Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Harry Coleman a certificated schoolmaster, born 1854 in Southampton, Hampshire and his wife Elizabeth Coleman (nee Rawlins, married on the 23rd May 1877 in St. Stephen’s Church, Woodville, Derbyshire), born 1857 in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. John Sydney was born in the 1st quarter of 1893 in Burnley, Lancashire, his siblings were, Ellen Elizabeth, born in the 3rd quarter of 1883 in Burtle, Somerset, Tom Ernest, born in the 3rd quarter of 1885 in Old Sodbury, Gloucestershire, Cecil Rawlins, born on the 13th June 1888 and baptised on the 13th July 1888 in St. Peter’s Church, Hednesford, Staffordshire and Arthur William, born in the 1st quarter of 1890 and baptised on the 13th February 1890 in St. Peter’s Church, Hednesford, the latter two siblings were both born in Hednesford, in March 1901 the family home was at School House, Yeaveley, Derbyshire. In April 1911 John was employed as a clerk and was residing in the family home at Station Road, Countesthorpe, Leicestershire, together with his father, a certificated teacher, his mother and siblings, Harry Francis, a representative, born in the 3rd quarter of 1878 in Burscough Town, Lancashire, Cecil, a warehouseman and Arthur, a representative, also residing with the family was John’s nephew, George Cecil, born on the 10th December 1907 in Sheffield, Yorkshire and baptised on the 9th January 1908 in St. Mary’s Church, Bramall Lane, Sheffield. John also had another older sibling, George Haywood, born in the 2nd quarter of 1880 in Burscough Town.
John’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the Leicestershire Regiment, being allotted the service number 11520, and was posted as a Private to that Regiment’s Depot for training, subsequently being posted to the 8th Battalion and it was with this Battalion that he first entered the theatre of war in France on the 29th July 1915. John was, during his service promoted to the rank of Sergeant, however nothing further is known of his military service until he was officially reported as having been killed in action on the 24th September 1915, while serving with “D” Company of the 8th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment. He was buried in Berles-au-Bois Churchyard Extension, France. John was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 24 Sept-15 - LEFT SECTOR TRENCHES. 12.50am. Patrols sent out from Group 1 and Group 2 to examine and complete cuts in wire opposite Bays 24, 25, 27 and 31 in 93A, Bays 19 and 21 in D92, Bays 12, 13, and 15 in 92C, Bays 7 and 10 in 92B, Bays 1, 4 and 6 in 92A, also Bays 3, 4, 6, 9 and 11 in 93. Work complete at 4.50am. One man killed cutting wire in Group 1. These passages cut by order of Brigade so that in case of advance the men could move forward quickly. 4.30am. Situation quiet. Wind South East. 9.00am to 4.30pm. 1 officer and 25 men working on new diversion of communication trench No.2 NOBS WALK from Battalion Headquarters Northwards to near remnants of far side of ravine. 11.00am. Situation normal, our guns shelling the enemy, no reply. Wind South. 4.30pm. Artillery fire report. Wire entanglements badly damaged in part of 92 and 93, but not sufficiently cut as far as can be seen. Two bays gaps in wire in front of right of 94, parapet blown away there, very slight damage to wire in front of 95. Enemy replied by shelling 92 and 93 also the village of BERLES and POMMIER. No material damage or casualties. Object of enemy’s fire was to break down the enemy’s wire entanglements opposite groups 1 and 2. 7.00pm to 2.00am. 1 officer and 75 men working party, working on trench 100 yards East of NUTS LANE and parallel to it, also a diversion of communication trench to groups 1 and 2 (NEWARK STREET).
On Monday, October 4th, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Sergt. Coleman Killed. - The information that his youngest son, Sergt. J. S. COLEMAN, “D” Co., 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action in France on September 24th, has been conveyed by his captain to Mr. H. Coleman, headmaster of the Church of England Schools, Countesthorpe. Prior to the war Sergt. Coleman was employed at Messrs. T. H. Downing and Co.’s. The letter conveying the sad tidings was as follows:- ”In the trenches, Sept. 24th, 1915. “Dear Mr. Coleman, - I deeply regret having to inform you that your son, Sergt. J. Coleman, was killed early this morning while cutting gaps through our own wire. He and myself went out about 12.30am., and had half completed our task, when I was hit in the neck by a splinter. We both came in, and while I went to have my wound seen to, he and another of my sergeants carried on with the work. According to the other sergeant, they had just finished the job when Sergt. Coleman was hit by a bullet in the lower part of the neck, death being instantaneous. The whole platoon and myself wish to convey our heartfelt sympathy in your sad loss. “It is indeed a sad loss. Always of a cheerful disposition, never failing to fulfil his duties, and always to be thoroughly relied on, Sergt. Coleman was the true type of man who answered his country’s call, and I cannot express my sorrow at losing him. I shall miss him as my right hand man, especially as we are expecting to make an advance shortly. Please accept the heartfelt sympathies of all concerned, and you may rest assured that his death will be avenged a hundredfold in the near future.- I remain, yours sincerely, (signed) JACK C. WRATISLAW, Capt. No. 16 Platoon, “D” Co., 8th Leicester’s.”
Mr. H. Coleman’s eldest son, a Lieutenant in the 2nd Berkshire Regiment, is at present in hospital recovering from sickness contracted in the trenches.