Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Billesdon a General Labourer, born 1855 in Thorpe by Water, Rutland and his wife Ellen, born 1855 in Evington, Leics. He was the grandson of Ephraim Martin an Agricultural Labourer, born 1823 in Kilby, Leics., and his wife Elizabeth, born 1827 in Evington, Leics. John William was born in 1881 in Oadby, Leics., his siblings were Louisa, born 1878 in Leicester and Ada Gertrude, born 1880 in Evington, Leics., also residing with the family was his aunt Eliza Martin, born 1866 in Evington, Leics., in April 1891 he was residing in the family home of his maternal grandparents at Stoughton, Leics. In March 1901 John was employed as a Farm Labourer and was residing in the family home of his maternal grandmother at Chapel Street, Evington, Leics., together with his cousin Elizabeth Martin, born 1892 in Leicester. In April 1911 John was employed as a Farm Labourer and was residing as a boarder at the home of his brother in law, George Brewin, born 1885 in Old Evington, Leics., and sister Ada Brewin (nee Billesdon), at Evington, Leicester, together with their son Frederick, born 1908 in Old Evington, Leics. John enlisted in the Wellington Infantry Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and embarked on HMNZT 103 Maunganui on the 9th May 1918 bound for Liverpool, England. He was killed at Le Quesnoy, France. Before enlistment he had been a Farm Labourer.