Date of birth: 18/03/1892

Place of birth: Leichhardt, New South Wales, Australia

Last known residence: 92 Evans street, Rozelle, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Profession: Moulder

Religion: Methodist

Country: Australia

Force: Australian Imperial Force

Rank: Private

Service number: 4719

Enlistment date: 24/01/1916

Enlistment place: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Units:  —  Australian Infantry, 17th Bn. (New South Wales)  (Last known unit)

Date of death: 20/09/1917

Place of death: Anzac, Zonnebeke, Belgium

Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.)

Age: 25

British War Medal Medal

Victory Medal Medal

Joseph Douglas France was the son of Marion and Edward Archer France. He was born on 18 March 1892 in Leichardt, New South Wales, Australia. Joseph worked as a moulder. On 24 January 1916, the 23-year-old Australian enlisted with his younger brother Sydney Frederick France. Both brothers were assigned to the 17th Battalion (2nd Australian Division, 5th Brigade) and were given consecutive regimental numbers.

Sydney and Joseph both died on 20 September 1917, the first day of the Battle of Menin Road, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 5th Brigade attacked from starting positions on the Hanebeek, between the hamlet of Westhoek and Zonnebeke. The 17th Battalion, to which Sydney and his brother Joseph belonged, attacked the third objective. This line ran from Garterpoint to just before Albania Woods. After taking their objective, the 17th Battalion dug in. According to the testimony of Corporal J.V. Jacka, Joseph was in a shell hole when a German plane flew over the positions and opened fire. One of the bullets hit Joseph in the chest and he was reportedly buried in the trench close to Hanebeek (now Nonnebossenstraat). His younger brother was also mortally wounded that day and died in a dressing station near Westhoek and Anzac Ridge.

The 25-year-old Joseph is buried at Poelcapelle British Cemetery in plot LV, row B, grave 6. His 21-year-old brother Sydney was not identified. He is commemorated at the Menin Gate on panel 17, stone M.

Sydney Frederick France  Brother

17th Australian Infantry Battalion, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/34/26). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used

5th Brigade Australian Infantry, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/5/27). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used

Anglican Parish Register 1814 - 2011 (The Sydney Diocesan Archives, Sydney). http://www.sydneyanglicanarchives.com.au/home.html Sources used

Australian Red Cross Wounded and missing Enquiry Bureau (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), RCDIG1045299). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used

First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, FRANCE J D). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4033158 Sources used

McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), 80 - 83. Sources used

Roll Of Honour (Austarlian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), RCDIG1068867). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used

Unit embarkation nominal rolls, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM8). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/491498

Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=5759621b-4020-4720-8dc6-9e0ad633e166

The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=102932

Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7446223