Name
Joseph Leonard May
8/08/1918
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/08/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
224696
Royal Air Force
98 Squadron
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CAMBRAI EAST MILITARY CEMETERY
VII. B. 16.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
Hoddesdon and Rye Park Town Memorial, Hoddesdon, St Catherine and St Paul’s Church Memorial, Hoddesdon, Broxbourne C Of E Primary School Memorial, Broxbourne
Pre War
We believe this to be the J. May commemorated on the Hoddesdon and Rye Park Town Memorial, Hoddesdon. St Catherine and St Paul’s Church Memorial, Hoddesdon and Broxbourne C Of E Primary School Memorial, Broxbourne.
Joseph Leonard MAY was born on 1st March 1896, in Hoddesdon, Herts, son of Alfred James May a Blacksmith and Emma May (nee Gray). The youngest of their six children. His parents were married on 10th November 1883, in St Ippollits, Hitchin, Herts.
He was Baptised Joseph Alfred May on 26th April 1896, in Hoddesdon, Herts. But was known as Joseph Leonard May.
1901 Census records Joseph aged 5, living with his parents, three sisters and brother Alfred (16) in Lord Street South, Hoddesdon, Herts.
1911 Census, Joseph (15), is living with his parents, and sister Ethel (18), at 119 Lord Street, Hoddesdon, Herts.
Wartime Service
He enlisted on 7th December 1916, in the Royal Naval Air Services for the duration of hostilities and issued with the service No. F 24696, He joined the Royal Air Force (RAF), when all three Air Services were amalgamated into the RAF on 1st April 1918 and issued the new service No. 224696.
At the time of his death, he was with No.98 Squadron, RAF, in France. He was an Observer/Bomber aboard a De Havilland DH 9. Serial No. C2203. Piloted by 2nd Lieutenant William Joffe DSO, when he was killed on 8th August 1918, aged 22, he is buried in Cambrai East Military Cemetery, Nord, France. Grave Ref; VII. B. 16. (2nd Lieutenant William Joffe DSO survived; he was later killed while flying on 1st October 1918).
At the time of his death, Joseph held the rank of Un-Paid Acting Sergeant.
Additional Information
A Dependents Pension Card exists for his father James Alfred May of 133 North Street, Hoddesdon, Herts, but no Pension amount is recorded.
His effects of £27-16s-11d, pay owing and his war gratuity £9-10s-00d, went to his father James May.
Some documents record his father as Alfred James others as James Alfred.
His service records for the Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force are available on-line at Find My Past Uk www.findmypast.uk.co and Ancestry UK. www.ancestry.co.uk
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
