Joseph Shore Chivers was born in the summer of 1889 in Walcot, Bath, Somerset. He was the youngest of seven children to William and Jane Chivers. William was a blacksmith and, after he and Jane died within nine months of each other in 1904/05, Joseph went to live with his brother, Edward, remaining there with his sister-in-law when his sibling also died in 1910.

Joseph had found work as a French polisher and cabinet maker by this point and this is what he was doing when he married local woman Ellen West in on 11th September 1915.

War was on the horizon by this point and Joseph was soon called on to serve his country. On 26th July 1916 he enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps, as an Air Mechanic 2nd Class. His service records give little away, but do confirm that he was 5ft 8ins (1.73m) tall.

Joseph was dedicated to his role and, on 1st January 1918, was promoted to Air Mechanic 1st Class. Three months later, when the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service combined to become the Royal Air Force, Joseph made the transfer across.

In August, Air Mechanic Chivers moved to RAF Bracebridge, to the south of Lincoln, where he remained until the end of the war and beyond. He was attached to 120 Squadron, which delivered mail and communications to the troops overseas. Little additional information is available about his life there, other than his admission to the 4th Northern Hospital in April 1919, through causes unknown.

Whatever the cause of his need to be admitted, he was to succumb to it. Air Mechanic Chivers passed away on 1st May 1919, at the age of 29 years old.

Joseph Shore Chivers’ body was brought back to Somerset for burial. He was laid to rest in St James’ Cemetery, in his home city of Bath.

---