Joseph George Furnival
Joseph George Furnival was born between April and June 1897 in Wolstanton to Joseph and Annie Furnival. Both his parents were born in Newcastle and he had nine brothers and sisters.
In 1901, according to the Census, the family was living at 113 Albert Terrace, Wolstanton and Joseph Snr. was listed as a Potters Platemaker. By the 1911 Census, the family are still living at the same address, Joseph Snr. is still in the same job and Joseph George is a Potters Warehouse (lad presumably?). Interestingly, the 1911 Census was not completed by Joseph Snr., but by his daughter Alice.
We know next to nothing else about his civilian life. He served as Private Joseph George Furnival, 202017 The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).
He was probably wounded during the actions which the battalion was engaged in when attacking the Hindenburg line near the village of Bullecourt.
At 5.30am on 14th April, the troops made an attack over open ground in the direction of Fontaine-les-Croiselles across the Sensee River, but were immediately met with enemy machine-gun and artillery fire. Despite this, the men continued to advance and despite heavy losses, secured the objectives that had been set.
On 22nd April, the battalion mowed to a position north west of the town of Henin in preparation for the attacks of 23rd April. The attack commenced during the early hours of the morning and was again met by heave machine-gun and artillery fire. Once more, however, the battalion managed to secure the objective. 1
He died from his wounds on 25th April 1917, aged 19, on the same day the Cameronians were relieved from the line. 2
Joseph George Furnival was awarded the British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal. He is commemorated and buried at the Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery in France, on the Wolstanton War Memorial, on the Memorial inside St. Margaret’s Church, on the family Memorial in St. Margaret’s Churchyard, on the Wolstanton Methodist Church Memorial, the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle and on our Memorial.
Link to his CWGC commemoration.
Joseph Furnival’s Grave at Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery 3
The Wolstanton Memorial
The Memorial inside St. Margaret’s Church
The Family Memorial in St. Margaret’s Churchyard, including his brother William also killed in WW1
- Call to War. The Story of the Men on the Wolstanton War Memorial Who Fell in the First World War by Geoff Mayer ↩
- Call to War. The Story of the Men on the Wolstanton War Memorial Who Fell in the First World War by Geoff Mayer ↩
- Grave photo courtesy of The War Graves Photographic Project ↩