Joseph Carson was the eldest son of Joseph and Mary Carson. He was born on 22nd September 1885 in the Coagh area. He was the eldest of six children. His father was a pioneer of modern agriculture and cattle breeding for which Mid Ulster became famous. They lived in Ballydawley. Joseph attended Cookstown Academy before going to the University of Edinburgh. Joseph Carson became a Corporal in the Royal Army Medical Corps and rose to become Captain. Captain Joseph Carson was a radiographer at the 28th General Hospital in Salonika from November 1915 to August 1918. He was awarded the Serbian Order of St Sava (5th Class).