Joseph was on board the Hired Transport "Transylvania", when it was proceeding to Egypt with reinforcements, and was sunk by a torpedo by the German U-boat U-63 off Cape Vado, a few kilometres south of Savona. He was the son of Frederick Benjamin and Frances Pearson of 32 Hartley Street, Boston; and the husband of Lillian Pearson of 20 Pen Street, Boston.