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Whenham, Joseph Edward

Joseph was born in Northop, Flintshire, in 1895. The son of Stephen E Whenham, a gardener from Mottingham, Kent, and Ruth (nee Jones) from Rhydymwyn. The parish records show that his parents married on 21 September 1895, in Flint, Mold. Stephen was 26 and a gardener living at Gwysaney, Mold. His father was named as John Whenham, also a gardener. Ruth was 21 and her father was Joseph Jones, a labourer.

In 1901 Joseph was 4, and living at Rhydygoleu with his parents, and younger brothers John A and Stephen E. Ruth spoke both Welsh and English, the rest of the family spoke only English.

By 1911 the family were living at ‘The Cottage’, Leeswood Hall, Mold – Stephen was a gardener at the Hall. Joseph was now 14 and a farm labourer. There were  three more children in the family – Mary Cat, Horace and Ruth Helena.

Joseph enlisted at Hartley Wintney, Hampshire. His Medal Index Card shows that the first Theatre of War he served in was the Balkans, from 5 December 1915. Seven months later, on 9 July 1916, Joseph died of wounds, aged 20.

His casualty details on CWGC.org have the additional information ‘Son of Stephen Edward and Ruth Whenham, of The Lodge, Pentre Hobyn, Mold, Flintshire’. The same address as on the parish record for Stephen’s burial in June 1926 – he was buried in the parish of Pontblyddyn, near Leeswood, Flintshire. Ruth was also buried there in June 1944.

Joseph is also commemorated on the Leeswood and Mold Memorials.

View Joseph’s CWGC record here.

Researcher: Emma Jones

Sources: 
-Censuses: 
–1901: Class: RG13; Piece: 5213; Folio: 34; Page: 2
–1911: Class: RG14; Piece: 33957; Schedule Number: 77

-Casualty details available from cwgc.org
-MIC and SDGW available from Ancestry.co.uk or Findmypast.co.uk
-Parish marriage, baptism and burial records available at Flintshire Records Office, Hawarden, or original images are available to view at Findmypast.co.uk
-Many record indexes can be found for free at freebmd.org.uk or familysearch.org


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