Military History

Joseph is listed as being killed in action on 9 Mar 1918 during the Battle of Tell 'Asur in Egpyt. There are no war diaries available but the following is an extract from The History of the Welsh Regiment by Major-General Sir Thomas O. Marden.

9th March 1917 - The Herefords had come up on the left, and the two Battalions now found themselves confronted by heavy rifle and machine gun fire from Chipp Hill. The Herefords were ordered to take the hill, assisted by covering fire from the 4th Welch, and this they succeeded in doing by 7 a.m. This action cleared the flank of the 5th R.W.F., who had captured Cairn Hill, and who now commenced to assault Tell ‘Asur under an artillery bombardment. By 9.30 a.m. Tell ‘Asur was in their hands, but the Turks well knew the value of this vital position, and launching a strong counter-attack drove back the Herefords to Drage Hill, and also counterattacked Tell ‘Asur from the north, temporarily regaining the summit, but the 5th R.W.F. counter-attacked and drove them off. Both Battalions had suffered severely and were relieved, the Herefords by the 7th R.W.F. and the 5th R.W.F. by the 6th R.W.F., the latter repulsing several counter-attacks during the day.