Name
Joseph Waldock
17 Sep 1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/12/1917
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
126737
Canadian Infantry
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TORONTO (PROSPECT) CEMETERY
Section 7. Grave 65.
Canada
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Weston memorials, Not on the Wheathampstead memorials(*1)
Pre War
Charles Joseph was born in Weston, Stevenage on 17 Sep 1891, The eldest son to Joseph Waldock, a farm labourer, and Emily (nee Turner).
On the 1891 Census the family were living at Damask Green, Weston. On the 1901 Census the family now consisting of parents, Charles Joseph, Margaret (born 1893), Cyril George (born 1896) and William Edward (born 1900) were living at the Terrace, High Road, Aldenham, Herts. On the 1911 Census Joseph (widowed) and Margaret, Cyril, William together with John (born 1904) were living at Green End, St Neots, at Meagre Farm. The Farmer, Mr Bishop was named as a contact for Charles Joseph's father. Sister Margaret married William Bishop , one of Mr Bishop's sons.
Charles Joseph migrate to Canada in 1914.
Wartime Service
Joseph, as he declared himself,and having served for 5 years with 3rd Bedford Militia, attested on 22 Sep 15 at Hillsbury, Ontario and was posted to 71st Battalion Canadian Infantry. On 2 Apr 1916 he sailed to England. On 28 Jul 1916 he was posted to 1st Battalion and landed in France at Canadian Base Depot on 29 Jul 1916.
He joined his Battalion in their location on the Somme Battlefield on 14 Aug 1916 to take part in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette (15-22 Sep 1916), Joseph was wounded on 21 Sep 1916 with shrapnel wounds to his back, thighs and right buttock. On 22 Sep 16 he was moved to 8 Stationary Hospital, Wimereux and on 25 Sep 1916 was evacuated to UK on Hospital Ship ‘St Denis’ arriving on 26 Sep at Kings Hospital, Stamford Street, London for further treatment. He remained there until 15 Apr 1917when he was transferred Ontario Military Hospital, Orpington from where he was discharged for further treatment in Canada sailing from Liverpool on board Hospital Ship ‘Llandovery Castle’ on 25 Sep 1917.
Despite all the treatment and the healing of his wounds he suffered from paralysis of his lower legs, Joseph died on 11 Dec 1917 at Toronto Military Hospital and was buried in the Veterans Cemetery, Prospect Park, Toronto.
Additional Information
*1 His parents Wheathampstead was recorded on or after Joseph's death so it may be that he has no direct connection to this location. Probate of £133 14s 8d was paid to his father. Brother Cyril G enlisted in 3/1 Hunts Cyclists as Private 1354 later transferred to Ox Buck LI as Private 267547, went to France 29 Jul 1916. Wounded slightly 15 Aug 1916, trained as a Lewis Gunner, and was wounded in the abdomen on 27 Feb 1917, evacuated to UK and discharged medically on 11 Jul 1917. Died 1954. Brother William Edward was enlisted in 18 Battalion Training Reserve in a Private 13/57162 but did not complete his training prior to Armistice.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
