Joseph Wells was born in Chiselhurst, Kent on 9 January 1912, the son of Joseph William and Catherine Wells. He joined the Royal Navy as an Engine Room Artificer Apprentice on 9 January 1928. No details are currently available on his Navy Career from completing his five-year Engine Room Artificer Apprenticeship in 1933 and his promotion to Acting Warrant Engineer on 1 April 1943.

He was appointed to HMS DOLPHIN on 1 April 1943 and then, on 21 April 1943, he was appointed to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS MAIDSTONE at Algiers and, on 21 May 1943, to HMS SAFARI as the Engineer. He returned home on 15 November 1943 with an appointment to HMS SEA ROVER as the Engineer. HMS SEA ROVER was sent to the Indian Ocean and joined the Eighth Submarine Flotilla based on HMS MAIDSTONE at Trincomalee. Joseph Wells was awarded the DSC – see London Gazette dated 1 March 1943 ‘for Far East War Patrols’.

He returned home on 28 December 1945 with an appointment to HMS DOLPHIN. On 15 July 1947 Joseph Wells was appointed to HMS SENESCHAL as the Engineer. Senior Commissioned Engineer Joseph Wells is reported to have died at the Haslar Recreation Ground on 11 March 1950.

He was the husband of Molly Wells, and was buried in the Royal Naval Cemetery at Haslar.