Joseph Payne Firmin was born in Belchamp Walter, Esserx in 1874, the youngest of  7 children of John and Pamela Firmin.

He moved to Fulham, London sometime between 1891 & 1898, and married Elizabeth Jane Halls.

Arouund this time, he joined the army, and served in South Africa with the Dragoon Guards.  He was awarded the QSA with clasps for Cape Colony, Transvaal, Paardeberg and Dreinfontein. He was also awarded the KSM

He left the Army, and  returned to civvy life, working  as a steel erector.

At the outbreak of WW1, he  rejoined the Army, and served with the RAOC. He served in the ME theatre, and died at Galipoli on board the hospital ship HMHS Grantully Castle. He was awarded the Victory Medal, The British War Medal and the 1915 star. He left a wife, Elizabeth (always know as 'Jennie'), and 7 children. Jane later remarried.

He is buried in Plot no 1, Lembet Road Cemenary, Salonika, Turkey.

Joe was my Great Uncle.

David Firmin, July 2016

David Firmin