CASTLING J.F.

JOSEPH FRANKLIN CASTLING (1885-1918)

242211 Private Joseph Franklin Castling, 1/5^th Battalion, the York and Lancaster Regiment was killed in action 25 March 1918 and is buried at Polygon Wood Cemetery.[1] He was 33 years old and is commemorated on West Auckland War Memorial and the Roll of Honour in West Auckland Memorial Institute.

Family Details

Joseph Franklin was born 1885[2] the son of William and Margaret Castling. There were 6 children:[3]

George bc.1875 at St. Helens
John bc.1878 at St. Helens
Albert bc.1882 at Bishop Auckland
Joseph born 1885 at Bishop Auckland
Jane bc.1887 at Bishop Auckland
Mabel bc.1889 at West Auckland

In 1881, the family lived at 3 Craddock Street, Bishop Auckland where 28 year old William worked as a postman.[4] William Castling died 1891.[5] In 1891 37 year old Margaret is recorded as a widow and lived at 16 Clayton Street, Bishop Auckland. Only 16 year old George was in employment and worked as a coal miner.[6]

In 1901, William, Joseph, Mabel and James are recorded as sons and daughters of James and Elizabeth Nelson. Their sister Mabel was then married to Jonathan Bayles and lived as boarders. James Nelson was a farm manager and the extended family lived at Staindrop Field Houses, to the west of West Auckland.[7]

In 1911, 26 year old Joseph F. Castling is recorded as living with James and Elizabeth Nelson and their daughter Mabel Nelson (aged 22 and single) and their grandson 13 year old James Albert Castling. Joseph worked as a colliery labourer. The family lived at 8 Toadpool, West Auckland.[8]

Service Details

Joseph Franklin Castling enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne into the Northumberland Fusiliers being given the regimental number 32/651. He later was transferred to the1/5^th Battalion, the York and Lancaster Regiment, regimental number 242211.[9]

The service record of Private J.F. Castling has not been researched therefore the date he entered France is unknown. He was not awarded the 1914-1915 Star therefore he did not enter France before 31 December 1915.[10]

The 1/5^th Battalion was a territorial force formed in Rotherham August 1914 as part of the 3^rd West Riding Brigade, West Riding Division. It landed in Boulogne 14 April 1915 and came under the orders of the 148^th Brigade, 49^th (West Riding) Division from May 1915.[11] The Brigade comprised the following units: [12]

1/4^th, the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI)
1/5^th, KOYLI left February 1918
1/4^th, the York & Lancaster Regiment (Y&LR)
1/5^th, Y&LR
148^th Machine Gun Company (MGC) formed February and moved to 49^th, MGC March 1918
148^th Trench Mortar Battery formed June 1916

The Division served on the Western front throughout the war.

9 October 1917: the Division took part in the Third Battle of Ypres, the Battle of Poelcappelle and in November it was in the line in the Menin Road area on the Ypres Salient and:

“although the great battle had died down losses from unceasing shell fire kept high, while the physical sufferings from mud and cold were almost beyond the endurance of the strongest.”

In January 1918: the brigades were cut down from 4 to 3 battalions and the 49^th was still in the Ypres Salient at the beginning of April when the German offensive on the Lys commenced and the British were “fighting with their backs to the wall”.[13]

Private J.F. Castling was killed in action 25 March 1918 some weeks earlier together with Private J. Gee [formerly of the Leicester Regiment]. Over the days preceding and following 25 March, 23 – 30 March the battalion suffered a total of 6 deaths [14] therefore it is concluded that there was no major engagement along this part of the front. The German Spring offensive was taking place to the south on the Somme. It is assumed that these soldiers were killed as a result of the usual violence of warfare, probably shell fire.

242211 Private J.F. Castling was awarded the British War and Victory medals. [15]

Burial

Private J.F. Castling is buried at grave reference A.1 Polygon Wood Cemetery near Ypres.[16]

Commemorations

Memorial to the West Riding Division, situated on the bank of the Ypres canal near Essex Farm, Boesinge. It is an appropriate location, for the Division spent many months in the Ypres salient.[17]

Private J.F. Castling is commemorated on West Auckland War Memorial and the Roll of Honour in West Auckland Memorial Institute.

A family headstone in West Auckland Cemetery reads. [18]

“In loving memory of Jos Frankland Castling of W. Auck who died 15 Dec 1884 aged 43 yrs. Also Jos Francis son of above who died 4 Mar 1873 aged 16 mths. Also Frances Annie Franklin daughter of above who died 18 Apr 1898 aged 20 yrs. Also Pte. Jos Franklin Castling 1/5 Yks. & Lancs. Rgt. son of above was killed in action at Ypres 25 Mar 1918 aged 33 yrs.”

References:

[1] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[2] England & Wales Birth Index 1837-1915 Vol.10a p.238 Auckland 1883 Q1

[3] 1881, 1891, 1901 & 1911 census

[4] 1881 census

[5] England & Wales 1837-1915 Vol.10a p.133 1891 Q1

[6] 1891 census

[7] 1901 census The relationship of James and Elizabeth Nelson to the Castling siblings has not been researched.

[8] 1911 Census

[9] Soldiers Died in the Great War Note: recorded name is Joseph Franklin Castlin.

[10] Medal Roll

[11] http://www.1914-1918.net/yorkslancs.htm