1915 was a landmark year in the life of Joseph Parris, not only did the young bricklayer from Annandale join the push to defy the Germans and their allies, but Joseph, the young outside right from Annandale football club, was selected to represent his state against Queensland alongside future Socceroo Frank Melliar-Smith.
Born in 1892 within a stone’s throw of what would become the home of Fulham FC, Joseph and his family emigrated to Sydney settling in the inner west of Sydney.
By 1913 Joseph was making his mark with the Annandale club, form he carried through 1914 and into the 1915 season when he scored in NSW’s 4-2 over Queensland.
Five weeks later he and at least five of his NSW teammates had enlisted. Parris served his time with the 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column, returning safely in April of 1919, and slipped back into playing for Annandale as if the war were merely a long half time break.