Private 2002

5^th Bn., Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby) Regt.

Died Wednesday 31^st January 1917 age 22.

Grave ref. 111. C. 1 Foncquevillers Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

Joseph was born in Silverdale, Staffordshire but his parents, Benjamin & Elizabeth Raybould moved to Jacksdale taking up residence at 10, Stone Row (Jacksdale Street), Jacksdale.

Private Raybould enlisted in 1914 and was sent to France in December 1915.

His brother Sgt JW Raybould also of Stone Row was awarded the Military Medal for meritorious work in the battlefield in France. In 1917, a local newspaper of the day reports that "Sgt J. Raybould has been wounded in several places and is now at home, discharged from service. During a severe engagement with the enemy, this gallant soldier continued for over four hours the heroic task of saving his comrades lives." The Hospital Committee presented Sgt J Raybould with a beautiful sideboard, suitably inscribed with a brass tablet - subscribed for by the local inhabitants". Mr Joseph Tinsley, Chairman of the Committee and Mr Lacey, (Vice-Chairman), made the presentation. Mr & Mrs McLaren, Mr JH Williams and Mr Cartledge gave addresses. Sgt Raybould's wife and child, and his mother and father, Benjamin & Elizabeth were present and responded to the addresses.

Sadly, Private Joseph Raybould did not return, being killed in action when serving in the trenches, near Souastre, France on Wednesday 31st January 1917, aged 22 years.

He is buried at Foncquevillers Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France in Plot III C. 1, only a few feet away from L/Sgt Harry Joseph Howard, also a 1/5th Btn Sherwood Forester, killed on the same day and buried in Plot III C 4. Both Pte Raybould and L/Sgt Howard are listed on the Jacksdale & Ironville Memorials. Foncquevillers was later adopted by the city of Derby.

During the Summer of 2001, Judith and Terry Kelsall, of Mackworth, Derby, were kind enough to take photographs of both Joseph Raybould's and L/Sgt Harry Howard's graves whilst attending the 85th Memorial Service to commemorate, the special connection which exists between the village of Foncquevillers and the city of Derby.

Note: The Jacksdale Memorial also lists a Private G Raybould who also served during WW1. We would welcome any information, which may enable us to connect Private G Raybould with Sgt J Raybould and Private Joseph Raybould.

Sherwood Foresters World War One Casualties - 11,298
Source: R. Capewell 'Discovering Military Badges.'