Joseph was born in 1920 in Melbourne, Australia to Raphael and Eva nee Levy and was an only child. Joseph was schooled in Australia until he was eight when the family travelled back to England settling in Golders Green, London and then moving to Whitley Bay, Northumberland. Joseph was a member of the Jewish Lad’s Brigade and he volunteered for the RAF in September 1939. The family surname was originally Weinberg and was changed by Joseph’s father Ralph in 1938.

Joseph was a wireless operator/air gunner on Blenheim R3778 which departed RAF Wyton on a daylight operation to reconnoitre movements along Guines-Boulogne-Nesles-Dannes road. The aircraft was lost without trace. The crew are all commemorated on Runnymede Memorial.

Pilot, Sgt James Litster Morton, 741362
Observer, Sgt Alexander Dean Kelso, 581155
Sgt Joseph Charles Winston