Joseph Lyman Hodgson was born in Fitzroy in 1893 to Joseph Hodgson (an engineer) and Alice Hodgson (nee Lyman). There were 3 brothers, one (James Percy) who also enlisted for WWI, and 2 sisters. Joseph was working as a telegraphist assistant when he enlisted on 6 May, 1915, aged 24 years. A cadet at school for 8 years, he reached the rank of Col. Sergeant for the last 2 years of school.

Joseph was recruited to the Depot Clearing Hospital- Special A.M.C Reinforcements. He embarked for Alexandria, Egypt on 22 May 1915, then sailed to Marseilles late July arriving first at the No. 12 General Hospital in Rouen. A month later he transferred to the 3rd Field Ambulance where he remained until January 1917.

Joseph was then transferred to 1st Division Signal Company, an area where pre-War expertise could be utilised. In July 1917 he took a month's leave in the UK. In October 1917 Joseph was disciplined for 'showing hesitancy to comply with an order & indolence to an officer'. He received a 7 day field punishment, however it is not clear from his service record what that entailed. He remained with this company in France until moving to the Australian Corps Signal Company in March 1918. He returned to Australia on 'Sardinia' and discharged from service on July 1919.

After the war, Joseph joined the Public Service and remained a resident in East Melbourne until he married Nina Isobel Blakely in 1924. By 1931 they resided in Brighton until at least 1936. Joseph's death is noted in 1956 in Kenmore, near Goulburn.