Our Story

Joseph Brian Darlington

Joseph Brian Darlington was born in 1931 near Shrewsbury; his birth was registered in the Ellesmere district, with his mother's maiden name recorded as Davies. He was one of around twelve sons, and is thought to have been the third or fourth youngest.

His brothers

Several of Joseph's brothers are said to have died in the war. The brothers who lived were:

• John, who moved south with his wife Jane and their children
• Peter
• David, a farmer in Wales
• Keith

The names of the brothers lost in the war are not yet known.

His parents

Joseph's father married a Davies and never left Shropshire. The family has a connection to Whitchurch. Their first names are not yet known. A birth certificate has been ordered, which should name both parents.

Joseph often speaks of a family home that his father is said to have gambled away. Its name and location are not yet known.

A new life in Surrey

Joseph became a grain merchant and later traded grain on the futures market. He married Pamela Mary Hartley Wilkinson, and the family settled in Surrey.

Family tree