Derek Joseph
Joseph was born on 13 November 1945 in Peshawar city, North-West Frontier Province, British India. Dennis Joseph, a retired professor at Edwardes College and the brother of Derek Joseph, says that their family came from Armenia to Afghanistan and stayed in Kabul and Nangarhar before moving to British India following the withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan. Joseph's family arrived in Peshawar, capital of North-West Frontier Province in 1890 and has remained there ever since. Derek Joseph's father, Dr. Paul Joseph, was a general surgeon at the Mission Hospital in Peshawar and his mother used to teach English language at various colleges. Joseph was commissioned into the Pakistan Army on 20 April 1969 and later fought in Indo-Pakistan war of 1971. During the war he destroyed seven Indian tanks and was awarded Tamgha-i-Jurat for his valour. Derek Joseph died on 29 July 2021 in Peshawar city. He was buried with full military honors in a military graveyard in Peshawar city. A number of retired Pakistani military personnel and civil servants described Joseph as brave soldier and expressed their grief over the death of Joseph.
Military career
Joseph joined the Pakistan army in 1969 and later fought in Indo-Pakistan war of 1971 where he destroyed seven Indian tanks. He was awarded Tamgha-i-Jurat for his actions during the war.