Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Charles Bird a Framework Knitter, born 1870 in Fleckney, Leics., and his wife Harriet, born 1869 in Foxton, Leics. John Thomas was born in 1888 in Fleckney, Leics., also residing with the family was his paternal grandfather, Thomas Bird, a widower, born 1812 in Fleckney, Leics., in April 1891 the family home was at Gladstone Street, Fleckney, Leics., in the Ecclesiastical Parish of St. Nicholas. In March 1901 John was employed as a Hosiery Winder and was residing in the family home at Factory Square, Fleckney, Leics., together with his parents and siblings, Lily, born 1892, Rose, born 1895, the latter two siblings were both born in Fleckney, Leics., Walter, born 1896 in Broughton Astley, Leics., and Mary A., born 1899 in Dunton Bassett, Leics. In April 1911 John was employed as a Hosiery Worker and was residing in the family home at 90, Charnwood Street, Leicester, together with his parents and siblings, Lily, Rose, Walter, Mary, William, born 1906, Alfred, born 1908, the latter two siblings were both born in Fleckney, Leics., Sam, born 1910 in Leicester. In the quarter October, November and December 1915, John married Ethel Weston in the Leicester Registration District.