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Joseph is listed as being killed in action on 22 Mar 1918, the first day of the German Spring Offensive. The 2nd/6th Battalion war diary entry for the 21st and 22nd are transcribed below along with a transcription of a Report on Operations of Surplus Personnel from 21st to 26th March 1918. We do not know if Joseph was with the main part of the Battalion or the Surplus Personnel.
21 March 1918
War Diary
Front Line outside St. Quentin - 21/3/1918: Enemy bombardment commenced at 4.45am and continured until 11.30am. END
Front Line outside St. Quentin - 22/3/1918:Battalion ordered to retire about 12 noon. Colonel Davidson formed an extended line with his men from Attilly in a northern direction joining on his right with the 2/7th R. War R. and kept up a slow rearguard fight to the Army Line, which the remains of the Battalion reached about 4.30 in the afternoon.
A further retirement was made at about 6pm to Beauvois where Colonel Davidson collected 40 men and occupied an old French trench. At 7.30pm he sent 2/Lt F Hardy away to get orders, but he did not return and has not been seen since. At. 9.30pm Colonel Davidson collected his men with the intention of re-occupying the line. He went forward himself with the RSM and, taking a rifle, he sniped at the enemy who he found occupying the line. He returned to the trench by the Village and collected some stragglers of other units, making his force about 80 strong.
At 10.45pm he sent another officer back for orders, as his right flank was then being attacked but this officer reached HQ too late for retirement orders (which should have reached Colonel Davidson at 9.30pm) to be sent to him.
23/3/1918: Being almost surrounded Colonel Davison withdrew his force at 2am. They rested at Matigny and reached Voyennes without loss at 8am. This other part of about 120 men under 2 Officers was collected at Voyennes and at 4.30am on the 23rd was marched to Languevoisin reaching there about 5am.
At 10.30am they were sent to Breuil but found it occupied by our troops, they then made for Billancourt where they arrived at 2.30pm.
Full Report on Operations
From Report on Operations
All other ranks under Major H.N. Davenport proceeded to Ugny and all surplus officers (9) under Captain A.D. Wilcox proceeded to Corps Reinforcement Camp at Estouilly near Ham, and returned to Ugny with a draft of approximately 60 O.R. the same day. This composite force dug in as a defensive measure, and remained until ordered to retire to Voyennes. About 200 O.R. of the Battalion were picked up on route, but proceeded in the direction of Nesle under 2/Lt J. McDonough.
Brief Summary of Operations by Surplus Personnel of Battalion from Night of 21st
21.3.18: All other ranks under Major H.N. Davenport proceeded to Ugny and all surplus officers (9) under Captain A.D. Wilcox proceeded to Corps Reinforcement Camp at Estouilly near Ham, and returned to Ugny with a draft of approximately 60 O.R. the same day. This composite force dug in as a defensive measure, and remained until ordered to retire to Voyennes. About 200 O.R. of the Battalion were picked up on route, but proceeded in the direction of Nesle under 2/Lt J. McDonough.
22.3.18: Surplus personnel took up defensive position at Bridge-head at Voyennes until 5am, and proceeded to Nesle where they were ordered to barricade the streets round Church and prevent enemy advance through town. Brig-Gen Spooner and two other Generals were present at this operation.
23.3.18: The force was ordered to proceed to Billancourt where the Battalion also arrived the same evening.
24.3.18: Surplus moved to Damery under arrangements
25.3.18: Force proceeded to Damery under Brigade and 6pm same night to Folies
26.3.18: Our patrols were fired on moving along Roye-Amiens road in direction of Roye. Stores etc. moved off at once. Remainder took up a defensive line through Warvillers and Rouvroy until relieved by 89th and 90th Brigades at 4pm same day. Force then withdrew to Mesieres and met rest of Battalion and dug defensive positions.
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