Joseph Phillips was the son of John and Eva Phillips, of Selby, Yorkshire.

He served with 13th (2/4th Bn. The South Lancashire Regt.) Bn. after volunteering for joining the airborne forces. Joseph had previously served with The W. Yorks Regiment. He was successfully parachute jump trained at RAF Ringway on Course 98. This course ran between 10 and 21 January 1944. His instructor described him as "Good stick jumper, plenty of spirit, keen worker".

Died of wounds on 19 August 1944, aged just 21 years old. Joseph was laid to rest in plot 8, row C of the Putot-en-Auge churchyard in France.