Joseph was born with the surname Zerman on 25 April 1914 in Whitechapel, London to Ukrainian born parents Hyman Zerman and Sarah nee Kanacovitch and he had six siblings. Their mother died in 1939 and Hyman who worked as a furrier remarried in 1941.

In 1939 Joseph was living at 76 West Cromwell Road, Kensington and he was working as a millinery manager, he enlisted in 1940.

Joseph was on board Fairey Albacore X9074 which departed RAF Swingfield at 21.40 on an armed patrol. The aircraft was last heard from at 23.15 and failed to return.

All three crew are commemorated on Runnymede Memorial:
Eric Stuart Williams Ross, 49219
Claude Whittard Slatter, 86043