Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joseph Meays Squire, a grazier, born 1860 in St. Pancras, Middlesex and his wife Agnes Alice Squire (nee Johnson, married in the 2nd quarter of 1882 in the Billesdon, Leicestershire district), born 1862 in Houghton on the Hill, Leicestershire. Joseph was born on the 3rd October 1884 in Ingarsby, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Arthur, born 1886, George, born 1888 and John Maurice born on the 22nd August 1890, all his siblings were born in Ingarsby, in April 1891 the family home was at Hungarton, Leicestershire. In the 4th quarter of 1899 in the Billesdon, Leicestershire district, Joseph’s mother died aged 37. In March 1901 Joseph was absent from the family home at Ingarsby Lodge, Ingarsby, residing there was his widowed father, a grazier and his siblings, Arthur, a railway porter, George and Agnes Annie, born 1893 in Ingarsby, Joseph was employed as a domestic surgery boy and was residing at Uppingham Road, Billesdon, Leicestershire. His younger brother Joseph also fell in France in September 1915.
Joseph attested into the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force on the 20th March 1915 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He gave his place of birth as Leicester, England, his date of birth as the 3rd October 1884 and his trade or calling as farmer. He gave his father Joseph Squire of Ashby Parva, Leicestershire, England as his next of kin. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He stated that he was presently a member of the 52nd Regiment Active Militia. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 8 inches in height and he had a chest measurement of between 35 and 37 inches. His complexion was described as fair, he had blue eyes and brown hair. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force on the 20th March 1915 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Joseph was engaged in farming at the outbreak of war and with his younger brother John they enlisted on the same day, sailing from Montreal on the 17th June 1915 on the SS Scandinavian and arriving in France ten days later, they both joined the 5th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regiment) on the 3rd August 1915 and entered the field of active service on the 14th/15th August. They both lost their lives within a day of one another.
The War Diary records: 7 Sept-15 – TRENCHES 131,130,129,128. Weather bright and warm. Wind North, North West. Enemy shelled trench 131 between 10 and 11.00am – otherwise day quiet. Work parties to Engineers:-
1 officer, 5 N.C.O’s. and 60 men at 2.00pm.
1 officer, 4 N.C.O’s. and 50 men at 9.00pm (carrying party).
1 officer, 6 N.C.O’s. and70 men at 8.00pm.
Casualties:- other ranks 2 killed, 5 wounded.
The War Diary records: 8 Sept-15 - TRENCHES 131,130,129,128. Weather bright and warm. Wind moderate North East. Day quiet. Working parties to Engineers:-
2 officer, 6 N.C.O’s. and 100 men at 2.00pm.
2 officers, 6 N.C.O’s. and 100 men at 8.00pm.
1 officer, 4 N.C.O’s. and 50 men at 9.00pm.
Casualties:- nil.