Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Joseph Sheriff Steele was a native of Larne, Northern Ireland and came and lived with the Rainey Family on their farm at Wooroolin in 1911. He was a relation of the family. He helped out on the farm until WW1 broke out and he enlisted in the 11th Light House Regiment A.I.F on the 3 March 1915. Joseph gave his mother, Mrs M A Steele, Sallough, Cairn Castle, Laren, Co Antrim, Ireland as NOK.
His army records show that Joseph was 22 years 9 months old and was 5ft 9 inches tall with fair complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair. His distinguishing features were 2 large vaccination marks on right arm and AIF vaccination mark on left arm. and he was Church of England denomination.
Joseph embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A30 Borda on 16 June 1915.
The formation of the 4th Light Horse Brigade, and the 11th Light Horse Regiment as part of it, was announced on 11 February 1915. Two squadrons of the 11th Light Horse were subsequently formed in Queensland, and a third in South Australia. The regiment was united for the first time at Fraser's Paddock Camp, outside Brisbane, on 2 May 1915. The regiment arrived in Egypt on 23 July 1915 and began training as infantry, having been ordered to leave its horses in Australia. A month later it deployed to Gallipoli.
His army files are interesting reading. Joseph served in the Gallipoli Peninsular, Palestine and Egypt. In Jul 1917 a court of enquiry was held by the Commander of 11th Light House Regiment A.I.F enquiring into the circumstances whereby Nbr 354 Trooper Steele J was wounded in camp at UM URGAN. After statements by 4 people the court having considered the evidence and statements found that the bullet wound in the hand was caused by accidental firing of the rifle.
Joseph returned to Australia onboard the “Wiltshire” in Nov 1917.
In Jan 1919 Joseph Steele married Rachel Adermann at Wooroolin and I am fortunate to have a photo taken that day courtesy June Stebhens whose parents were present. An article in The Queenslander 15 February 1919 - Page 16 reported on the wedding.
A quiet and pretty, wedding was solemnised on January 29 at the residence of Mr. and Mrs C. Adermann, Sunnyside, Wooroolin, when Mr. Joseph S. Steels (late 11th L.H., A.I.F.), eldest son of his widowed mother, who lives in Ireland, one of six brothers, all of whom have seen active service abroad, was married to Miss Rachel R. Adermann, third daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. Adermann. The minister, Mr. Larsen, of Maryborough Church of Christ, officiated at the ceremony. The bride was given away by her father. After the ceremony the guests, who were limited to the relatives and very intimate friends of the 'bride and bridegroom, were entertained at a wedding breakfast in the large barn, which was decorated for the occasion. Mr. and Mrs. Steele left by the evening train for Pialba, where the honeymoon is to be spent.
The statement about six brothers seeing active service abroad led to an interesting tale. The WW1 monument at Cairncastle Presbyterian Church in Co Antrim lists the brothers. Hugh Steele (KIA 1916 France), Andrew (POW in Germany), Samuel, Joseph, Archibald and James (KIA 1918 France).
And thanks to Ancestry I have a photo of Joseph taken during WW1 in an article in an Irish newspaper about him and his brother Hugh and also one of Andrew.
Joseph and Rachel left the Wooroolin district in the late 1940’s and lived in Rockhampton before retiring to Redcliffe. Unfortunately the electoral rolls state his occupation as “Manager” so no idea what industry he was in. Joseph and Rachel celebrated heir Golden Wedding anniversary in 1969 and a photo of them with his sister Ruth from America was shared on Ancestry.
Joseph died in 1982 aged 89. I have not found a burial record for him.