Private Joseph Summerfield was the only son of George and Rose Summerfield of Sundon, and brother to two younger sisters, Lizzie and Ethel. His father was a Labourer at a Lime Works, and Joseph followed in his fathers footsteps and became a labourer at the Cement Works when he was 14.

Joseph joined the 7th Bedfordshire Regiment on the outbreak of war, and served  2 years in France, without any leave, before he was killed on the 17th June.

The War Diary for the 7th Bedfords states:

17-6-1917 3 men wounded in "B" Coy. at 8 am; otherwise a quiet day. Battalion, relieved in evening by 5th DURHAM L.I. (50th Div.) and marched back to camp at S.17

Joseph would have been one of these men wounded, and he would have died later that day as Lieutenant Freuman sent a letter to Joseph’s sister Ada, informing her that he was buried ‘a half mile west of Cherisy.’ This land was heavily fought over during the battles of Arras and its aftermath, so Joseph’s grave was lost, and he is no commemorated in name only on the Arras Memorial.