COMMEMORATED IN PERPETUITY BY THE

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

The 1901 Census for Steventon records Joseph Joyce’s occupation as Soldier, Private, Army Reserve (on Furlough) Berks Regiment. Joseph Edward Joyce of Pound House, Steventon attested at Abingdon to the Royal Berkshire Regiment, 4th Battalion, (Territorials) on 21st September 1914 (Private 4461), declared age 43 – he was actually 45. However, he transferred to The 21st (Midlands) Battalion, Rifle Brigade on 26th October 1915. Territorial units from London, The Home Counties, Midlands and others were under direction from the Army Council Instruction as part of Army Order 187. These battalions were used for garrison duty of vulnerable points in Egypt and then India. On 30 December 1915 Rifleman Joyce embarked from Devonport (Plymouth) to Alexandria. 

The 1911 Census records Joseph Edward Joyce as born and living in Steventon, as were his parents. He was the 3rd child of 4 - 2 brothers, 1 sister. Joseph married Agnes Pricilla Wise, from Steventon, in 1897 and he took on Agnes's 3 year old son, as his own. Joseph and Agnes went on to have 6 other children together. In 1901, Joseph is listed as an Army Reserve, but by 1911 he had retrained as a Fishmonger & Fruitier. While living at Pound House, The Causeway, he wasted no time in signing back up to the Royal Berks Regiment shortly after war was declared. Joseph and Agnes left Steventon and moved to 16 Station Yard, Abingdon. This is the address that appears on Joseph's Army Service Pension card, listing the following dependants - Wife; Agnes. Children; Gilbert Jonathan 20, Baden 18, Wilfred Edward 15, Dorothy Lilian 13, Violet Phyllis 11 and Julie 5. Joseph Joyce also appears on the Abingdon War Memorial as he was living in Abingdon at the time of his death in Dec 1918.

Joyce Way in Steventon is named after this soldier's family. Please click here for further information.