Joseph Gilbey was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1928. He served with the British Army (R.E.M.E.) in Palestine and Egypt (1947-1949). Gilbey immigrated to Canada in 1957 and worked with Iron Ore Company of Canada in Scheffeville, Que. The company expanded operations to the borders of Quebec/Labrador - now Labrado City - in 1958. Gilbey set priorities for incoming essential materials at the new project. In 1963 he resigned and moved with his young family to Ontario. Following twenty-five years with Ford Motor Company of Canada in Oakville, Gilbey accepted early retirement in 1987 and began extensive travels.

While visiting Montevideo, Uruguay in 1993 he became fascinated with the Graf Spee saga. When closely examined, much of the published information lacked credibility. Gilbey began a serious investigation that rapidly became an obsession to unravel the true story. The long trail then led from Montevideo to Argentina, Germany and England. High-ranking officers and men that served on the battling warships gave Gilbey their personal experience. Admiral Harwood's sons and Captain Langsdorff's daughter helpfully opened their family records to help the cause. Joseph Gilbey published "Langsdorff of the Graf Spee" in 1999 and "Admiral Raeder's Navy" in 2005.