ROSE Joseph Harold

Joseph’s parents and younger brother were later buried in the same grave.

Joseph Rose was born at Bromsgrove in 1892, the son of Joseph William and Louisa Rose nee Baker. Joseph was the parish Sexton/clerk. They had 6 children :-
Frank Lancelot Rose born 1884
Beatrice Adeline Rose born 1885
Mabel Gertrude Rose born 1887
Clarice Louise Rose born 1889
Joseph Harold Rose born 1892
John Stuart Rose born 1895

Joseph junior became an apprentice gas fitter.

Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Redditch Messenger, 5th January 1918:
Yesterday (Friday) morning a telephone message was received in Bromsgrove to the effect that Second Lieutenant Harold Rose, Worcestershire Regiment, (T. F.) second son of Mr and Mrs J.W. Rose, The Limes, Crown Close, Bromsgrove, expired in hospital, in London, early yesterday morning.  As stated last week, Lieut. Rose, who had been badly wounded and brought to the Queen Alexandra Military Hospital, London, had had his arm amputated, and although in a weak state was progressing as well as could be expected. Early this week, however, haemorrhage set in, and a further operation was performed on Wednesday.  On Thursday night the deceased had a serious relapse, and he died suddenly yesterday morning.  Mrs Rose, mother of the deceased, had been staying in London, in order to be near her son, since the previous Wednesday.  Lieutenant Rose, who was 25 years of age was an old territorial and enlisted in September 1914.  After 2 years in France, he was given a commission in May of last year and was later posted to a territorial battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment.

Appears on the memorial under Queen’s Own Royal Lodge.

Details of the funeral taken from the Bromsgrove Droitwich and Redditch Messenger, 12th January 1918:
The funeral of Second Lieutenant Harold Rose took place at Bromsgrove Parish Church and Cemetery on Wednesday afternoon.  The service was conducted by the Rev. W.G. Whitfield, and military honours were accorded.  The Bromsgrove Volunteer Detachment furnished a bearer party, under Company Sgt-Major Wilson and a firing party under the command of Sergeant W.L. Small. Lieutenants Harvey and Holyoake also attended as representing the Bromsgrove Volunteers.  The coffin had a Union Jack as a pall.
At the close of the service at the graveside, three volleys were fired and the last post was sounded by Bugler C.J. Gibbs, an old comrade of the deceased, in the 1/8th Worcesters, and two buglers from Norton Barracks.  The bearer party also included another old comrade Sergeant Simpson.

A list of mourners and tributes can also be found in this edition of the newspaper.

A letter of sympathy was also received by Mrs Rose from Captain Baker R.A.M.C., which stated:-
‘We are all very fond of him and feel our inability to have pulled him through very keenly. He suffered intense pain with the greatest bravery, and you have every reason to be very proud of such a son.  The Colonel and everyone admired his great pluck.  He was an excellent patient, was always pleasant under very adverse conditions, and was a very attractive character.  Personally I feel his going very keenly.  Will you please accept my sincere sympathy’.

His elder brother, Sergeant Frank Lancelot Rose, 18156, 6th battalion South Lancashire Regiment, was killed in action in Mesopotomia on 15th February 1917.

His younger brother John Stuart Rose, served in Palestine and survived the war.

A photograph of Lieut. J.H. Rose of Bromsgrove can be found in Berrow’s Worcester Journal Supplement, Saturday 22nd December 1917, available at Worcestershire Archives.