Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Herbert Barsby, a stone quarry worker, born 1863 in Rothley, Leicestershire and his wife Sarah Barsby (nee Dayman, married in the 2nd quarter of 1887 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district), born 12th April 1871 in Enderby, Leicestershire. John was born in the 4th quarter of 1887 in Enderby, his siblings were, Alfred, born 27th April 1889 and Herbert, born in the 2nd quarter of 1891, both his siblings were born in Enderby, in April 1891 the family home was at Mill Hill, Enderby. In March 1901 John was employed as a farm labourer and was residing in the family home at Mill Hill, Enderby, together with his father, a stone sett maker, his mother and siblings, Alfred, Herbert, Mary Ellen, born 25th June 1893, Jessie, born 1898 and Robert, born 23rd February 1900, the latter three siblings were all born in Enderby. In April 1901 John was employed as a stone quarry worker and was residing in the family home at Hall Walk, Enderby, together with his father, a farm labourer, his mother and siblings, Alfred, a farm labourer, Herbert, a stone quarry worker, Mary, a hosiery trade worker, Jessie a cotton winder, Robert, a schoolboy and Gladys S., born 22nd July 1902, in Enderby. John was interred in St. John the Baptist Churchyard on the 30th November 1918, his brother Herbert who died on the 25th November was interred on the same day. John’s widowed mother, sister Gladys and brother Robert all resided at 22, The Hall Walk, Enderby in 1939.
John enlisted into the Regular Army on the 8th December 1915 in Leicester, and was allocated the service number 25823. He gave his age as 28 years and 93 days. Marital status as unmarried and his trade or calling as Sett machine worker - Quarryman.
His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 7½ inches in height, weighed 165 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 34 and 37 inches, his complexion was described as fresh, hair colour was light brown and he had blue eyes, he gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father Herbert Barsby, Hall Walk, Enderby, Leicester.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Attested. Leicester. 8/12/15.
Transferred. Army Reserve. Private. 8/12/15.
Mobilized. 1/3/16.
Posted. Depot. Leicestershire Regiment. 1/3/16.
Posted. 11th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (Pioneers). 1/3/16.
Appointed. Paid Lance Corporal. 15/3/16.
Posted. 12th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. 18/3/16.
Posted. 12th Infantry Brigade Depot, Etaples.19/7/16.
Embarked. Folkestone. To join the British Expeditionary Force in France. 20/7/16.
Disembarked. 20/7/16.
Arrived. 12th Infantry Brigade Depot, Etaples. 21/7/16.
Posted. 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. 2/8/16.
Joined. 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. In the Field. 2/8/16.
Reverts. To Private. 2/8/16.
Wounded in Action. Gunshot wound, right shoulder and hand, left leg and buttock. In the Field. 25/9/16.
Posted. Depot Leicestershire Regiment. 29/9/16.
Transferred. To Hospital in England. 29/9/16.
Admitted. 3rd Western General Hospital, Cardiff. 29/9/16.
Discharged. Kingston Red Cross Hospital. 20/12/16.
Posted. From Furlough to 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, Ripon. 1/1/17.
Admitted. Reckitts Hospital, Hull. Diabetes mellitus aggravated. 17/2/17.
Attended. Medical Board Reckitts Hospital, Hull. 26/2/17.
Discharge. From Hospital. 28/2/17.
Discharged. No longer physically fit for War Service, under (King’s Regulations 392 (xvi). His Military character was recorded as very good, and in accordance with King’s Regulations his character was given as honest and trustworthy. 19/3/17.
Awarded. Silver War Badge, No. 144285.
Summary of his Service:
Home Service. 1/3/16 to 18/7/16. 140 days.
British Expeditionary Force, France. 19/7/16 to 28/9/16. 72 days.
Home Service. 29/9/16 to 19/3/17. 172 days.
Total service 1 year 19 days.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
John’s surviving service record amounts to a total of sixteen pages, and these are in good condition and offer an accurate overall description of events that took place during his period of his military service.
On Tuesday 3rd December 1918 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “COUNTY NEWS.” - ENDERBY – Three Somme Heroes Pass Away. – Last week was a particularly sad one for Enderby, two families having suffered the loss of loved ones under distressing circumstances. Mr. Geo. Martin, of King-street, lost his son, Pte. Ernest Martin, Leicester Regiment, who was wounded at the Battle of Guadecourt in September, 1916, and whose brother Fred, died of wounds received in the same battle, and on Saturday morning his wife, who was too ill to see her son in the last days of his illness, passed away, both being victims of pneumonia, a married sister also being seriously ill with the same disease. Privates Herbert Barsby and John Barsby, late of the Leicester Regiment, both of whom were wounded in the same battle, died within two days of each other, the former of pneumonia, and the latter of diabetes, In this case also the mother and elder sister were ill, and their father died only nine months ago. All three were employees of the Enderby and Stoney Stanton Granite Company, and wreaths were sent by their fellow workers, and also from the Soldiers’ and Sailors Association. Private Martin was buried in the Chapel Cemetery, and the brothers Barsby were laid to rest on Saturday afternoon in the church cemetery, the Rev. R. P. Farrow, M.A., vicar, officiating.