India General Service Medal with clasp 'Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919'

We don't know anything about Joseph's family or early life.

The First World War broke out in August 1914 and Joseph joined the Manchester Regiment later that month or in early September. He was given the service number 3612.

Joseph first went overseas on the 25th August 1915, to France. We don't know which unit of the Manchester Regiment he was assigned to, but this date and his service number suggest that he began the war as a member of the 13th Battalion. We don't know anything else about Joseph's service during the First World War.

Joseph took part in the Third Anglo-Afghan War of May - August 1919, fought in Afghanistan and what is now Pakistan's North West Frontier Province. He remained a member of the Manchester Regiment, but was assigned to Number 3 Wireless Signal Squadron.

At this time communications were the responsibility of the Royal Engineers Signal Service, the Royal Corps of Signals was not formed until 1920. Wireless communications played a very important role in allowing units to keep in touch with each other across the mountains and passes of the North West Frontier.

We don't know anything about the rest of Joseph's life. In 1957 his wife or widow (Mrs M. Collier) lived at 17 Castleford Street in Chadderton, Oldham.

Joseph's medal was donated to the Museum of the Manchester Regiment in late 1957. As well as his India General Service Medal, Joseph was also awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal for his Army service.