Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Brewin a framework knitter, born 1858 in Wigston Magna, Leics., and his wife Sarah Ann, born 1857 in Countesthorpe, Leics. Joseph was born in 1892 in Wigston Magna, Leics., his siblings were Lily, born 1882, Annie, born 1885, Graham Thurston Walter J., born 1887, Robert Edward, born 1889, Bernard, born 1895 and Gwendoline, born 1899, all his siblings were born in Wigston Magna, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at Crown Cottages, Moat Street, Wigston Magna, Leics. In April 1911 Joseph was employed as a hosiery worker and was residing in the family home at Moat Street, Wigston Magna, Leics., together with his parents and siblings, Annie, Robert, Bernard and Gwendoline. His elder brother Robert Edward fell in action.