Guardsman Joseph Tomlinson
2867 Guards Machine Gun Regiment
Joseph was born in 1898 at Selston, the son of Joseph Tomlinson a coal miner/hewer and his wife Lucy Ann (nee Rawson) both born in Selston. In 1911 the family was living at Lindley Street, Selston and young Joseph was employed, aged 13, as a coal miner ganger. Joseph had five sisters:- Lily, Ellen, Lucy, Agnes and Emily. Three further children had been born to the family but had not survived.
Joseph enlisted at Derby in March 1916 for the duration of the war but as he was a coal miner and in a preserved occupation was not called up until June 1918. His record notes that he was 5’8″ tall with fair hair, grey/blue eyes and a mole on the left side of his neck. He gave his last employer as Selston Colliery, his religion as Church of England and his approved National Health Society as the Albert Victor Lodge. He was posted to Caterham Camp, and served in the UK until he was released in December 1918, as surplus to military requirements. On discharge he was in good health, having no disabilities or impairments. His character was noted as very good. Joseph was transferred to the Class ‘W’ Reserve -deemed to be more usefully employed in civilian life.
Despite his apparent good health at discharge, he was deemed eligible for, and received, Silver War Badge No. B124276.