Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Isaac Morris, an ironstone labourer, born 1850 in Plungar, Leics., and his wife Jane Morris (nee Worthington, married in the 4th quarter of 1883 in the Bingham, Notts. district), born 1862 in Plungar, Leics. Joseph William was born on the 6th March 1892 in Plungar, Leics., his siblings were, Herbert, an estate labourer, born 1881, Mabel Ellen, born 1887, Florence J, born 1890, George, born 1895 and Elizabeth Mary, born 1898, all his siblings were born in Plungar, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was in Plungar, Leics. In April 1911 Joseph was employed as a farm labourer and was residing in the family home at Plungar, Leics., together with his father, a farm labourer, his mother and siblings Elizabeth and Ethel Irene, born 1904 in Plungar, Leics., also residing in the family home was his married sister, Sarah Ann Hourd, born 1885 in Plungar, Leics., and her children, Leonard Nelson, born 1907 and Constance E., born 1911, both children were born in Plungar, Leics. Joseph enlisted into the Royal Navy to serve a 12 year enagagement on the 4th April 1913, and was allocated the service number K/18651 in Portsmouth, Hants. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 4¼ inches in height, his chest measurement was 36¾ inches, his hair colour was light brown and he had blue eyes, his complexion was described as fresh, it was noted that he had a linear scar on the back of his left hand and an indistinct tattoo on the back of his left forearm, he gave his trade or calling as farm labourer. His record of service began when he joined HMS Victory II as a Stoker 1st Class on the 4/4/13 – 9/9/13. HMS Maidstone, 10/9/13 – 31/10/13. HMS Victory II, 1/11/13 – 21/2/14. HMS Superb, 22/2/14 – 22/4/14, when he was promoted to Stoker 1st Class. HMS Superb, 23/4/14 – 30/6/16. HMS Dolphin, 1/7/16 – 12/7/16. HMS Titania, 13/7/16 – 5/9/16. HMS Maidstone, 6/9/16 – 22/11/16 when he was lost on duty. The background relating to the circumstances in which Joseph lost his life are as follows. HM Submarine E.30 left Harwich on the 15th November and was mined and sunk off Orfordness, Suffolk in the North Sea on the 22nd November 1916, there were no survivors. The minefield was not located until the 25th November 1916.