Description
Queen’s South Africa, 3 bars, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1902, 3412 Private Joe Willie Jessop, Scots Guards. From Huddersfield, Yorkshire, young man who enlisted during war.
Officially impressed: “3412 Pte J. Jessop. Scots Guards.”
Some light abrasion over naming, but clear as shown in the photos.
Entitlement confirmed on the medal roll.
Joseph “Joe Willie” William Jessop, enlisted in the Scots Guards on 23rd May 1900.
He was a 18 year old Yorkshireman who signed on at Halifax, having been a Joiner and Cabinet Maker from Huddersfield, Yorkshire.
Son of Willis Jessop, Huddersfield.
After the war was over, he was discharged on 25th May 1900 as Medically Unfit, his conduct stated to have simply been “BAD”, and his rate of pension reads “REJECTED”.
Served in South Africa from 16th January 1902 – 4th October 1902.
His papers note that after the war he was “Tried and Convicted by Civil Powers for Drunk and Disorderly, Sentenced fined 5 pounds or 5 days of imprisonment and hard labour.”
He paid the fine on 2nd Feb 1903, and was then found unfit and discharged on 20th April 1903.
Upon discharge his conduct was: “Bad owing to drunkenness and improper conduct.”
He returned to Huddersfield, to work as a Joiner and Cabinet maker once again, and married his wife Mary in 1906, having some children.
Later on during World War 1, he re-enlisted on 30th August 1915 to serve with the Army Service Corps.
He was back in Yorkshire working as an Insurance Agent.
He embarked for the BEF in France on 16th October 1916.
During his service he was wounded having been gassed on 25th July 1917. (Gas Poison papers read)
He embarked with the 79th Section H.A.M.T. attached to the 185th Siege Battery R.G.A.
Notably on 11th December 1916 he had to forfeit 7 day for “Lighting a fire in his lorry.”
He was in France until 1919 when he returned home to discharge.
After the war he made use of his new expertise, becoming a Motor Driver for the Huddersfield Corporation Transport Department, but was out of work by the time of the 1921 census.
In 1939 he was still a Motor Driver, Lorry, and he later died in Huddersfield during 1952.
A final unusual notice appears in the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 6th December 1951:
“SUMMONS DISMISSED
A summons against Joseph William Jessop (aged 70), a Rag Collector of 9 Chapel Hill, Huddersfield, who was alleged to have stolen a pair of men’s overalls, valued at £1. 18s was dismissed.”
