Joseph (known as Frank) was born in 1893 to Joseph Birkin and Sarah Ann Calvert Brookes in Loughborough, Leicestershire. He had six siblings and the family moved to Quorn when Frank was seven years old.

When Joseph left Rawlins Grammar School, he went to work for Hinds Electrical Engineers in Loughborough, working a shaping machine. He also used to help out in the family shop and off licence.

In March 1911, Frank decided to join the Army and enlisted with the 5th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, which was the Loughborough Battalion. He was promoted to the rank of Corporal in June 1914 and then Serjeant in June 1915.

Frank tragically lost his life on 25 September 1915, on the first day of a British attack on Hooge, which aimed to distract the Germans attention from the main attack at Loos, France.

Sjt Birkin was buried locally and after the Armistice, his grave was found and moved to Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, but sadly at that time he could not be identified and was therefore commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial to the Missing. Recently a researcher submitted evidence that suggested who might be buried in one of the graves marked to a soldier ‘Known Unto God’. Through the collective efforts of the MOD Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) and CWGC his final resting place was identified and his grave is now marked by a CWGC headstone to be cared for in perpetuity.