Semple, Joseph
Private
No. 17935, 9th Battalion, Princess Victoria’s (Royal Irish Fusiliers)
Killed in action on Saturday 1 July 1916 (aged 19)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Thiepval Memorial, France (Pier and Face 15 A)
Holywood and District War Memorial
Holywood Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Philip & St James)
Family Grave Headstone in Holywood Cemetery, Co Down
BIOGRAPHY
Joseph Semple was born on 26 December 1896 in Trevor Street, Holywood and he was a son of Joseph and Margaret Ellen Jane (Maggie) Semple (nee Cuthbert) who were married on 28 December 1888 in Eglinton Street Presbyterian Church, Belfast. Joseph Semple from Belfast was a son of Joseph Semple, a farm caretaker. Maggie Cuthbert from Belfast was a daughter of John Cuthbert, a labourer (deceased).
The Semple family lived at 2 Sullivan Place, Holywood.
Joseph Semple Senior worked as a gardener and he and Margaret had at least four children:
Anne (Annie, born 14 October 1891 in Main Street, Gilford)
Ellen (born 23 July 1894 in Gilford)
Joseph (born 26 December 1896 in Trevor Street, Holywood)
John (born 16 July 1901 in Trevor Street, Holywood)
Joseph Semple enlisted in Belfast, he served with the 9th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers in 108th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division and he was 19 when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
Private Joseph Semple (No. 17935) has no known grave and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France; on Holywood and District War Memorial; in Holywood Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Philip & St James) and on the Family Grave Headstone in Holywood Cemetery, Co Down.