| The History of Coagh booklet lists Captain Joseph Carson as having served with the Royal Army Medical Corps in the war.
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| Joseph Carson was the eldest son of Joseph and Mary Carson. Joseph Carson and Mary Stewart were married on 17th July 1884 in the district of Cookstown.
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| Joseph Thompson Carson was born on 22nd September 1885 in the Coagh area. He was the eldest of six children.
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| Known family: Joseph Carson, Mary Carson, Joseph Thompson Carson (born 22nd September 1885), Robert Carson (born 23rd April 1888), William Carson (born 7th May 1892), Eliza Carson (born 10th October 1894), Margaret E Carson (born 12th January 1898), Mary Kathleen Carson (born 25th August 1900).
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| The 1901 census lists Joseph T as age 15, living with the family at house 2 in Ballydawley, Springhill, County Londonderry. They were a farming family. Joseph was still at school.
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| Joseph attended Cookstown Academy before going to the University of Edinburgh.
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| Joseph Thompson was with No 4 Company of the Queens Rifle Volunteer Brigade (Q.R.V.B), part of the Royal Scots Regiment, from 1903 to 1907.
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| Joseph graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1908 with MB, ChB.
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| Joseph Carson (senior) was a pioneer of modern agriculture and cattle breeding for which Mid Ulster became famous. Before the Department of Agriculture was in existence, his farming methods were a model across Ireland. He specialised in shorthorn cattle. The need for a mart for female shorthorns led him to suggest the Autumn Sale in Cookstown, and on the formation of the Mid Ulster Shorthorn Breeders Association, whose sales is now the most important female sale in Ireland, Mr Carson was elected the first president
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| The 1911 census does not list Joseph as living with the family at house 2 in Ballydawley, Springhill.
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| Joseph Carson became a Corporal in the Royal Army Medical Corps.
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| Corporal Carson was gazetted Lieutenant in October 1915.
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| Joseph Carson became Captain Carson in October 1916 until December 1918.
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| Captain Joseph Carson was a radiographer at the 28th General Hospital in Salonika from November 1915 to August 1918.
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| Captain Joseph Carson was awarded the Serbian Order of St Sava (5th Class).
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| At the time of his father’s death in December 1918, Captain Joseph Carson was serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps in Salonika.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 28th December 1918: Mr Joseph Carson, Hillside Farm, Coagh (Father of Joseph Carson)
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| The death of Mr Carson took place on Saturday, after a painful and lingering illness, borne with Christian resignation. The deceased was the pioneer of the up-to-date agriculture and cattle breeding for which Mid Ulster has since become famous. As recently mentioned in ‘Twenty Five Years Ago’, before the Department of Agriculture was in existence, and when the royal Dublin Society held competitions for model farming, Mr Carson won the medal in his class, open to all Ireland. Again, when the creamery movement was initiated, Mr Carson saw the advantage it would be to the butter making industry, and joined heartily in the work of the Committee. As a judge at agricultural shows for classes of not only cattle, but swine and horses, he was in much request, and the fairness of his decisions was never questioned. He specialized in shorthorns, and built up a herd of sound animals, the dispersion of which, a few months ago, attracted buyers from all parts of Ireland, who paid good, all round prices, 25 cows and heifers realizing an average of 90 guineas each, all of them bred by Mr Carson. The need for a mart for female shorthorns led him to suggest the Autumn Sale in Cookstown, and on the formation of the Mid Ulster Shorthorn Breeders Association, whose sales is now the most important female sale in Ireland, Mr Carson was elected the first president. The regard in which he was held by the other breeders was shown in the fact that a few days before his death, a deputation, consisting of Messrs J Port Harris, Alexander Cameron, Thomas Hegan, J.P., W J Blackstock, and T J Crawford went to Hillside Farm and presented him with an address and substantial cheque, which Mrs Carson acknowledged on behalf of her husband, whose formal reply (with the address) appears below. It was a unique testimony to the esteem in which he was held.
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| In other capacities his services were no less appreciated. As a member of the Magherafelt Board of Guardians for a long time, his sound judgement was always valued, and his experience was equally useful as a member of the Derry Agricultural Committee, which position he resigned since his illness. As a member of the committee of Coagh Presbyterian Church, too, he was very useful. No man bore a higher character in our community for straightforward dealing and transparent honesty and unassuming helpfulness in every good cause.
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| Mr Carson leaves a widow and two sons, the elder of whom, Captain Joseph Carson, Royal Army Medical Corps, is on active service in Salonika, and four daughters, to mourn his loss.
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| The funeral on Monday afternoon was extremely large. The chief mourners were:- Robert Carson (son), Robert Carson, Claremount, Cookstown, and Kennedy Carson, Shanky (brothers); Robert Stewart, Coalisland (brother-in-law); Robert Stewart, Joseph McCollum, Cookstown, James McCollum, Cookstown (nephews); Rev H Stewart (relative).
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| A short service was conducted in the house by Rev W T McClelland, and at the grave side by Rev Dr Logan, assisted by Rev H Stewart. The panelled oak coffin was supplied by Mr W MacDonald Porter, undertaker, and the hearse by Mr Mulgrew, Cookstown. A wreath was placed on the grave:- ‘In remembrance, from the Mid Ulster Shorthorn Breeders Association.’
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