Served with the 1st, 7th KORL and 17th Battalions and the Labour Corps and was wounded four times

John attested in August 1914 and was posted to the 1st Battalion. He suffered a GSW in the thigh in May 1915 during the attack on ‘Rouges Bancs’ (2nd Ypres). During this attack, which was a prelude to the Battle of Richebourg-Festubert, the 1st Battalion suffered 3 Officers and 52 OR killed; 12 Officers and 245 NCOs and men wounded; 46 OR missing – a total of 359 casualties.

He was transferred to England for treatment.

He returned to France with the 1st Battalion in May 1916 and was attached to the 7th Kings Own Royal Lancashire Regiment. John was wounded a second time on 20th July 1916 (with shell shock) at Bazentin-le-Petit and returned to England on HS Lanfranc.

HS Lanfranc

Following convalescence John returned to France in January 1917 and was posted to the 17th Battalion. He suffered a GSW to the forehead in August 1917 and was transferred to the Labour Corps. He was gassed in September 1917 and returned to England in October 1917. John was eventually discharged in May 1919.