John was born in Cheadle, the son of Agnes Albert who, after the war, was living at 153 Higher Brinksway, Stockport.

His original service number, 1620, suggests that he was a pre-war member of the Territorial Army and would have been mobilised into the 6th Cheshires when war was declared in August 1914. An account of that Battalion’s early service is here.

At some point, probably after a period of illness or recuperation form a wound, he was transferred to the 10th Battalion. His final service number suggests that was probably in the spring of 1916. He was killed in the action described here.