Joseph Brissett, born in Murwillumbah, NSW, embarked on his military career as a motor mechanic before enlisting in the Australian Army. At the age of 20, he brought prior experience from his service since 1911 with the 33rd Battalion. Joseph enlisted on August 17, 1914, and was immediately given the rank of Corporal due to his previous military experience.

His early days in the military saw him embarking for service on October 10, 1914. Joseph's commitment was soon tested at Gallipoli where he was wounded in action on April 26, 1915, receiving a gunshot wound to the left hip. Despite this setback, his leadership qualities did not go unnoticed, and he was promoted to Sergeant on November 7, 1915, and then to Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS) on February 15, 1916, reflecting his growing responsibility within his unit.

However, Joseph's military career faced challenges beyond the battlefield. On August 5, 1918, he was court-martialed and found guilty of being in an out-of-bounds area in the town of Havre, which led to his reduction back to Corporal. A further lapse occurred on October 15, 1918, when he was again court-martialed for being absent without leave (AWOL) and consequently reduced to the ranks.

Despite these disciplinary issues, Joseph returned to Australia on February 9, 1919, and was officially discharged from the army on March 24, 1919. 

If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.