Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Mackley, a carrier, born 13th November 1867 in Croxton Kerrial, Leicestershire, and baptised on the 29th December 1867 in Croxton Kerrial Parish Church and his wife Mary Anne Mackley (nee Martin, married in the 2nd quarter of 1891 in the Grantham, Lincolnshire district), born 1870 in Nottingham. John Henry, was born in the 2nd quarter of 1898 in Croxton Kerrial, his siblings were, Alfred William, born 1892 and Alice Gertrude, born 1894, both his siblings were born in Alfreton, Nottinghamshire, in March 1901 the family were residing at Roses Town End, Croxton Kerrial, this being the family home of John’s widowed paternal Grandmother, Harriet Mackley, a cottager, born 1826 in Colsterworth, Lincolnshire. In April 1911 John was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at Croxton Kerrial, together with his father, a carter, his mother and widowed maternal Grandmother, a pensioner, born 1839 in Derby. In the 2nd quarter of 1915 in the Grantham, Lincolnshire district, John’s mother died aged 45. In the 1st quarter of 1923 in the Fylde, Lancashire district, John’s widowed father married Gladys Jane Pearson.
The War Diary records: 13 Aug-16 – BRAY-SUR-SOMME. (L.9.B.). Reinforcement of 8 Other Ranks received from 55 D.A.C.
The War Diary records: 16 Aug-16 - BRAY-SUR-SOMME. (L.9.B.). Command of Divisional Artillery Wagon Lines transferred to Lieutenant Colonel H. J. SHEPPARD Commanding 275th Brigade. ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY.
The War Diary records: 17 Aug-16 - BRAY-SUR-SOMME. (L.9.B.). Lieutenant Colonel H. J. SHEPPARD Commanding 275th Brigade took over command of “D” Group from Lieutenant Colonel J. P. REYNOLDS.
The War Diary records: 21 Aug-16 - BRAY-SUR-SOMME. (L.9.B.). Reinforcement of 26 Other Ranks received from 55 D.A.C. to replace casualties. Relief of A/278th and B/278th Batteries by Batteries of 276th Brigade which had been begun by sections on 20th, completed. A/278th and B/278th Batteries remain in Wagon Lines handing over guns to relieving Batteries. The following casualties were sustained by these two Batteries while in action at their positions.
A/278th Officers wounded, 1. Other Ranks killed 4, wounded 7.
B/278th Officers wounded, 1. Other Ranks killed 5, wounded 17.
C/278th Battery remains in action.
On Friday September 8th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – CROXTON KERRIAL GUNNER KILLED. With much regret the news was received in Croxton Kerrial that Gunner J. H. Mackley, a native of the village, has been killed in action. Before enlisting deceased was in the employ of Lord Robert Manners of the Red House, Knipton, and when only seventeen years of age he joined the West Lancashires in the Royal Field Artillery, and was soon sent to the front, where on the 16th August, his career came to an untimely end. His father, who is a widower, left his native village with his daughter, Miss Alice Mackley, in the spring to go and live in Lancashire. The tolling of the Church bell on receipt of the news at Croxton made many a sympathetic thought go out to his bereaved relatives. An elder brother of deceased, Gunner A. W. Mackley, of the R.G.A., Signalling Class, joined soon after his brother.