Warrant Officer Joseph Roycroft

 

Image from Roycroft's Australian Army service file. Note his WW1 service medal ribbons.

 

Joseph Roycroft was born on 17 May 1890 at Ballydehob, Schull, County Cork, the third of four children of shopkeeper (formerly farmer) Samuel Roycroft and his wife Martha (née Skuce). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living as a boarder in Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk, County Louth at the home of draper Thomas Hetherington, for whom he worked as an assistant.

Roycroft enlisted in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron on 10 November 1914 (No. UD/106 – later Corps of Dragoons No.21242). On 6 October 1915 he embarked for France with his squadron, which was then serving as divisional cavalry to the 36th (Ulster) Division.

In June 1916 the squadron was brought together with B and C Squadrons of the North Irish Horse to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps. In September 1917 the regiment was disbanded and its men were transferred to the infantry. By that time, however, Roycroft was no longer with the regiment. He had probably returned to the Inniskillings reserve depot at Enniskillen, perhaps following illness or injury.

On 5 March 1919 at Enniskillen Roycroft was discharged, in order that he re-enlist in the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays) (No. D/32699 – later Army No. 391735). He served with that regiment, rising to the rank of sergeant, until discharged on 31 March 1922, being 'no longer physically fit for war service' (paragraph 392 (xvi), King's Regulations). His military character was recorded as 'exemplary'.

Roycroft later emigrated to Australia, settling in Perth. He joined the Australian Army on the outbreak of the Second World War (No. W/243031), serving on home garrison duty and rising to the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1, until discharged on 6 May 1944.

Roycroft died on 15 May 1971 and was buried in the Karrakatta Cemetery, Nedlands, Western Australia.

 

This page last updated 20 March 2023.