Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Codling, a railway platelayer, born 1852 in Rowston, Lincs., and his wife Eliza Codling (nee Mawer, married Q2 1877 in Lincoln), born 1855 in Langwith, Lincs. John Edward Codling, a schoolboy was born in 1887 in Saxilby, Lincs., his siblings were, Robina, a schoolgirl, born 1879 in Nottinghamshire., Ada A., a schoolgirl, born 1881 and Rose A., a schoolgirl, born 1882, the latter two siblings were both born in Saxilby, Lincs., in April 1891 the family home was at Mill Lane, Saxilby, Lincs. In March 1901 John was employed as an agricultural labourer and was residing in the family home at Mill Lane, Saxilby, Lincs., together with his parents and sister, Lily, a schoolgirl, born 1893 in Saxilby, Lincs. In April 1911 John was employed as a farm wagoner and was residing as a servant at Moor Farm, Thorney, Newark, Notts. In the 1st quarter of 1914, John married Nellie Mawer in the Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire marriage registration district. John enlisted on the 11th July 1917 and embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 12th November 1917, where he joined his unit, the Anson Battalion on the 24th November 1917 and served until he was reported missing, presumed killed in action on the 30th December 1917.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday February 8th, 1918

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Pte. J. E. Codling (Ashby) of the R.N.V.R. previously reported missing, is now placed in the records as killed.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 13/1/2018