Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Brewin, a shepherd, born 4th August 1850 in Thorpe Acre, Leicestershire and baptised on the 4th August 1850 in All Saint’s Church, Thorpe Acre (son of John Brewin, 1818-1894 and Mary Bouser, 1820) and his wife Harriett Brewin (nee King, married on the 28th November 1870 in Leicester), born 4th April 1850 in Barwell, Leicestershire and baptised on the 17th April 1850 in St. Mary’s Church, Barwell (daughter of William King, 1815-1897 and Elizabeth Sutton, 1819-1885). John Joseph, a schoolboy, was born in the January quarter of 1883 in Hinckley, Leicestershire and was baptised on the 25th December 1888 in St. Denys Church, Evington, his siblings were, Harry, an agricultural labourer, born 13th October 1877 in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire and baptised on the 11th August 1878 in St. Denys Church, Evington, Mary Ellen, a schoolgirl, born in the October quarter of 1879 and baptised on the 9th November 1879 in St. Denys Church, Evington, Alice, a schoolgirl, born 27th May 1881 and baptised on the 26th June 1881 in St. Denys Church, Evington, George Ephraim, a schoolboy, born 19th December 1884 and baptised on the 25th December 1888 in St. Denys Church, Evington, Gertrude Sarah, born 8th December 1886 and baptised on the 25th December 1888 in St. Denys Church, Evington, Edith Emily, born 25th August 1888 and baptised on the 25th December 1888 in St. Denys Church, Evington and Florence Harriett, born in the July quarter of 1890, the latter six siblings were all born in Evington, in April 1891 the family home was at Evington. In March 1901 John was employed as a farm labourer and was residing in the family home at Chapel Street, Evington, together with his father, a shepherd, his mother and siblings, George, a farm labourer, Gertie, a box maker, Emily and Florence, also residing with the family were John’s niece, Ada Brewin, born 1891 and nephew, William Brewin, born 1900, both children were born in Evington. In April 1911 John was employed as a general labourer and was residing in Evington in the family home of his widowed father-in-law, Edward Seal, a shepherd, born 1848 in Thurnby, Leicestershire, together with his wife, Sarah Jane Brewin (nee Seal, married on the 21st November 1904 in St. Luke’s Church, Thurnby, Leicestershire), born 3rd October 1881 in Thurnby and baptised on the 20th November 1881 in St. Luke’s Church, Thurnby (daughter of Edward Seal and Fanny Bishop), and their children, Fanny, born 27th August 1905 and Harry, born 10th January 1908, both children were born in Old Evington. John’s widow Sarah remained unmarried and in 1939 was residing at 28, Main Street, Evington. John also had an older half-blood sibling, Prudence Ann King, born in the July quarter of 1870 in Barwell and older siblings William, born in the April quarter of 1874 in Thorpe Acre and baptised on the 19th July 1874 in All Saint’s Church, Thorpe Acre, who died in in the April quarter of 1888 and was interred on the 10th May in Evington cemetery, aged 14 and Ada Elizabeth, born 27th December 1875 in Thorpe Acre and baptised on the 11th August 1878 in St. Denys Church, Evington.
John’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he attested/enlisted in Leicester into the Leicestershire Regiment, and was allotted the service number 33350, on a date unknown, he then appears to have been transferred to the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment (Sherwood Foresters) and allotted the service number 80090, after which he was then transferred to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and allotted the service number 40142, he was subsequently posted as a Private to the 1st Battalion of this Regiment. As there is no information available in the public domain relating to his movements, it has to be assumed from the entries in the Medal Award Rolls, that he first entered the theatre of war in France after the 31st December 1915. Nothing further is known of his military service until he was officially recorded as having been admitted to the 87th Field Ambulance suffering from wounds received in action, where he subsequently died on the 24th April 1917, he was buried in the Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery, Arras in the Pas de Calais, France. John was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. On the 26th October 1917, John’s widow was awarded a weekly Army Pension of twenty-two shillings and eleven pence for herself and two children, to commence on the 5th November 1917.
The War Diary records: 24 Apr-17 – Firing Line MONCHY. Orders for general attack cancelled at 1.00 pm. Battalion to assault hill 0.2.d.8.5 at 4.00 pm. However, owing to Brigade runner losing his way, orders regarding change in time of barrage did not arrive until after the action. 2 Companies detailed (“W” and “X”) made the attack (unsupported by our artillery) with great gallantry, and were faced by very heavy shell, Machine Gun and rifle fire. After stubborn resistance they were compelled to fall back on our original front line leaving 1 officer (2nd Lieutenant BYRNE) and 19 other ranks killed, 5 officers (Lieutenant’s TOOTH, REILLY, BARRY, HEGARTY and ROGERS) and 55 other ranks wounded and 37 other ranks missing in no man’s land. Thus, owing to there being no artillery support the task allotted to the Battalion was unaccomplished.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Image provided by N Brewin, 23/08/22