Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Philip H. Callier a tailor, born 1868 in Dawley, Salop and his wife Mary E., born 1866 in Ashby de la Zouch, Leics. John Frederick was born in 1895 in Ashby de la Zouch, Leics., his siblings were, Nellie, born 1890 and Florrie, born 1893, both his siblings were born in Ashby de la Zouch, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at High Street, Ibstock, Leics. He was a hairdresser working in John Cramp’s shop in Ellistown before the war, and was a Sunday School teacher at the Wesleyan School in Ibstock. Enlisting in the 2nd Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment he was serving in Mesopotamia (Iraq) when he was killed. The War Diary for the previous day’s action shows the following casualties, officers killed 2nd Lt E. L. HALL M.C., 2nd Lt G. S. Hebden. Officers wounded, Capt P. H. CREAGH D.S.O. (did not quit), 2nd Lt J. R. WARREN, 2nd Lt H. J. GRANT-ANDERSON, 2nd Lt H. W. G. WESTLAKE M.C. and Lt U. H. E. SOWTER who afterwards died of wounds, other ranks 18 killed, 101 wounded. The War Diary for today records. At dawn A Coy patrolled to the front for 1 ½ miles. No sign of enemy. 8th Bde passed through followed by 19th and 21st Bde’s. At 12.00 noon 28th Bde marched and bivouacked near SAMARRA STATION arriving about 3.00pm. 8th Bde 1 ½ miles to our front finding picquet.
NOTE: Also commemorated on the Ibstock Memorial.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday May 18th, 1917

Mr and Mrs Callier, of Ashby, late of Ibstock, have received news this week that their son had been killed in action in Mesopotamia. Fred was a very popular boy amongst Ibstock friends, and the bereavement is all the more distressing as Mr and Mrs Callier have already lost a nephew whom they brought up, in the war. The deceased was a hairdresser and tobacconist at Ibstock prior to enlisting.

Coalville Times article - Friday May 25th 1917

Mr and Mrs Philip Callier, of Derby Road, Ashby, have received intimation that their only son, Pte. J. F. Callier, of the Leicesters, has been killed in action in Mesopotamia.

Coalville Times article - Friday June 8th, 1917

Mr and Mrs J. Callier, of Derby Road, Ashby, have received information that their son, Lance-Corporal J. F. Callier, was killed in action in Mesopotamia, on April 23rd. Deceased, who was 21 years of age, enlisted in the Leicestershire Regiment in 1915, and was drafted to Mesopotamia about a year ago.

Coalville Times article - Friday June 29th, 1917

Pte. F. Callier, of the Leicestershire Regiment, whose name appeared recently in the official casualty lists as having been killed was formerly a hairdresser at Ellistown in the employ of Mr John Cramp. When the latter’s son, Henry, joined the Army, Callier, took his place in managing the business and was himself called up about 20 months ago. After training he was drafted to Mesopotamia and letters received from a friend there state that he was shot by a sniper as they lay side by side. This was on April 23rd. Callier’s battalion were the first to enter Baghdad. The deceased was a single man, 22 years of age, and was a native of Ibstock, being a member of the Ibstock Wesleyan Church, and a Sunday School preacher. Before going to Ellistown he was at Barwell, where he learnt his trade. His parents, formerly of Ibstock, now reside at Ashby.

Coalville Times article - Friday December 7th, 1917.

WESLEYAN CHURCH

The Ibstock Wesleyan Church on Wednesday last week received a visit from the Rev. J. Fisher Robson, of Leicester, who preached in the afternoon, and lectured in the evening. There was a fair congregation at the afternoon service, and the lecture in the evening was well-attended. At the conclusion of the service reference was made to the beautiful reading desk which has been presented to the church as a memorial, by the parents of the late Private Frederick Callier, who was killed in Mesopotamia last summer. Private Callier was well-known and respected locally and was a scholar and Sunday School teacher at this place of worship up to the time of his enlistment.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 16/11/2017


Photograph submitted by A. Garford in 2020