Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Reuben Charles a shoe trade finisher, born 1869 in Whetstone, Leics., and his wife Sarah, born 1875 in Hinckley, Leics. Joseph Horace was born in 1894 in Hinckley, Leics., his siblings were, Catherine, born 1896, Frederick Daniel, born 1899 and Sarah, born 1901, all his siblings were born in Hinckley, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at 19, Waterloo Square, Hinckley, Leics. In April 1911 Joseph was employed as a hosiery trade worker and was residing in the family home at 11, Lutterworth Road, Burbage, Leics., together with his father, now a general labourer, his mother, now a hosiery trade winder and his siblings, Catherine, Frederick, Sarah and Cyril, born 1904 in Hinckley, Leics. His younger brother Frederick Daniel also fell in action. Joseph, at the age of 17 years and 5 months enlisted on the 8th December 1911 in Hinckley, Leicestershire into the Leicestershire Regiment Special Reserve for a term of six years. His medical examination shows him to have been 5 foot 4½ inches in height, weighing 107 pounds and with a chest measurement of 30½ to 33 inches. His hair colour was dark brown and his eyes were brown. He gave his next of kin as his father Reuben Charles, his mother Sarah Charles, and two brother’s Daniel and Cyril Charles. His hospital admission record shows that he was admitted to No. 13 General Hospital on the 15th May 1915 suffering from a bullet wound, sustained in the field, being discharged on the 22nd June 1915 to Eastbourne Convalescent Hospital where he remained until being discharged on the 18th August 1915. His service record shows that he served at home from the 8th December 1911 until the 8th November 1914, he then embarked with the British Expeditionary Force to France on the 9th November 1914 serving until the 17th May 1915, when he was invalided home and remained on home service from the 18th May 1915 until the 3rd October 1915,he returned to the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 4th October 1915 and remained in France until the 9th November 1915 when he embarked in Marseilles, France on the 10th November 1915, he disembarked in Alexandria, Egypt on the 17th November 1915, embarked from Suez, Egypt on the 23rd November 1915 and disembarked in Basra, Mesopotamia on the 8th December 1915. He was wounded in action in the field on the 7th January 1916 and admitted to hospital in Armarak on the 16th January 1916, he was discharged from hospital on the 7th February 1916 and rejoined the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment in the field on the 30th March 1916, he was killed in action in the field on the 6th April 1916. His total service was 4 years and 121 days. He was awarded the 1914 Star, the British War and Victory Medals. Family information provided by his sister Catherine records that his father died on the 29th January 1918 and his mother died on the 8th May 1915, he was survived by his brother, Cyril and his sisters Catherine and Sarah, his brother Frederick was killed in action on the 19th September 1918, all the surviving family were residing at 28, Hinckley Road, Burbage, Leics. The War Diary for today records. The 19th and 28th Bde’s supported by 21st Bde were ordered to carry out a night march with the intention of attacking at dawn. The march was commenced shortly after midnight, in massed formation, 28th Bde on right, 19th Bde on left. Formation of 28th Bde. Front line 51st SIKHS (FRONTIER FORCE) and Provisional Battn OXFORD AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY, second line 2nd LEICESTERSHIRE REGT, third line 53rd SIKHS and 56th RIFLES (FRONTIER FORCE). Owing to considerable delay during the march the attacking Bde’s were 1000 yards short of enemy’s position when it was daylight. Suddenly the enemy opened a withering fire. The first lines of the Bde pushed forward to within 800 yards of enemy’s position until compelled to halt through very heavy casualties (our own artillery on right bank of TIGRIS being responsible for a considerable number) when they entrenched. Some 400 yards behind these another line was established and consolidated by some 200 men of the LEICESTERSHIRE REGT and HIGHLAND Battn’s (1st SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS and BLACK WATCH of 19th Bde), the remaining units of both Bde’s extending in rear. Heavy fire was kept up by enemy throughout the day. At dusk the wounded and a few others of the Battn and other units crawled back, and organised stretcher parties were sent out. The following casualties occurred, very early in the Battn. Officers killed 2nd Lt H. BILLINGS, wounded Major R. N. KNATCHBULL D.S.O., Major A. F. R. COLQUHOUN, Capt C. A. BAMFORD, Capt H. N. H. GRIMBLE, Lt H. STOCKLEY, 2nd Lt T. MONAGHAN, 2nd Lt. J. HARBOTTLE, 2nd Lt. H. S. ELLIS. 2nd Lt B. BRAKES was wounded in the afternoon. Other ranks during the 6th April, killed 45, wounded 254, wounded but did not quit Battn 3, missing 19. Major D. L. WEIR D.S.O. reassumed command of the Battn on the afternoon of the 6th April.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Photograph and wall plaque provided by A Peters 20/08/22