Name
Joseph George Giddings
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/09/1916
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
19739
Princess Charlotte of Wales’ (Royal Berkshire) Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HEBUTERNE MILITARY CEMETERY
IV.N.8
France
Headstone Inscription
UNTIL THE DAY BREAKS
UK & Other Memorials
Ayot St Peter Village Memorial, St Peter's Church Roll of Honour, Ayot St Peter, We are not aware of any memorial in Ayot Green - see Ayot St Peter
Pre War
Joseph George Giddings was born in 1895 in Lambeth, Surrey according to his service records but according to the baptismal records he was born on 20 June 1892. His father was Joseph Giddings but his mother is unknown.
He was 15 years old and recently adopted by Mrs Elizabeth Lawrence when he was baptised at Ayot St Peter in March 1908 as his father had died. He lived in at Ayot Green, nr Welwyn, Herts with Mrs Elizabeth Lawrence his adoptive mother. (unable to trace him on any Census records)
Wartime Service
Joseph volunteered in January 1915 and enlisted at Aldershot. He served in Princess Charlotte of Wales’ (Royal Berkshire) Regiment and fought at Hill 60, Ypres and Loos.
He was killed in action on 16 September 1916, aged 21, during the Somme Offensive. He is buried at Hebuterne Military Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
Adopted son of Mrs E Lawrence of Ayot Green, Welwyn, Herts. She received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £4 3s 10d. A pension was refused as she was deemed to be a foster mother and "not in loco" (loco parentis). Mrs E Lawrence, Ayot Green, Nr Welwyn, Herts. ordered his headstone inscription: "UNTIL THE DAY BREAKS".
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
www.ayotstpeter.com
