Joshua Price was born in Hawarden in 1896. He was the youngest child of Joshua Price (Snr) and his wife Mary Elizabeth. (nee Evans). They had married at St. Deniol’s Church in Hawarden, Flintshire on the 25th April 1894. His sister Mary E. was born circa 1896 in Dutton, Cheshire.
Joshua Price (Snr) died in 1898. His entry in the St. Deniol’s Church Parish Registers, tells us that he was the son of Peter & Margaret Price, Queensferry, and he was buried on the 25th June aged 30 years.
His widow and her children were recorded in the census of 1901 at Top Lodge, Aston, Runcorn, Cheshire, which was the home of Mary Elizabeth’s parents-in-law. The household comprised Peter Price 65, a ‘Woodman Gardener” and his wife Margaret Price also 65. Their ‘daughter’ Mary E. was a widow, 27 and listed as ‘a servant at home’. Two children are recorded as grandchildren Mary E. 5 and Joshua 3.
Joshua’s mother Mary Elizabeth Price remarried in 1902 – to Edwin Thornton, in a Civil Ceremony in Chester, which probably explains why the census of 1911 records Joshua aged 13 at the home of his maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Evans 58 and, a widow. She lived at Ferry Hill, Ewloe Chester, Flintshire. Also listed were Elizabeth’s grown up children, William 26 a ‘Coal Miner Filler’, George, 24 and Thomas 21 both ‘Iron Workers’, John, 18, a Postman and Hannah Rhoda 16. There was a grandaughter Florence Dutton who was 12.
UK soldiers who died in the Great War 1914 -19, accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk confirms the regimental information above and adds Joshua’s regiment was Prince of Wales’s Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment) 2nd Bn. and that he enlisted in Hawarden (His army records say it was Wrexham). This source tells us he ‘died of wounds’.
Joshua Price’s Army Service Records have survived and are accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk
The records tell us that he attested on the 10th December 1915 at Wrexham. He was 18 years and 11 months old and worked as a ‘Sheet opener’. He named his Grandmother Elizabeth Evans as his next of kin. His address (and hers) was Ferry Hill, Ewloe, Flintshire.
He was 5 feet 6 inches tall, had a chest measurement of 33 inches with 2inch expansion. His physical development was ranked as ‘fair’. There was a note that said he had deficient and septic teeth.
His records show that he attested on 10th December 1915. He was allocated to the Army Reserve on 11th December 1915. He was mobilized on 19th May 1916 and posted on 24th May 1916. He was part of the British Expeditionary Force in France in 1916. The records show that he left Southampton on 17th September that year and disembarked at Rouen 18th September when he was posted to the 2nd Bn. He joined the Bn on 24th September 1916 and was wounded on 16th October 1916.
He was taken to the 9th Casualty Clearing Station with gun shot wounds to the face and a fractured jaw. He died from his wounds the next day.
There is correspondence between the army and Mrs Mary E Thornton of 52 Plumton Street, Warrington. (His mother who had remarried). This concerns the receipt of his possessions, medals and a commemorative plaque and scroll.
In 1919 the army required a relatives form to be completed. This was done by his mother
Father of Soldier – nothing
Mother of Soldier:- Mary Elizabeth Thornton, 8 Warrington View, Canal Bank, Latchford.
Brothers of the Soldier – Half Blood:– Thomas Thornton, Charles Thornton & George Thornton.
Sisters of the Soldier – Full Blood:– Margaret Elizabeth Price, Benmarsh, Sutton Weaver, Nr. Warrington.
Sisters of the Soldier – Half Blood.:- Annie Thornton, Hilda Thornton & Rhoda Thornton 8, Warrington View, Canal Bank, Latchford.
Grandparents of the Soldier:- Elizabeth Evans , The White House, Ferry Hill, Ewloe, Nr. Chester.
Nephews and Nieces of the Soldier:- None.
Uncles & Aunts by blood of the Soldier Charles Evans, George Evans, William E. ( Evans,?) Thomas. E. (Evans,?), John Evans,, Sydney Kendal, Jane Hindley Annie Evans????, Rhoda Evans, Richard Price & Mary Wilkins. The Declaration was signed by Mary E Thornton, of 2, Maisington View, Latch and witnessed by John Millington, Doctor. 4th September 1919.
Joshua Price in the UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 tells us that he died of wounds and that the sole Legatee was his mother Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Thornton who was paid £1. 9s 7d on the 1st May 1917 and his War Gratuity of £3 on the 6th October 1919. There was a recharge to the Regimental Paymaster on the 9th March 1917 of 10/9d.
There is a letter in his records from his Grandmother Elizabeth Evans to the army. It is dated 3rd July 1924.
White House, Ferry Hill, Ewloe, Nr. Chester
Dear Sir,
Would you kindly give me information about the late Pte. Joshua Price’s grave in France. Regimental No. 22426 South Lancashire Regiment. He was wounded on the Somme & died the same day that he was admitted into hospital somewhere near of Albert. Could you let me have it as soon as you possibly can. I have some friends going their this week & I would be greatly obliged if you could give me some information.
Yours truly, Elizabeth Evans.
There is a reply
Dear Madam,
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 2nd July 1924, and to inform you that the late Pte. J. Price was buried at Contay British Cemetery, 7 and 1/4 miles w. of Albert, France.
Yours faithfully ist? Captain ( writing very faded.)
There are included in the records, more army documents detailing the place of Joshua’s burial.
Joshua was mentioned twice in the County Herald Nov 25th 1916 Roll of Honour – Many thanks to Barbara Forbes.
Private Joshua Price of Ferry Hill, Buckley age 19 years
& the same issue this article
ANOTHER LOCAL WAR CASUALTY
The death of Joshua Price of the Ewloe neighbourhood is an addition to the list of local casualties in the war. The first intimation was in a letter from the chaplain & this was confirmed by a communication from the War Office. The deceased was only 19 years of age. He resides with his grandmother Mrs Evans, Ferry Hill who has brought him up since childhood. He was well-known & much thought of in the neighbourhood of his home and the greatest sympathy is felt for his relatives in their sad loss. He was a regular attendant at St Winifred’s School Church & a member of the Well House Bible class. He was employed at Messrs. Summers’ before joining the colours.
Joshua was named on 1 other memorial – the Hawarden War Memorial.
Imperial War Museum – Memorials Project – http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/60371
Description – Addition to gravestone. – Inscription
IN LOVING MEMORY OF/ JOSHUA/ THE DEARLY BELOVED HUSBAND/ OF MARY E. PRICE/ DEE COTTAGE, QUEENSFERRY/ WHO DIED JUNE 23rd 1898,/ AGED 31 YEARS/ “NOT MY WILL OH LORD, BUT THINE BE DONE”/ ALSO JOSHUA/ THE DEARLY BELOVED SON OF THE ABOVE/ KILLED ON THE SOMME OCT 17th 1916/ AGED 19 YEARS/ FOR EVER WITH THE LORD/ ALSO MARY ELIZABETH/ BELOVED WIFE OF JOSHUA/ DIED FEB 24th 1969.
There is no Flintshire WW1 Index Card in the Roll of Honour at the County Record Office in Hawarden for him.
The only document that mentions Joshua’s father is his Commonwealth War Grave Certificate that says he was the son of Mary E and the late Joshua Price.
(I have details of the reference numbers for the various births , marriages and deaths listed on this page. Contact me, (Mavis), via the website if you want these details)
We received the following e mail from Joshua Price’s relative – Hilary McGuill on the28th April 2017. Subject: WW1 grave Message: Just wanted to say a big thank you to all of you as I have returned from France after being able to locate Contay cemetery and my great uncle’s grave .No one has been able to find it before so I felt very privileged to be able to place a cross there and it was so very moving to know where and how he had died . Once again thank you for your research .Hilary.
Many thanks to Hilary for the photograph – and the e mail.
