Joseph Mottram was born in 1891 to Thomas and Emma Mottram, he attended Richard Clarke school from 1896.When he left school he went to work at Rookery Farm for Mr Phillips, his occupation on the 1911 census was Waggoner.When war broke out Joseph was living in Walworth and his trade was kitchen porter, from records it looks as though Joseph decided to join his sister who was working in London. Joseph enlisted in 1915 and joined the Rifle Brigade. In September 1916 Joseph was sent back to England after receiving gunshot wounds to the back of his head, however, after some time he was declared fit and on the 3rd of May 1917, he was sadly killed in action. His sister Maria pressed to have Joseph’s belongings returned and finally, in September 1917 Maria received 2 wallets, photo’s, letters/greeting cards and a cigarette case but the watch she bought for his 21st birthday was never found. Joseph was 26 when he died and he is named on the Arras Memorial stone No.5. RIP Joseph Mottram.
Henry Allen. Henry was a complete mystery as to why he was on our war memorial, it took two years to find the connection and it was to Joseph Mottram. Henry had married Joseph’s sister Mary Ann Mottram in St Nicholas Church on the 29th of June 1915 and his occupation was a Collier. Henry was born in 1890 in Nottingham and when he left school he worked as a lace bobbin maker. When war broke out Henry and Mary Ann were living in London near to her sister. Henry was called up and enlisted in Doncaster where he joined the Sherwood Foresters. On the 4th October 1917, Henry was killed in action at age 27 and is Remembered with Honour at the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. RIP Henry Allen. Sadly no photo’s are available of these two men.