Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Samuel Collier a miner’s labourer, born 1863 in Ravenstone, Leics., and his wife Katherine, born 1869 in Coleorton, Leics. Joseph was born in 1897 in Ravenstone, Leics., his siblings were, Elizabeth, born 1891, Charlotte S., born 1893 and Sarah Annie, born 1900, all his siblings were born in Ravenstone, Leics., also residing with the family was his paternal aunt, Sarah Collier, born 1847 in Ravenstone, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at Church Lane, Ravenstone, Leics. In April 1911 Joseph was employed as a general farm boy and was residing in the family home at Main Street, Ravenstone, Leics., together with his father, now a colliery banksman and his siblings, James Sutton Collier, born 1890 in Coalville, Leics., Herbert, born 1895 in Ravenstone, Leics., Annie, Nellie, born 1902, Mabel, born 1903 and Walter, born 1904, the latter three siblings were all born in Ravenstone, Leics., also residing with the family was his paternal aunt, Sarah Collier.In the October, November, December quarter of 1913, Joseph’s father Samuel’s death was recorded in the Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire deaths registration district. In the April, May, June quarter of 1915, Joseph’s widowed mother Katherine (Catherine) married John Hill in the Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire marriage registration district.