Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Alfred Clowes a railway labourer, born 1851 in Great Glen, Leics., and his wife Ruth, born 1852 in Great Glen, Leics. Joseph was born in 1885 in Great Glen, Leics., his siblings were, Harry C., born 1876, Harriet, born 1879, Frederick, born 1883, Florence Emma, born 1888 and Cecil George, born 1890, all his siblings were born in Great Glen, Leics., in April 1891 the family home was at Leicester Road, Great Glen, Leics. In March 1901 Joseph was employed as a hosiery trade winder and was residing in the family home at Main Road, Glen Magna, Great Glen, Leics., together with his father, now a railway platelayer, his mother and siblings, Harry, Frederick, Florence, Harriet, Cecil and Reginald Arthur, born 1895 in Great Glen, Leics., also residing with the family was his niece, Dorothy Clowes, born 1898 in Great Glen, Leics. In April 1911 Joseph was employed as a hosiery trade worker and was residing in the family home at Glen Magna, Leics., together with his parents and siblings, Frederck, Cecil, Reginald, Florence, also residing with the family was his niece Doris May Clowes, born 1901 in Wigston Magna, Leics.