Joseph Charles Joshua Farnell

War Service

Camp Chronicle 24 Feb 1916 p.2 records Joseph's arrival in Blackboy Hill. After 6 weeks in Blackboy Hill camp Joseph was allocated to the 12th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion.

At Rollestone in England he was charged with altering details in his pay book and fined 16 days pay. He Spent considerable time in both Egypt and England before moving to France on 25 Sep 1917 to join his battalion, including a hospital visit with tonsillitis while in Rollestone with the 4th Infantry Training Battalion.

Joined the 28th Battalion on the 5th Oct 1917 in France, the day after his unit was involved in taking Broodseinde Ridge. It is unlikely that he would have been rushed into the front line, despite their casualties of 42 killed, 5 Missing, and 91 wounded.The 28th Battalion retired from the front line trenches on 6 October 1917 to bivouacs on Bellewarde Ridge.

Joseph remained with his unit until 1 Oct 1918 when he was given 18 days leave in England. While being processed for return to Australia he was AWOL for 4 days, and had another bout of tonsillitis during the voyage home.

Discharged by 5th Military District 22 Aug 1919

"Assistant Scoutmaster Armadale Troup, enlisted January, 1916; sailed on 9th April with the 12th Reinforcements for the 28th Battalion. A good cornet player placed in the band at Salisbury Plains."

The newspaper lists Joseph as one of the 1,360 West Australians returning to Fremantle on the troopship SS Somalia.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries - 1921 he has moved to Coolup where he is an orchardist, but in 1926 he is in Zoe street, Bunbury with wife Amy Gladys who he married in 1923, working as a labourer. In 1926 while at Zoe street a son Clyde Alexander James was born 25 Sep 1926 and on 12 Jul 1929 Keith Reginald was born; 1931-36 at 37 Beach road, Bunbury where a third son was born on 4 Sep 1938; 1937-54 at 68 Beach road, Bunbury; 1958 - 1980 at 63 Beach road (1968 - 80 son? Brian Dennis included). Amy died on 25 Oct 1990, aged 88