MANDERS, Joseph George
| Service Number: | 2817 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 14th Field Company Engineers |
| Born: | Walthamstowe, Essex, England., July 1886 |
| Home Town: | Towrang, Goulburn Mulwaree, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Brick Layer, Railway Permanent Way Worker |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 24 October 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
Biography contributed by John Oakes
Joseph George MANDERS was born at Walthamstowe in Essex, England, in July 1886 and migrated to Australia when he was 25-years-old. He was a bricklayer who worked for the Permanent Way Branch of the Railways.
He enlisted on 6th October 1915. At this time, work on duplicating the Main Southern Railway was in progress between Marulan and Goulburn. A number of bricklayers were employed to build brick bridges and other structures for the duplicated line, and it is therefore likely that Joseph was engaged in this work.
Joseph joined the AIF with the rank of Sapper (Service Number 2817) in the 7th Field Company, Engineers. He nominated an aunt, Miss Kate Manders of Leyton, Essex, England, who was also his foster-mother, as his next of kin.
On 27th November 1915 he embarked for Egypt aboard HMAT A23 ‘Suffolk’ in Sydney. On 6th March 1916, while in Egypt, he was transferred to the 14th Field Company, Engineers. On 18th June 1916 he embarked at Alexandria, Egypt, for France, disembarking at Marseilles 11 days later.
On 5th October 1916 he was appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal.
On 24th October 1916, he was wounded in action on the Somme. He died of his wounds the same day. His grave is in Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, Picardie, France. His place of association in Australia is Towrang, NSW.
After his death his foster-mother applied for a pension, but she died before processing of the claim could be completed. His sister, Rose Manders of Leyton, Essex provided information needed for the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.