1916 his battalion took part in
the Battle of Aubers Ridge, the
Battle of Albert, the Battle of
Bazentin Ridge, the Battle of
Pozieres and the Battle of Flers
Courcelette.
Joseph was killed in action on the
5th April 1917 when no major
offensive was taking place. He
was 37 years old and since his
enlistment had been promoted to
Sergeant. He is buried at Laventie
Military Cemetery at La Gorgue.
His widow Catherine received his
War Gratuity of £8.10s on the 18th
August 1919.
Researched and written by Jean
Britteon, to whom many thanks
