PRIEST, Joseph Thomas

Joseph Priest was the son of Joseph and Eliza Priest of Netherton. He was born in Brierley Hill and was living there in 1914. He was an early volunteer and joined the 1st Battalion of the South Staffords, a regular battalion. They mobilised and were sent to the Western Front to halt the enemy threat to Ypres. They landed on the 4th October, entered Ypres and moved on to Zonnebeke where they managed to stem the German advance over an incessant fighting fortnight. They moved to Artois on the 1st March 1915 and were involved in the Battle of Neuve Chappelle on the 12th March. It was probably here that Private Joseph Priest was seriously wounded and sent to the base hospital at Rouen. He died of wounds on the 3rd April and is buried in St Sever Cemetery, Rouen (A 7 6). He was 34 years of age and is commemorated on the Brierley Hill and Brierley Hill church Memorials.