21st March 1888 - 13th February 1917 (age 28)
Private 201885
4th Bn. Yorkshire Regiment
The available records do not fully confirm the identity of Joseph Addison
- the following scenario is most probable.
Joseph Addison was born in Sowerby in 1888 and his birth was registered
as Joseph William Addison at Thirsk between April - June 1888. He is recorded
as living with George Addison from 1891-1911 but the various census records
contradict by showing him either as son or grandson to George. It is possible
that he was actually the son of George's unmarried daughter, Theresa who
would have been 19 years of age at the time of Joseph's birth. Sowerby
school admission registers record Joseph's date of birth as 21st March
1888 and show his father as George.
Joseph Addison enlisted into the army at Thirsk, giving Sowerby as his place
of birth and he died on 13th February 1917. His battalion was in the front line
for the dates 9th - 11th February which the war diary records as "moderately
quiet" - there is nothing recorded for 13th February. Joseph's grave is at Assevillers
New British Cemetery plot 1V.A.9, France. This cemetery was made after the Armistice
by the concentration of graves from the battlefields of the Somme and from other
burial grounds.
Joseph Addison's headstone at Assevillers
The information on this page was compiled by Steve Billings.
Information about Joseph Addison on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Information about Joseph Addison on the War Graves Photographic Project website
Information about Joseph Addison on the Yorkshire Regiment - First World War Remembrance website