Joshua ROYAL

Josha Royal was born in Weeting in 1876. His parents were John, a herdsman, and Lilian. In 1881 they were living inone of the Gamekeeper's Cottages on the Weeting Hall estate.

By 1891 the family had moved to Chettisham near ELy and Joshua had gained employment as an agricultural labourer.

In 1901 Joshua was boarding in a house in Islington, London where he worked as a Railway Porter. In the third quarter of the year he married Rose Emma Nicholas. In 1911 he and Rose were living in Wood Green with five children.

In April 1909, whilst employed by the Great Northern Railway as a "caller off" Josha signed up as a member of the Royal Engineers Territorials.

He joined the Norfolk Regiment on 29th September 1915 and was posted to Norwich two days later. On January 1st 1916 Joshua was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps and set sail from Southampton for Le Havre on February 8th.

On April 13th he was admitted to a field hospital. Two days later, having been diagnosed by the casualty clearing station as suffering from hernia Joshua was sne to 11 General Hospital for treatment.

Relsed back to duty on April 28th, he only lasted three weeks before being admitted to 20 General Hospital sufferng from piles. After a spell at the Base Depot he rejoined the 1st Norfolks on August 8th, but was posted back to the Machine Gun Corps on the 11th.

One month later he was back with the 1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment, with whom he was to serve the rest of his time in France.

In May 1917 his hernai problems recurred and a medical board eventually decide to removed him from the battlefield. On August 8th 1917 Joshua reported to the regimental depot in Norwich to begin work as an agriculturalist. On 26th October he was transferred to 428 Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps, still in Norwich. He her stayed until sent to the Thetford dispersal centre on 8th March 1919, from where he was demobbed on 6th April.

Victory Medal

British War Medal




The information presented here has been derived from surviving public and military records as well as from contemporary press reports. We hope you find it of interest ‐ if you think we have made an error, or can add any further details, please get in touch.