Universities at War

Joseph Hewitson Atkinson was born on 6 May 1892 at Fylands Bridge near Bishop Auckland, the third son of Thomas and Isabel Atkinson. Between 1901 and 1911 his father and brothers all worked on the railway for the North Eastern Railway Company. Joseph took a different path, and studied at Bede College 1910-1912, boarding in 1911 with a Scottish widow in Gilesgate. After leaving the college Atkinson was employed as a teacher at Cockton Hill County School, Bishop Auckland, then living in New Shildon. He enlisted in the 1/8^th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry as Private 2905 and arrived in France with the battalion on 19 April 1915, serving in A Company. His death is recorded by the Commonwealth Graves Commission as having occurred on 26 June 1915. This is probably a clerical error as he is mentioned in Major E. Hardinge Veitch’s Eighth Battalion The Durham Light Infantry 1793-1926 as being killed during the heavy fighting on the Gravenstafel Ridge during the 2^nd Battle of Ypres around 25 April 1915. Probate records have his date of death as 25^th April which would support this. Veitch gives the following description of his bravery.

"Part of A Company trench had by now become untenable, there being no cover left, and the men were moved from here to the part held by the 7th Canadians where a hedge afforded a certain amount of protection, and here was seen perhaps the most outstanding in its heroism of the many courageous acts of this first stern day of fighting. Corporal J. M. Watson lay wounded in an exposed position crying for water. A bottle was thrown to him but fell beyond his reach. Seeing this, Private J. H. Atkinson left his shelter to give his comrade the water he needed, and gave his life in the attempt."

Eighth Battalion The Durham Light Infantry 1793-1926 (1927), p.25

His body was never recovered and his name is honoured at the Menin Gate in Ypres. As a Durham County Council employee Atkinson’s sacrifice is also recorded on the war memorial at County Hall, and also on the Bede College 1914-1918 Cross, Plaque, and Roll of Honour.