Pte 30540 Joseph Alfred Dring

Joseph Alfred Dring was born in 1886, the son of William Dring and Janet (née Burns). Both his parents were born Liverpool, married in 1879, and had seven children, five of whom are found on censuses.  Joseph had older siblings Sarah Ann and Arthur, and younger siblings Albert and Mary Ann.

 

In 1891 the family is living at 11 Rokeby Street, with four children.  His father is 35, a plumber, Joseph is 4.

 

By 1901 his  mother Janet, 40, is head of household at 2a William Henry Street, Islington.  She is a fishmonger/shopkeeper working at home, and states that she is a widow (however, no death record has been found for her husband).  Sarah Ann, 20, and Arthur, 17, are assistants.  Joseph is 14, Albert is 11 and Mary Ann 7.  They have a domestic servant. 

 

In 1911 Joseph is head of household at 2 William Henry Street.  

He is a single maan aged 24, and a fish dealer, employer, working on his own account.  His mother is 49, a retired fish dealer.  She now states she is married.  Sarah Ann, 30, Albert, 21, and Mary Ann, 17, are assisting in the business.  They have a domestic servant.  

 

He fathered a daughter, Amy Jones, born on 30th August 1913 (military record notes “paternity admitted”).   She was known as Amy Dring.

 

Joseph enlisted at Knowsley on 19th January 1915, as Private 25559, 19th Bn, King’s Liverpool Regiment, giving his age as 25, and his occupation fish salesman.  He is 5’ 4 and a half inches tall.  He gives his father as his next of kin, at 2 William Henry Street.

 

He was posted to the K.L.R. Depot on 29/4/1915 and transferred to the 3rd (Garrison ) Bn K.L.R. on 20/7/1915.  

He was posted to the Manchester Regiment on 11/9/1915.

 

When he was 28, Joseph married Louisa Jones, 23, on 11th September 1915 in Emmanuel Church, Liverpool.  They both give their address as 88 Kilshaw Street.  He gives his occupation as fishmonger, and Private, 3rd City Battalion.  

 

Another daughter Janet was born on 20th January 1916.

 

He embarked for India on 25th February 1916 and arrived at Bombay on 17th March 1916.  He joined the Manchester Regiment Depot at Bangalore on 31st March 1917. While stationed at Bangalore he was punished by fines, confined to barracks or awarded detention for being drunk or absent from parade on a number of occasions.

 

25/4/1918 embarked at Bombay 

05/5/1918 disembarked Suez

28/7/1918 Command Depot Abassieh(?)

03/8/1918 arrived Kantara (Suez)

04/2/1919 embarked Hospital Ship at Port Said for U.K.

 

Joseph died of pneumonia at Mill Road Infirmary on 30th March 1919.  He was laid to rest in Anfield Cemetery on the 03rd April 1919, address 115 Victoria Square, and occupation listed as, Drummer, 1st Manchester’s.

 

There are 996 First World War burials in the Cemetery.

 

A third daughter was born after her father’s death, on 18th November 1919, and called Josephine.

 

Louisa, living at 150 Victoria Square, Everton, received a grant of £7. Later, at 22 Gloucester Road, Tuebrook, Liverpool, she applied for his medals (British War Medal and Victory Medal). 

 

His father appears to have died in March 1918, aged 64, living at 34 Hampden Street, Walton, and was buried in a public grave.  

 

His mother died in October 1938, at the age of 78.  She was buried in a private grave next to Joseph, Section 8, 11a.  

 

In 1939 Louisa, 47, with daughters Amy and Josephine are still living at 22 Gloucester Road.  Amy, 26, is a clerk, and Josephine is 20, a hairdresser.  His daughter Janet had married in 1938, Josephine married in 1940 and Amy in 1941.  Louisa never remarried; she died in 1975, aged 83.

 

Joseph is commemorated in Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 7 Left and on the family headstone:

In loving memory of my dear son 

Joseph Alfred DRING

beloved husband of  

Louisa DRING,  

1st Batt. Manchester Regt. 

late Liverpool Pals. 

Who died 30th March 1919, 

aged 32 years.  

"In life beloved 

in death lamented."

 

We currently have no further information on Joseph Alfred Dring. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.