Name
Joseph Debman (Debnem)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/03/1917
31
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/18737
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
11th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DICKEBUSCH NEW MILITARY CEMETERY
AA. 22.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Gilston Village Memorial
Pre War
Joseph was born in Stansted, Essex, in 1885, one of
ten children born to James and Lydia Debman. In 1915, he was living in Gilston
Park Stables working as a groom.
Wartime Service
On the 04/12/15 Joseph signed up under “The Derby
Scheme” to join the 11th Royal Fusiliers, he then spent the next 200 days in
the Special Reserve until called up to the Colours on the 22/06/16. He arrived
in France on the 05/10/16 and while at the infamous ‘Bull Ring’ in Etaples was
transferred to the 11th Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment, joining them in the
field on the 16/10/16. On the 24/03/17 the Battalion were in the frontline
trenches at Spoil Bank, near St Eloi, Belgium, when at 4.30pm the Germans
started bombarding the trenches in the left of their line, chiefly with mine
throwers. This carried on for two hours destroying that part of the line, then
at dusk the Germans carried out a small raid but only succeeded in capturing a
wounded man’s pay book. The 11/RWK’s suffered 21 casualties, including 4 Other Ranks
killed, Joseph may have been one of these.
Additional Information
Gilston Park was owned by Arthur S Bowlby, two of his younger brothers were killed in The Great War and are also commemorated on the Memorial, as is Arthur Bridle who also lived in the Stables. Probably listed on Stansted Mountfitchet cross (St John's Church) (WMR 22945) Stansted Mountfitchet Essex Listed erroneously on Gilston War Memorial as Debnem
Acknowledgments
Iain Duncan
Jonty Wild Iain Duncan Anthony Hodgkins
