Joel was born on 27 November 1909 in St Pancras, London to Lithuanian parents Hershal (Harry) and Leah nee Zeltzer. Harry and Leah married in Mile End Old Town, London in 1905 and their first three children Lube, Etty and Joel were born in London. The family then left London and moved to Johannesburg, South Africa where Harry and Leah had another four children.

Joel married Gertrude Gannon in Liverpool in 1936 and their son Leonard was born in 1938.

Records have been found stating that Joel originally enlisted into the Navy under the name Frank Leatherby, born in Bulawayo in 1913.

Joel was a cook on the M.V. Rio Bravo which was anchored two miles north of Ostend pier. The boat was torpedoed by German E-boat killing fourteen of her crew.