He met his wife in Monksford during the war. Betty Gerrard was working as a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse at Monksford Hospital, having moved from Dunoon for the duration of the war. The couple married in 1945 at St Andrew’s Roman Catholic Church in Galashiels.
Joe was a keen footballer in his youth, later becoming a referee. He also played tennis and golf and enjoyed Curling. He became chairman of Melrose Rugby Club and was a regular at Scotland internationals at Murray Park in Edinburgh, and for the horse racing at Kelso.
After the war he became a local councillor and later a magistrate.
| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newton St Boswells | Patrol Leader | 1941 | Unknown |
| Borders Group 3a - Roxburghshire | Group Commander | Unknown | 1944 |
Newton Boswell Public School
St Joseph’s Roman Catholic School, Dumfries (as boarder)
Baker
At a fete, hosted at Eildon Hall by the Duchess of Roxeburgh on the estate of Lord and Lady Scott, Joe captained a five-a-side football team to victory in one of a number of sports competitions. The team was titled Newtown Home Guard, but could it have been Auxiliers in the side?
Lieutenant Joe Featherstone went to the Isle of Wight as part of the island garrison just before D-Day with some other members of 201 Battalion.
The National Archives in Kew WO199/3388
Hancock data held at B.R.A
David Blair
Southern Reporter 6 Jun 1912, 17 Aug 1944, 13 Jul 1989