Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Joseph Dean

d.16/12/1924

Carpenter at the chemical factory, father of eight children, two sons killed in action WWI

Relatives

Matilda Eliza Dean — wife

• Vivien Benson

Joseph was born in Berkhamsted in 1861.  His father George was a carpenter from St. Neots, Cambridgeshire. His mother Ann Matthews, a dressmaker, was born in Berkhamsted in 1840 – they had married on Christmas Day 1853 in Newington Middlesex. George’s father William was a paper maker. Ann’s father, also William, was a carpenter.

In 1861 Joseph was living with his mother, father and sister Ellen who was four years old, in  Bridge Street, Berkhamsted.  In 1863 his brother Thomas was born and in 1864 his brother George was born. His mother died in 1864 within weeks of George’s birth. In 1864,  about three months after Ann’s death, George married again. Sarah Ann Hurst Dennett was a widow with two children. The marriage took place in Berkhamsted.

Sarah was born in Berkhamsted, her parents were Mary and Benjamin Hurst. In 1856 Sarah had married Robert Dennett, a Railway Porter, born in Windsor. They lived in Lincolnshire, were their daughters Mary Ann (1857) and Ellen (1860) were born.
Robert died in Boston Lincolnshire during 1861. Sarah appears to have moved back to Berkhamsted, where she met and married George, Joseph’s father, in 1864.

George and Sarah had five children – half siblings to Joseph, Ellen, Thomas and George – Susanna 1866, Harry 1867, Frank 1869, Alfred 1871 and Arthur 1873.

In the 1871 census Joseph and George were living with their maternal grandparents William and Mary Matthews in Castle Street, Berkhamsted. William is listed as a carpenter.

William Matthews died in 1880. In 1881 Joseph, George and Thomas were living with their grandmother Mary Matthews, still in Castle Street, Berkhamsted. Joseph and Thomas’ occupations are given as Carpenters. George was a painter.

In 1884 Joseph married Eliza Matilda Cook in Berkhamsted. Eliza was born in 1862 and was living in Castle Street/ Canal side. She had six siblings. Her father Joseph was a labourer, her mother Ann was a plaiter. Eliza was recorded as a plaiter aged 9. By 1881 Eliza was still a Straw Plaiter. Three years after this census she married Joseph.

In 1891 Joseph and Eliza address was Gravel Path Northchurch. By then, they had four children – George 1884, Nelly 1886, Arthur 1888 and Florence 1890.

In 1901 Joseph and Eliza were living at 13 Gravel Path Berkhamsted. Joseph was still a carpenter, George a labourer at the chemical works and Arthur a newsagent’s boy hawker. The family had increased by a further four children – Horace 1892, Frederick 1894, Lizzie 1896, and Ethel 1898.

By 1911 the family were still living at the same address. Joseph was working at a chemical manufacturers as a carpenter. George was a box maker. Arthur and Horace were painters and Arthur a labourer, all employed at the chemical manufacturer. Lizzie was working at the mantle factory. On the census it stated that Joseph and Eliza had eight children, all living.

In 1912 at the age of 50 Eliza Matilda Dean died.

During WW1 Joseph  lost two of his sons: William Arthur (known as Arthur) aged 29 and Horace in 1918 aged 26 years.

Joseph himself died in 1924 and joined his wife Eliza. The inscription reads:

In loving memory of Matilda Dean died July 2 1912 aged 50. Also Joseph Dean died Dec 16 1924 aged 63. Pte. William Arthur Dean killed in action 1917 aged 29.
 L/cpl Horace Dean killed in action 1918 aged 26.

Matilda Eliza Dean

d.02/07/1912

Straw plaiter, mother of eight children.

Relatives

Joseph Dean — husband

William Arthur Dean (1887 – 1917) — son

Horace Dean (1891 – 1918) — son

• Vivien Benson

Eliza was born in 1862 and was living in Castle Street/ Canal side. She had six siblings. Her father Joseph was a labourer, her mother Ann was a plaiter. Eliza was recorded as a plaiter aged 9. By 1881 Eliza was still a Straw Plaiter.

Three years after this census she married Joseph Dean, a carpenter, also from Berkhamsted.

In 1891 Joseph and Eliza were living on Gravel Path Northchurch. By then, they had four children – George 1884, Nelly 1886, Arthur 1888 and Florence 1890.

By 1901 Joseph and Eliza were still living at 13 Gravel Path Berkhamsted. Joseph was still a carpenter, their eldest George was a labourer at the chemical works and their second son Arthur a newsagent’s boy hawker. The family had increased by a further four children – Horace 1892, Frederick 1894, Lizzie 1896, and Ethel 1898.

By 1911 the family were still living at the same address. Joseph was working at a chemical manufacturers as a carpenter. George was now a box maker. Arthur and Horace were painters and Arthur a labourer, all employed at the chemical manufacturer. Lizzie was working at the mantle factory. On the census it stated that Joseph and Eliza had eight children, all living.

In 1912 at the age of 50 Eliza Matilda Dean died. She is buried with her husband and her two sons killed in action in WWI: William Arthur (known as Arthur) and Horace.

The inscription reads:

Pte. William Arthur Dean killed in action 1917 aged 29.
Also Joseph Dean died Dec 16 1924 aged 63. L/cpl Horace Dean killed in action 1918 aged 26.In loving memory of Matilda Dean died July 2 1912 aged 50.

Horace Dean (1891 – 1918)

Private 265784 Hertfordshire Regiment, Killed in action in France aged 26.

Relatives

Matilda Eliza Dean — mother

• Janice Boakes

Private Horace Dean (1891 – 1918)
265784 Hertfordshire Regiment

Horace Dean was born in Berkhamsted at the end of 1891. He was one of eight children to Joseph and Eliza nee Cook. His father was a Carpenter at Cooper’s Chemical Works. The family lived at 13 Gravel Path. When Horace left school he followed his father and worked at Cooper’s as a Carpenter. He was also a Scout Master.

Horace’s service papers no longer exist but we know that he enlisted in Hertford and joined the Hertfordshire Regiment as Private 3009. He was part of the 1st Battalion, a Territorial Army Unit based in Hertford. They were mobilised for foreign service in November 1914. Horace arrived in France on 6 November 1914, so it is likely that he was part of the Territorial Army before the War.

The Hertfordshires were involved in many of the major battles of the Western Front and Horace survived many battles, including Ypres, Festubert, Loos, Somme and Passchendaele. In the final month of War his Battalion was involved in the Battle of Cambrai. On the morning of 8 October 1918 they assembled at 0400 hours. They sustained large numbers of casualties as they advanced forward under machine gun fire. Horace was killed in action. He was 26 years old. His body was never recovered and he is remembered on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial. The Memorial contains the names of over 9000 men who fell between 8 August and 11 November 1918 in the advance to Victory in Picardy and Artois, and who have no known grave.

His elder brother, William Arthur, also died in the War. Both sons are remembered on their father’s grave stone in Rectory Lane Cemetery and on the Berkhamsted War Memorial.

William Arthur Dean (1887 – 1917)

Private 25447, 6th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, killed in action in France aged 29

Relatives

Matilda Eliza Dean — mother

• Janice Boakes

Private William Arthur Dean (1887 – 1917)
25447, 6th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment
William Arthur Dean was born in Berkhamsted in 1887, and was known by his middle name Arthur. He was one of eight children born to Joseph and Eliza nee Cook. His father was a Carpenter at Cooper’s Chemical Works. The family lived at 13 Gravel Path.

When he left school he initially found work selling newspapers for a Newsagent. He later worked as a Painter at Cooper’s Chemical Works. He married Nellie Maud Rance on 6 September 1913.

Sometime after War broke out he enlisted in Berkhamsted and joined the Northamptonshire Regiment. He joined the 6th Battalion which was already based in France. During 1916 the three attacks they took part in were all successful. It is not known when William joined but he was not entitled to the 1915 Star, so it would have been some time in 1916 or early 1917.

On 17 February 1917 his Battalion assaulted Boom Ravine near Petit Miraumont on the Somme. This was only partially successful and they suffered their first reverse. William was declared as missing presumed dead. He was 29 years old. His body was never recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. His young widow remarried Frederick Crockett in June 1920. William’s younger brother, Horace, died in the War the following year. Both sons are remembered on their father’s grave stone in Rectory Lane Cemetery and on the Berkhamsted War Memorial.