Joseph Berry DFC**
 
 
'When beggars die there are no comets seen;
The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes'.
Julius Caesar (Act II)



Joseph Berry was born on the 28th of February 1920, the second child and eldest son, his Father was Arthur Joseph, who worked as a mining engineer and Deputy at the nearby Whittle Colliery and his Mother was Mary Rebecca Charlton, he had a brother Jack and a sister Ivy.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the age of about 3 years old Joseph and his family moved to 3 Elmfield Terrace Hampeth, near Alnwick, Northumberland, there he attended the Newton on the Moor junior school, after passing his 11+ exams he qualified for the Duke Grammar School in Alnwick, between the years of 1931 to 1936.

Leaving school as a 16 year old, Joe moved into lodgings in Carlton, Nottingham for his work with the Civil Service in the Inland Revenue.
Two years later he met his wife to be Joyce Breatt, who was working at the same branch.
3 Elmfield Terrace, Hampeth

His home postal address at that time was 55 Ramsey Street, Tursdale, Near Ferryhill, County Durham, now Cassop cum Quarrington, Teesdale, (12 miles east of Crook County Durham).

In 1940, Joe and Joyce became engaged, and in the August of the same year Joe enlisted in the RAFVR, he was commissioned on the 14th of March 1942 and a week later on the 19th, Joe and Joyce became man and wife.
(Mrs Joyce Manser)

  

 

 

  
55 Ramsey Street, Tursdale