Joseph was born in December 1905 in Mile End Old Town, London to Latvia born parents Isaac and Annie nee Steinkel and he had two sisters and two brothers. His brother Marks was killed aged nineteen in WW1 serving in the Royal Fusiliers, 8th Bn. He died on 20 July 1915 and is buried in Houplines Communal Cemetery, France. His other brother Samuel’s son Milton was killed serving in 460 (Australian) Sqn and has a page on the website. Bender, Milton Harold | The Jews of the RAF

In April 1931, Joseph married Jeane Sonabend in Islington and they had three daughters born between 1932 and 1939, Shirley, Vivienne and Anne. In 1939 Joseph was working as a manufacturer of ladies coats and dresses and was a volunteer with the Auxiliary Fire Service. He enlisted into the RAF in 1942 training as a flight engineer.

Joseph was the flight engineer on Halifax MZ642 which departed from RAF Pocklington at 23.12 on a night operation to Sterkrade synthetic oil plant in Northern Germany. The aircraft was shot down by a night fighter and crashed at Luur, Netherlands killing five of the crew. Two crew were captured and became prisoners of war.

Pilot, Adam John McDowall Barr, 177680
A/G, Fred Bowman, 1594409
A/B, Alan Milne Duggleby, RAAF, 418928
W/Op, A/G, Hubert Jack Wakeford, 1397471

Nav, J.F. Tweed, 744733, POW 635 Camp, Stalag Luft
A/G, W. Chapman, 1498555, POW 209 Camp, Stalag Luft