Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Cook an agricultural labourer, born 1855 in Twyford, Leics., and his wife Mary A., born 1857 in Peckleton, Leics. Joseph was born in 1886 in Twyford, Leics., his siblings were, Mary E., born 1881, Frances A., born 1884 and Harriet Annie, born 1890, all his siblings were born in Twyford, Leics., in April 1891 the family home was at Main Street, Queniborough, Leics. In March 1901 Joseph was employed as a hosiery trade machine operator and was residing in the family home at 78, Hinckley Road, Burbage, Leics., together with his parents and siblings, John Henry, born 1879 in Twyford, Leics., Mary, Frances, Harriet and Edith Ada, born 1893 in Queniborough, Leics. In the July, August, September quarter of 1915 Joseph married Sarah Bates in the Hinckley, Leicestershire marriage registration district.