Joseph Parry was born in 1883. The census of 1891 records him living with his family at 3, Pen y Ball, Brynford. Head of the household was Joseph Parry (snr) who was a 41 year old Carter working on a farm. His wife was Sarah E Parry. She was 34. Their listed children were Peter J who was 13. Robert H was 11, Joseph 9, William 5 and John P 2.  All the children had been born in Brynford.

The next census in 1911 recorded the family living at Mountain View Calcot, Brynford. Joseph snr was then 50 and was a Farm Labourer. His wife Sarah E was 44. The form tells us that she had given birth to 11 children, 8 of whom were still alive. 3 had sadly died.  Listed at home for the census were Robert H aged 21 a Farm labourer,  Joseph 19 was  a Butcher, John Price was 12, D Owen 9, Marg Cath 5 and Marian 2.

UK Soldiers Who Died in The Great War 1914 -19 – accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk includes an entry for Joseph Parry. It confirms the military details at the left of this page and adds that he enlisted in Holywell. This source tells us he ‘Died of wounds’.

Joseph has a record in the Pension Ledger. The index card for this ledger includes a description. It says he was 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighed 151 lbs, had grey eyes, brown hair and a fair complexion. He also had a tattoo on his left forearm. The record lists two beneficiaries from Joseph’s pension.

There was an Annie Jones who lived at Bryn Awel Brynford. She was the Guardian of Joseph’s child. She was awarded 5/- from the 29th September 1917 increasing to 6/8d from the 1st May 1918 and 8/- from 3rd September 1919 when she was still in receipt of pension as Guardian of his child.

The other claimant was his Mother Mrs Sarah Parry of Mountain View Calcot, Brynford. She was awarded 7/6d from the 23rd April 1918 for life.

The Register of Soldier’s Effects in which the army calculated what pay was owed to a deceased soldier includes an entry for Joseph. It confirms that he died of wounds in France and that his Father Joseph Parry (snr) received a total of £11 .. 11sh .. 2d in three separate payments.

His medal index card also on Ancestry, lists his two medals and adds that he had a previous regimental number in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers – 9314.