Donated by his son Irving & Granddaughter Jean

At 18 years of age, he would be 19 his next birthday, Joe volunteered to serve his country and King in the Great First WW.
On May 4th , 1915 he "signed Up" with the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve for one year which actually stretched into 4 years.

He wasn't truthful about his age, he was actually 2 years younger, only 16 years old. Years later he would tell stories of his 17th birthday celebration on The Rock of Gibraltar.

Joe's original ship was the HMS CALYPSO- a training ship docked in the St. John's Harbour. After his initial month of training he was shipped to the Portsmouth Area of England for further training as a Gunner. He then served from August 1915 to November 1916 on the cruiser HMS CORNWALL returning to the depots in Portsmouth and St. John's before being assigned to the battleship HMS CAESAR, from June 1917 to November 1917. For another year he was stationed at depots in England and further gunnery training before being transferred as a gunner on the minesweeper PENARTH - June 1918 to August 1918. The balance of his service was shorebased and he was demobilized on HMS BRITON (formerly HMS CALYPSO)May 27,1919.

In 1898, Henry and Rachel Snow were in Fishing Ships Harbour on the Labrador when Rachel gave birth to twin boys. Joe survived while his twin died at birth. Joe grew up in Bay Roberts and went to school there. When War broke out it was only natural that he would want to enlist. After his service in the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve, he returned to his home in Bay Roberts. In November 1919, he married Violet French and raised a family of four daughters and one son. During this time he fished the Labrador and later turned his hand to carpentry. Joe died at his home in 1967 leaving his wife, 5 children and 23 grandchildren.