Name
Joseph Putman
30 December 1864
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/03/1917
52
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
T4/141097
Army Service Corps
H. T.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BOURNE END (ST. JOHN) CHURCHYARD, NORTHCHURCH
Behind the Church.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
REST IN PEACE
UK & Other Memorials
Bourne End Village Memorial, St John's Church Roll of Honour (book), Bourne End, Not on the Hemel Hempstead memorials, Not on the Bovingdon memorials
Pre War
Joseph Putman was born on 30 December 1864 in Bovingdon, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, the son of John and Maria Putman and the 10th of 11 children – although 2 died in infancy.
On the 1871 Census, the family were living at Bovingdon where his father was working as an agricultural labourer. Joseph had moved out of the family home by 1881 and was living at Barns Farm, Kings Langley, where he was working as a farm labourer.
He married Emily Wallington on 15 October 1892 in Latimer, Nr Amersham, Bucks in 1892 and by 1901 they were living at Bourne End, Bovingdon, with their four children, where he was working as a Roadman (labourer). They remained in Bourne End on the 1911 Census
In the later census Joseph's eldest son, Edward, aged 18 was a Private in the Kings Royal Rifle Corps, based at Winchester, at the time of the census.
Wartime Service
Joseph was 45 on enlistment in September 1915 and had served with the 4th Bedfordshire Regiment for 4 years (a militia/reserve battalion). He had received a notice to enlist.
He went to Aldershot and served at home from 27 September 1915 to 4 June 1916. He was then sent to France from 5 June, disembarking at Rouen on 6 June 1916. He was admitted to the 44 Casualty Clearing Station on 7 November 1916 with Debility and transferred to the 12th Ambulance Train on 10 November and sent back to England on the hospital ship Stad Antwerpen (a Belgian built Channel passenger ferry) on 14 November. He was then classified on 22 November 1916 at Catterick Camp as considered fit for Class 3 employment.
He was stationed with the Army Service Corps near Bath when his body was found in the canal near the Meadow Farm arch, Bathampton on 3 March 1917.
At the inquest held at the George Inn, Bathampton, it was ascertained that his company had been dismissed from parade about 2.35 pm on Saturday and the police received information about 5.10 pm to say there was a body in the canal. They were able to retrieve the body and applied artificial respiration for about 40 minutes, but there was no sign of life. His body was cold but limp and had not been long in the water. Sgt Parsons of the A.S.C. said the deceased had seemed "hardly the same man" on the previous Thursday and Friday as he had an idea that he might have to go out to the war. However, his widow said when she saw her husband a fortnight before he seemed quite well and cheerful. He had been in Kitchener's Army near 17 months and had never complained of not liking army life. She knew of nothing that would make him commit suicide.
The jury verdict was that he had been "found drowned".
His is buried in Bourne End Churchyard, Northchurch, nr Hemel Hempstead.
Additional Information
His widow Emily received a war gratuity of £6 and pay owing of £5 6s 10d. She also received a pension of £1 4s 2d a week from 3 September 1917 for herself and her two youngest children.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk
