Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Joseph Avery was born in 1865 to Charles and Martha née Leader. He was the youngest of four children. His father was a Carrier at the time of their marriage but does not appear on any of the census returns with his family. Joseph lived with his mother and siblings in River Terrace, Gossoms End. His mother worked as a straw plaiter. When he left school, he worked as a groom and then in Dec 1885, having previously served with the Hertfordshire Militia, he joined the Bedford Regiment. He served in Malta and India between 1885 and 1894, when he was placed on the Army Reserve list. He married Margaret Perfect (she was from Penn in Buckinghamshire) in April 1895. Their first child Charles William was born in 1895, followed by Maud Alice in 1897. That same year Joseph was re-engaged to the army for another 4 years, Margaret was left with two very young children and lived in River Terrace with Joseph’s mother. In February 1900 he was sent to South Africa to fight in the war there, he remained there until Aug 1902. On his return to the UK he left the Army and returned to River Terrace, Gossoms End and found work as a Brewers Drayman. The family continued to grow with Dora May in 1903, Gilbert James in 1906 and George Thomas 1911. Joseph was too old for foreign service in the Great War and so he was placed in the Royal Defence Corp. Around this time the family moved to 27 Bridge Street. He was discharged from the RDC on 16 January 1919 due to his death from cancer of the mediastinum, which was deemed to be caused by Army Service. He was buried on 21 Jan 1919. Several discharged soldiers followed the bearer party and the firing party was supplied by the Inns of Court Officer Training Corp. The army supplied a pension for his wife and young children.