Portelli, Joseph Paolino (Paul)

Age: 19
Date of birth: 5th January 1896

Parents: Paolino and Elizabeth Portelli
Wife:
Address: 8 Hill Street

Occupation:

Joseph Paolino was born on the 5th January 1896 in Sheerness, Kent and was baptised on the 11th May 1898 at Holy Trinity Church, Sheerness.  His parents were Paolino and Elizabeth Jane Portelli.

His father was born in Malta in 1863. He was a Professor of Music. He married Elizabeth, born 1872, in Sheerness in 1894.

Joseph had two younger brothers Lawrence Amadeo (b. 1905) and Cecil Julius (b. 1907).

Joseph’s father died in November 1911 at the age of 49.

Military Service

Rank & Number: Corporal, 14649
Regiment/Service: 3rd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment
Brigade/Division: 7th Brigade, 3rd Division
Date of death: Sunday, September 26, 1915
Cause of death/Battle: Killed in action - 2nd attack on Bellewaarde
Commemorated/Buried: Menin Gate
Awards: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Commemorated locally at: All Saints Church

On 12th October 1911, at the age of 15,  Joseph enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry Division in Chatham, Kent. This was just a few weeks before his father died. We have no record of when he left.

He later joined the Worcestershire Regiment in Coventry.

Contributors

  • Unlocking Warwick Research Group
  • Memorial photograph courtesy of David Oliver

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