Joseph Alan Cordner was born at Bridgewater on the Loddon River in May 1890. His father Isiah Joseph Cordner and mother Jessie Walker moved regularly as Isiah was a bank Manager with the National Bank of Australasia. Isiah was living at Colermine and is listed as a bank Manager in the 1903 electoral roll. Joseph had one younger brother Edward Clement Cordner who was born in August 1892. It appears that his mother Jessie died as Isiah re marries Mabel Emily Cordner in 1902.
Joseph was educated in Hamilton Victoria and was a member of the school cadets
In 1914 Joseph was listed as living at 72 Gipps Street East Melbourne and his occupation as clerk. He had been recruited to play for the Collingwood Football Club in 1913 and he played his first game of VFL football for Collingwood on the 17 May 1913 in Round 4. He played 20 games with Collingwood and scored two goals. He was a very useful player and obviously very versatile as he played in a number of positions from Half Forward flank, Centre and in 1914 just before enlisting was moved to the Back Pocket. He played his last game for Collingwood on the 22 August 1914 the day he enlisted in the AIF.
Within two weeks of war being declared against Germany, Joseph on the 22 August 1914 enlisted in the AIF. He was allocated to B Company, 6th Battilion as a private. He was a 5foot 11 inch, 12 stone, 24 years old and single. Having played for Collingwood for two seasons it's reasonable to assume he was in prime phyical condition. His brother Edward Clement Cordner beat his brother Joseph by four days and enlisted in the AIF, 1st Anzac Light Horse, Field Ambulance on the 18 August 1915.
He embarked on the 19 October 1914 on HMAT Hororata [A 20] for Egypt. After several months desert training he embarked from Alexandria on the 5 April 1915 for the Gallipoli Penensular.
The 6th Battalion is one of the first units landed at Anzac Cove on the 25th April 1915. From records obtained it appears that Joseph with a number of other members of B company pushed ahead up the slopes of Anzac Cove with great speed and found themselves by early afternoon isolated in enemy held territory. A retreat to the Australian lines was commenced and Joseph was shot during this time. His mates could not see any visable wound but could not revive him and due to the heavy firing left the area.
He was reported missing the next day and for some time it was hoped that he may have been caputed by the Turks. He was official listed as wounded and missing and for the next 12 months his father writes regularly to the War Records office pleading for news of his son. Several of his sad letters are listed below.
After nearly one year after the landing at Gallipoli a Military Court of Enquiy is held and on the 24 April 1916, Joseph Alan Cordner is official confirmed as being Killed in Action at Gallipoli on the 25th April 1915.
His possesions are returned to his father in 1916, a few letters and 2 pipes.
His body was never recoved and today he is commemerated with a head stone at the Lone Pine Cemertry.
A young 24 year old Collingwood Football Club player taken in his prime of life.
His brother Edward servived the war and returned to Australia after four years of mainly administrive roles in October 1918.
His father who spent a year trying to find out if his son was alive in 1915/16 lived on until 1934 when he died at Camberwell, Victoria aged 73. He is buried at the Burwood Cemetary with his second wife Mabel who died in 1969 at the age of 89
