Joseph Casson was born 14th July 1925 in Whitehaven, and was living at 75, Fleswick Avenue, Woodhouse, Whitehaven, Cumberland when he was called up. On leaving school he went to work in the local Ladysmith Coal Mine as a “Tar Plant Attendant”.

Joseph was deemed to have been a man enlisted in the Territorial Army for the duration of the Emergency under the provisions of the National Services Acts 1939 to 1941 and was formally enlisted on the 18th November 1943 for training.

He was initially assigned to the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) on the 30th December 1943, eventually being transferred to the 9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry (D.L.I.) on the 28th March 1944.

Records show that the 9th Battalion, D.L.I. moved to Nightingale Wood Camp, near Southampton, on the 2nd June 1944 prior to embarking landing craft on the 5th June 1944, sailing down the Solent at 8:00pm and reaching open water at 8:30pm as part of the 50th Division.

D-Day 6th June 1944

The 50th Division was designated to land on Gold Beach, in company with the 8th Armoured Brigade. The 151st Brigade, including the 9th Battalion D.L.I., was part of the second wave, to land after the beach was secure and push inland. The Brigade was to move southwest from Gold Beach toward Route Nationale 13. The 151st Brigade came ashore as planned and got to the outskirts of Bayeux.

During the following week, the Brigade advanced past Bayeux and on the 14th June 1944, the Brigade fought in Operation “Perch” against the Panzer Lehr Division. The Brigade made the initial assault on the villages of Lingèvres and Les Verrières, which were captured by the 9th Battalion D.L.I. Later that day the Brigade and the 231st Brigade were cut off south of the villages, formed a "brigade box" and repulsed heavy German counterattacks before withdrawing.

The 9th Battalion D.L.I. entered Tilly-sur-Seulles on 20th June 1944, Private Joseph Casson is recorded as being wounded on the 21st June 1944. The 9th Battalion D.L.I. then went on to advance towards Juvigny on the 26th June 1944.

Joseph sadly died from his wounds the following day, the 27th June 1944.

Private Joseph Casson was initially buried. (Grid ref. Latitude: 49.21272° Longitude: -0.66129°)

Following a request to the authorities from his mother, Mrs Mary Ellen Casson, he was exhumed and transferred from Jérusalem War Cemetery, Chouain to Ryes War Cemetery, Bazenville, on 13th November 1944, to finally be laid to rest and lies in Plot 4, Row B, Grave 1, alongside his brother, Royal Marine Commando, Robert Casson of HQ, 4th Special Service Brigade.

In acknowledgement of the return of his personal effects, Joseph’s mother, Mrs Mary Ellen Casson, despite her grief, even took the time to add “Thank You” to the document.