Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Edmund Adkin a Farm Bailiff, born in Diseworth, Leicestershire, and his wife Martha Jane, born in 1862 in Moresby, Cumberland and now residing at “Cheslyn”, Sketchley Road, Burbage, Leics. John Douglas was born in 1893 in Netherseal, Leicestershire, his siblings were Edith Annie, born 1891 in Netherseal, Leicestershire, William H., born 1893 in Netherseal, Leicestershire and Edmund Alan, born 1896 in Huncote, Leicestershire, in 1911 the family home was at Aston Flamville, Leicestershire. In 1911 John was residing with his family at 9, Balls Lane, Burbage, Leicestershire and his trade or calling was Nursery Boy. His enlistment documents record that he gave his trade or calling as Gardener and his next of kin as his father, John Edmund Adkin of Sketchley Lane, Burbage, Leicestershire, England. He stated that he was unmarried. Information taken from his medical examination shows that he was 5 foot 4 ¾ inches in height and had a chest measurement of 33 to 35 ½ inches. His complexion was described as ruddy with blue eyes and fair hair. It was noted that he had a scar from a burn on his right forearm, and that the first joint of the second finger of his left hand was missing. He gave his religion as Church of England.