Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Briers a stone quarryman, born 1865 in Shepshed, Leics., and his wife Ruth, born 1864 in Shepshed, Leics. Josiah was born in 1893 in Shepshed, Leics., his siblings were Edward, born 1891, Elizabeth Ann, born 1895, Leonard, born 1896 and Baden, born 1901, all his siblings were born in Shepshed, Leics., also living with the family was his widowed maternal grandfather, Edward Lovett, born 1826 in Shepshed, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at Forest Street, Shepshed, Leics. In April 1911 Josiah was employed as a quarry worker and was residing in the family home at Leicester Road, Shepshed, Leics., together with his parents and siblings, Edward, Elizabeth, Leonard, Baden, Fred, born 1903 and William Lovett, born 1907, the latter two siblings were both born in Shepshed, Leics., also residing with the family was his widowed maternal grandfather, Edward Lovett. Josiah died of malaria.