Joseph's service papers show that he enlisted in the Manchester Regiment on 24th September 1914 asndf posted to the 12th Bn on 15th Oct 1914.
He proceeded to France on 16th July 1915, earning entitlement to the 1914-15 Star British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Joseph suffered a slight gunshot wound to his right eye on 29th Feb 1916 and returned to the UK on 13 March 1916, being posted on that date to the Depot and then the 14th (Reserve) Bttn., in April it seems. The papers suggest that he proceeded to the Devonshire Voluntary Aid Organisation Hospital in Exeter, from where he was granted a period of furlough to his home in Cheetham in April 1916. These papers in March/April 1916 are the first to give his surname as Kwartz.
Joseph returned to France on 18 August 1916 and continujed serving overseas to 6 February 1919, finally being discharged on 6 March 1919.
When back in France he had been appointedf Lancer Corporal - the date is indistinct - and then deprived of the lance stripe on 12 November, before appointed as a Lance Corporal in December 1916.
On 9 May 1917 he was transferred to the Labour Corps, promoted Corporal on 14 May and Unpaid Lance Sergeant on29 October 1917. He served with the 16th Labour Company.
Transferred to the (Manchester) Rehimerny on 22 April 1918 and reverting to Corporal, Joseph was then promoted to Sergeant on 1 October 1918.
The medal roll shows that Joseph also served as 29527, 12th (Labour) Bttn of the Lincolnshire Regt. and 9304, Labour Corps - it is unclear from his service papers when he transferred to the Lincolnshire Reft. The 16th Labour Company of the Labour Corps was formed from the 12th (Labour) Bttn. in 1917, so the transfer hjappened before 9 May.
Recorded on P366 of The British Jewry Book of Honour as 'Kwarts' and serving as 12/7945 with 12th Bttn.
Research by Ian Miller