213353 Cpl. Joseph Hill DCM.British Army 8th Battalion Royal Fusiliers from:Birmingham Corporal, later Serjeant, Joseph Hill enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers on 7th September 1914. Although the regimental history suggests that the 8th Battalion was first posted to France in May 1915, Joseph Hill's medal record indicates that he first saw action in France on March 6th 1915.
In 1916 he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the announcement appearing in the London Gazette on April 15th 1916. His citation read: "For conspicuous gallantry and consistent good work with a Lewis gun."
Shortly after this award, possibly as a direct result, he was promoted to Serjeant: the record of the DCM and the promotion were entered onto his medal record in the same hand and apparently at the same time.
According to his Silver War Badge (382475) listing, following the disbanding of the 8th Battalion in February 1918 he was transferred to the 7th Battalion. He was obviously either ill or injured, since he was awarded the SWB, and was discharged as "no longer fit for service (Kings Regulations Para 392 xvi)" on July 30th 1918. In later life he had only one leg, and family folklore suggests he lost the other during active service, but at this point no documentary evidence to confirm this has been found.
Following his discharge he returned to Birmingham, married in 1922, fathered five boys, three of whom served in the Army themselves, and died in 1963 aged 73.
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