I believe that Joseph Price may have been born in the Ellesmere Registration District as his father William Evan Price was a Policeman and may have been stationed there when Joseph was born.   (Ellesmere Vol. 6a Page 1160 – The district Ellesmere spans the boundaries of the counties of Flintshire and Shropshire.)    Any help would be appreciated.

Although when William Evan Price and Mary Davies married at All Saint’s Church, Doddleston on 23^rd October 1900, he was a Signalman.

All Saint’s Church Parish Registers – Marriages – Doddleston. – 23^rd October 1900 William Evan PRICE, 26, Bachelor, Signalman, Bannel, Hawarden, Robert PRICE, Labourer & Mary DAVIES, Spinster, 25, Penyffordd, James DAVIES, Farmer. (After Banns). – Witnesses:-William DAVIES & Jemima DAVIES.

William Evan was still a Signalman on the 1901 census when the newly married couple can be seen living at Belle View Terrace, Hope, Flintshire.   William E. was head of the household, age 26 and a Raiilway Signalman born Hawarden, Flintshire.   Mary,26, had been born in Hope Flintshire.

By the 1911 census the family had moved to 5, Summer Hill, Holywell, Flintshire.   William Evan Price was now a Police Constable, and they tell us that they had been married 10 years and that 3 children had been born to them. Mary Elizabeth, 9 had been born in Pennyfford, Hope.    Edith,7, born in Mold and Adalaide (sic) age 4 born in Holywell.   So, we know that William Evan had been a Police Constable for at least 4 years and in Holywell.

So, it not an impossibility that Joseph had been born in Ellesmere if his father was stationed there, as Policemen did move around.

I have no record of Joseph’s early years, nor his teen years, except that I believe that Joseph lost his mother when he was 4 years old, and a possibility that he lost his sister Mary Elizabeth the same year – 1916.   Then his father, William Evan, died when he was 12 years old.   Joseph was to suffer greatly when he was just a boy.

Hope Parish Church, – Burials  (I believe that William Evan was buried with Mary)

Page 279 No. 2226 Mary PRICE, 10, Salisbury Street, Shotton*, 5^th April 1916 age 41 years.

*I believe that this was the Shotton Police Station. (She died on the 2^nd of April)

But there is this burial in the Hope Parish Registers as well, is this his sister Mary Elizabeth: –

Page 280 No. 2235 Mary Elizabeth PRICE, Wells Farm, Penymynydd, 4^th May 1916, Age 14 years. (She died on the 1^st of May.  The address on the Mouning Card was the Police Station, Shotton.)

Was William Evan stationed at Shotton that year?    They may have kept his home at Well Farm going and the children lived there.   Any help would be appreciated.

The 1921 census shines more light on the family, as they are seen living at 25a, Willington Road, Police Station, Rhyl, Flintshire.   William Evan Price is head of the household and now age 48 years and 10 months old, he was a widower, born in Buckley, Flintshire, and a Police Sergeant for the Flintshire Standing Joint Committee at Rhyl Town.   His eldest daughter Edith Price was 18 years old and had been born in Mold, Flintshire, she was ‘Housekeeping for her Father,’ at home.   Adelaide Price was 14 years and 6 months old, born in Holywell, Flintshire and was doing ‘Home Duties.’   Joseph Price, William Evan Price’s only son, was 8 years and 8 months old, born in Bangor on Dee, Flintshire and was at school whole time.   Annie Price was 5 years and 3 months old and had been born in Shotton, Flintshire.   This census tells us that their mother was dead.

Sadly, the children were to suffer more grief as William Evan Price died on the 25^th of August 1924 at the Prince Edward War Memorial Hospital, Rhyl, his address was the Police Station, Rhyl, and his daughter Edith Price, Spinster was the Administrator.

Hope Parish Church, – Burials  (I believe that William Evan was buried with Mary)

Page 320 No. 2560 William Evan PRICE, Prince Edward Memorial Hospital, Rhyl, 28^th August 1924 age 50 years.

William Evan Price in the England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966, 1973-1995: – PRICE, William Evan of the Police Station, Rhyl, Flintshire died 25^th August 1924 at the Prince Edward War Memorial Hospital, Rhyl.   Administration London 9 December to Edith Price, Spinster.

However, Joseph Price was to pass his exams to go to Hawarden Grammar School in September 1924 a short time after his father’s death: –

Hawarden Grammar School Admissions Register E/GS/1/10 – 963/1416 PRICE, Joseph, Date of Birth – 25^th October 1912, Well Farm, Penymynydd, Father Police Serg. (decd.), Date of Entry – 16^th September 1924, Previous school – Clwyd St., Rhyl, Schl. £6, Date of 1^st Leaving – 23^rd July 1926 –returned 17^th January 1927, 2^nd date of leaving – 27^th July 1928 – Rhyl Cty. School.

Again, this proves that the family moved around a lot as a Policeman, as Joseph’s previous school had been in Rhyl and 4 years after entering the school, he left to go back to Rhyl.   Although by this time his father had died: –

He must have been staying with relatives, but I have no proof.   War was declared on the 3^rd September 1939 but when the National Register was taken on the 29^th September 1939, Joseph is seen living at 65 Penymynydd Road, Penyffordd, Hawarden R.D., Flintshire,  I think that Joseph was living with his married sister Edith. I believe that she married Thomas K. Hughes at the Methodist Church, Hawarden in 1930 (Flintshire (Mold) A144/01/E10).

This source also tells us the dates of birth for each person.   Thomas K. Hughes’s birth date was the 21^st of November 1904, and he was a Road Works Driver, Heavy Worker.  Edith Hughes had been born on the 28^th of June 1903 and as most married women with no job was described as doing “Unpaid Domestic Duties.”   There are 4 redacted or closed records, which, I believe are their children.   Also living there was Joseph Price, born on the 25^th of October 1912 and he was a Railway Carriage Cleaner and Single.   He was not in the Army on that day.

Joseph’s sister Adelaide was married in the September quarter of 1936 to Thomas Ellis at the All-Saint’s Church, Higher Kinnerton (Flintshire (Mold) C110/01/E84).

I do not know if Joseph enlisted or was conscripted as but as this website explains: –

https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/private-lives/yourcountry/overview/conscriptionww2/#:~:text=On%20the%20day%20Britain%20declared,had%20to%20register%20for%20service

Your Country needs you. – On the day Britain declared war on Germany, 3 September 1939, Parliament immediately passed a more wide-reaching measure. The National Service (Armed Forces) Act imposed conscription on all males aged between 18 and 41 who had to register for service.

So, Joseph may have had no choice, in any case he found himself in the 2^nd Bn of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in Madagascar in 1942.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission History Information tells us : –

History Information

After the fall of France in 1940, the French possession of Madagascar, which lay across the Allied lines of communication in the Indian Ocean, became of strategic importance to the Axis powers and, later, Japan. In May 1942 the large naval base and harbour of Diego Suarez was seized in Operation ‘Ironclad’, the first amphibious assault undertaken by Commonwealth forces in the Second World War.

Excerpt from  – Royal Welch Fusiliers – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Welch_Fusiliers

The 2nd Battalion was part of 29th Independent Infantry Brigade throughout the war. In 1942, it fought in the Battle of Madagascar, then part of Vichy French, before being transferred to the South-East Asian Theatre. In 1944, the battalion and brigade became part of 36th British Infantry Division, previously an Indian Army formation.

Also read –British Armed Forces and National Service

http://www.britisharmedforces.org/i_regiments/roywelchfus_index.htm

1942.05.05 Madagascar 29 Bde, Force 121

Battle of Madagascar – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Madagascar

The Battle of Madagascar was the British campaign to capture the Vichy French-controlled island Madagascar during World War II. The seizure of the island by the British was to deny Madagascar’s ports to the Imperial Japanese Navy and to prevent the loss or impairment of the Allied shipping routes to India, Australia and Southeast Asia. It began with Operation Ironclad, the seizure of the port of Diego-Suarez (now Antsiranana) near the northern tip of the island, on 5 May 1942.[1][5]

A subsequent campaign to secure the entire island, Operation Stream Line Jane, was opened on 10 September. The Allies broke into the interior linking up with forces on the coast and secured the island by the end of October. Fighting ceased and an armistice was granted on 6 November.[6] This was the first large-scale operation by the Allies of World War II combining sea, land and air forces.[7][8]

More websites – https://www.combinedops.com/MADAGASCAR.htm

Operation Ironclad – The invasion of Madagascar – 5th May 1942: The invasion of Madagascar – Operation Ironclad.

5 May 1942.  Operation Ironclad – Madagascar. [See coloured square markers for location of beaches. (On map below)]

Taken from the above website: –

 Dear Geoff 

We’ve been in touch before regarding medals awarded to participants in Operation Ironclad. Upon scrolling through a medal dealers list I came across this account of a DCM awarded during this operation which I hope may be of interest to your readers.

 Kind regards 

Glenn Stein (07/12) 

Distinguished Conduct Medal, George VI. 3126021 Cpl. H. Lyle, Royal Scots Fusiliers.

 D.C.M. London Gazette 16 June 1942.

 “During the night attack on Antsirane on 6 May 1942, this N.C.O. was leading his section which was fired on from a Pill Box on the east side of the road. He showed conspicuous gallantry and disregard for danger in entering the Pill Box and capturing over a dozen prisoners.”

 Harry Lyle was from Mauchline in Ayrshire and was one of four men awarded the D.C.M. for the opening phase of Operation Ironclad, the first large scale amphibious assault undertaken by British forces since the Dardanelles campaign a generation earlier.

 On the 5th, with supporting fire from the Royal Navy’s “Force H”, troops of the 13th, 17th and 29th Infantry Brigades (the latter including 1st Battalion, the Royal Scots), No. 5 Commando, the whole designated Force 121 landed in Courrier Bay about 12 miles from the main objective, the Vichy naval base at Diego Suarez situated to the east of the town at Antsirane.

 The initial landings proceeded without much difficulty but later in the day strong resistance was encountered and plans were made to storm the enemy by night during which Lyle had his encounter the pill box at Antsirane. By dawn the assault had been accomplished with 105 killed and 283 wounded from the raiding force and 150 killed and 500 wounded on the Vichy French side.

 Following these operations and the withdrawal of 13th and 17th Infantry Brigades, Lyle and the 29th Brigade remained in occupation because the Vichy French Governor steadfastly refused to surrender. Further strikes were ordered at selected points along Madagascar’s coast resulting in the Royal Scots participating in another amphibious landing at Majunga in September. The Regiment was finally withdrawn in mid-October, shortly before the final surrender of the Vichy forces.

 Don’t know if of much interest to you but Anglo-Saxon Tanker SEPIA was with the Operation Ironclad convoy early May 1942. Helen 18-03-07.

 Acknowledgments

 The first part of this account of Operation Ironclad was written by Geoff C Riley.  Many thanks to the above website and Geoff C. Riley.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38225/supplement/1606 – “Operation Ironclad.”

http://ww2today.com/5th-may-1942-the-invasion-of-madagascar – Mostly about the Royal Scots Fusiliers, but a little story about a Welsh Fusilier.

Sadly, it seems that Joseph died the first day of “Operation Ironclad” on the 5^th May 1942.

Casualty List 839 (Page 5) Expeditionary Force – Madagascar.   Killed in Action – 4203978 PRICE, Fus. J.   Date not Reported.

Casualty List 860 (page 17) Expeditionary Force – Madagascar.   Killed in Action – 4203978 PRICE, Fus. J.   Date not Reported.   Date of Casualties should read 5^th/7^th May 1942.

Casualty List (Page 22) tells us  – “List No. 839 (Corrected by List No. 860) – Expeditionary Force – Madagascar.   Killed in Action – 4203978 PRICE, Fus. J. Date of Casualty should read 5th May 1942.  Date of Casualty 5^th/7^th May 1942.

CWGC Graves Concentration Report Form tells us that Joseph was buried at “Diego” possibly on the day he died and then was reburied on the 15^th of November 1943 at B.M.C. (British Military Cemetery?), the CWGC Graves Registration Report Form tells us that this is the Diego Suarez War Cemetery.

Joseph had suffered losses in his young life and then he sacrificed his life for us all.   His loss must have been hard on his sisters, so I hope that they were able to see the unveiling of the Roll of Honour.   The Roll of Honour was dedicated at Hawarden Grammar School on the 3rd of February 1951 with a Remembrance Service for the 47 former pupils who died in the 1939 – 1945 World War.   As recorded in the Chester Chronicle Saturday 10th February 1951.

Joseph Price is also remembered on the Hope WW2 War Memorial, please click on the link.

GOD REST HIS SOUL