| Regimental number | 1055 |
| Place of birth | Melbourne, Victoria |
| School | Christian Brothers College |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Occupation | Scholar |
| Address | 214 Cecil Street, South Melbourne, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 18 |
| Height | 5' 6.25" |
| Weight | 122 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs Joseph, 214 Cecil Street, South Melbourne, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Served in the Naval Cadets. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 31st Battalion, A Company |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/48/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A62 Wandilla on |
| Two ships sailed from Melbourne carrying men from the 31st Battalion Headquarters and Companies A, B, C, and D: HMAT A62,'Wandilla', on 9 November 1915, and HMAT A41, 'Bakara', on 5 November 1915. | |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 31st Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Fleurbaix, France |
| Age at death | 16 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 19 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 3), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 118 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Leopold Emanuel and Lily Elizabeth JOSEPH, Golden Age Hotel, Geelong, Victoria. Native of Melbourne |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Embarked Melbourne, 9 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 7 December 1915. Admitted to No 8 Field Ambulance, Serapeum, 7 January 1916 (mumps); discharged to duty and rejoined 31st Bn, 24 January 1916. Found guilty, Tel el Kebir, 6 March 1916, of (1) breaking camp (2) absent without leave from 2130 hours, 4 March 1916, until 0700 hours, 6 March 1916: admonished by Major R. R. Hockley and forfeits 3 days' pay. Found guilty, 10 June 1916, of absenting himself from a fatigue party without permission at Moascar, 6 June 1916: awarded 72 hours' Field Punishment No 2 by Major Eckersley. Found guilty, 15 June 1916, whilst on inlying picket absenting himself from Company Lines from 1900 hours until 2123 hours at Moascar, 14 June 1916: awarded 168 hours Field Punishment No 2 by Commanding Officer. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916. Reported missing, 20 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 1 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'. Note on B.103, buried at Fleurbaix, Sh.36 N.W. Statement, Red Cross File No 1470409, 1687 Sergeant G.W. CUMMINGS, A Company, 31st Bn (patient, No 2 General Hospital (Casino), Havre), 24 November 1916: 'I saw him in the German Trenches at Fleurbaix on the 19th July, 1916, between 8 and 9 p.m. He had his heel blown away. We were advancing then and left him there. We retired next morning and that ground was retaken by the Germans.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Miscellaneous details | Surname incorrectly entered on Embarkation Roll as Depas. |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, JOSEPH Davis Depasse Joseph
Red Cross file 1470409 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
