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1879 - 27/01/1917

Place of birth: Bromley, Kent
Last known address in Bromley: 2 Henry Street

Military information

Regiment/Service: Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
Battalion/Ship: Depot
Rank: Lance Corporal
Number: 0/4173

Family information

Parents: Joseph & Eliza Ann Brown (nee Phillips)
Parents' occupation: Labourer
Siblings: (1)Ada Elizabeth, Edward William, Walter Alfred, William George Phillips (2) Ernest George, Frederick James, Charles Herbert, Eleanor Frances, Lily Beatrice
Wife: Edwina Jessie Hooker Howse
Marriage date: 1901
Children: Edwina, Elsie

Census information

1891
Address: 17 Moorland Road
1901
Address: 31 Wharton Road
Occupation: Builder's labourer
1911
Address: 2 Henry Street
Occupation: House painter

Extra details

Joseph was the eldest of Joseph and Eliza's six children, he had three older half-siblings from his father's first marriage to Sarah Cook and a half-brother, William, son of his mother. Married in Swindon, Wiltshire Joseph Snr moved his family to Bromley, where Joseph Arthur was born. He was baptised at St Nicholas Church, Chislehurst on 13th March 1881 along with his younger brother Ernest and half-brother Walter. He married Edwina Howse in 1901, they had two daughters.

Prior to the war Joseph was a painter, having worked for several years for Messrs J C Arnaud and Son and Mr F P Duthoit. He joined the West Kents on 24th October 1914, he was 5ft 6ins tall and weighed 179lbs. On 11th December 1915 Joseph was appointed Lance Corporal then on 10th March 1916 he was posted to H M Factory, West Gorton Chemical Works, Openshaw, Manchester under the authority of The Minister for Munitions.

On 12th January 1917 he was working in the factory when an accident occurred. The report from West Gorton Chemical Works states - "The man died from severe acid burns on 27th January last. The inquest was held on the 29th of that month, when a verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned. The man was a fitter and whilst repairing the gland of an acid cock a head of acid was in the pipe, the plug blew out discharging on the unfortunate man which caused the burns from which he died." His body was brought home for a full military funeral.