Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Robert Thomas Flanders, a domestic man servant, born 28th June 1866 in Clerkenwell, Middlesex and his wife Harriett Flanders (nee Cox, married on the 9th May 1887 in the Register Office, Chesterfield, Derbyshire), born 1866 in Cottesmore, Rutland. John Peer, was born on the 25th January 1895 in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, his siblings were, Robert, a shoe trade clicker, born 31st July 1887 in Newbold, Derbyshire, Emily, born 14th July 1890, Ann (Harriett), born 16th September 1893, William Cox, born 28th April 1896, Thomas, born 18th November 1897 and Charles Edward, born 22nd October 1899, the latter five siblings were all born in Wellingborough, in March 1901 the family home was at 124, Midland Road, Wellingborough. In April 1911 John was employed as a cycle maker’s apprentice, and was residing in the family home at Woodhouse Fields, Quorn, Leicestershire, together with his father, a domestic butler, his mother and siblings, William, a domestic house boy, Thomas, a schoolboy, Charles, a schoolboy, Florence Jane, born 23rd October 1901 in Wellingborough, Ethel Mary, born 17th February 1904 and Ellen May, born 17th May 1906, the latter two siblings were all born in Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire, and Amy, born 23rd May 1910 in Woodhouse, Leicestershire. His younger brother William was drowned in the River Tigris, whilst serving in Mesopotamia.
John attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (Three years with the Colours.) on the 1st September 1914 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, his age as 19 years and 220 days and his trade or calling as cycle maker. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He stated that he was serving an apprenticeship for 5 years, and that the indentures had been cancelled during the war. He gave his father Robert Flanders and mother Harriett Flanders of Beaconsfield Cottage, Quorn, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 7¾ inches in height, weighed 123 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 32½ and 34½ inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was brown and he had brown eyes, it was noted that he had a scar on his right wrist. His physical development was described as good. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army on the 1st September 1914 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 11595 on the 1/9/14. Posted to the 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment at Aldershot on the 24/9/14. Posted to Folkestone on the 28/2/15. Posted to Perham Down on the 8/4/15. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 28/7/15. Killed in action, in the field on the 25/9/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 1/9/14 – 28/7/15, 332 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 29/7/15 – 25/9/16, 1 year 59 days. Total service, 2 years 26 days. John was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by John’s mother Harriett Flanders on the 3rd May 1919, and was witnessed and signed by H. H. Rumsey, Clerk in Holy Orders of Quorn Vicarage, Loughborough on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, Robert Thomas Flanders of Beaconsfield Cottage, Quorn, Leicestershire. Mother of soldier, Harriett Flanders of Beaconsfield Cottage, Quorn, Leicestershire. Full blood brothers of soldier, Robert Flanders, age 31 of Beaconsfield Cottage, Quorn, Leicestershire. Thomas Flanders, age 21 of Beaconsfield Cottage, Quorn, Leicestershire. Charles Edward Flanders, age 19 of 33, William Street, Woolwich. Full blood sisters of soldier, Emily Flanders, age 28 of Beaconsfield Cottage, Quorn, Leicestershire. Ann Flanders, age 26 of 16, Stanhope Terrace, -?-. Florence Flanders, age 17 of Beaconsfield Cottage, Quorn, Leicestershire. Ethel May Flanders, age 15 of Beaconsfield Cottage, Quorn, Leicestershire. Ellen May Flanders, age 12 of Beaconsfield Cottage, Quorn, Leicestershire. Amy Flanders, age 9 of Beaconsfield Cottage, Quorn, Leicestershire. John’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 24-30 Sep-16 - East of TRONES WOOD. About 7.00pm on the 24th the Battalion marched up to take a position prior to making an attack the next day. Before they reached the position the enemy heavily shelled our men, several casualties resulting. At 12.30pm on the 25th the first attack was launched, the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT being in a position on the right of FLERS. The objective was the first German line, a distance of about 1000 yards from the trench from which the Battalion launched the attack. The attack was made in waves, each platoon forming a wave, and 2 waves going over at a time. The attack was launched with splendid heroism, the first objective was gained in about ¾ of an hour, the men then stopped a short time to consolidate their gain, and to allow the artillery barrage to lift. They then pressed on to their second objective which was the village of GUEDECOURT. By the time they reached the village their ranks were sadly thinner, by the tremendous artillery barrage the enemy put up, and by machine guns which wrought terrible havoc. Never the less with dauntless gallantry they pressed on reaching the village and engaging the enemy in hand to hand fighting, which took place all the night. In the morning the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT relieved the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT in the village, and the enemy were finally driven out. The 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT were brought back to the second line of trenches, where they were relieved by the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT on the 28th. They then went back to SWISS TRENCH where they remained until relieved on the night of October 1st.
On Friday October 20th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – QUORN CASUALTIES. – MR. AND MRS. FLANDERS SECOND LOSS. Private J. P. Flanders of the Leicester’s, according to private letters, has been killed in action. He was a son of Mr. R. Flanders, of Quorn (formerly in service with the late Colonel and Hon. Montagu Curzon, and then with Mrs. Arthur King at Gar-?-, Woodhouse). Mr. and Mrs. Flanders had three sons in the Army, and have now lost two, one having been drowned in the Tigris last year. Private Hollingworth (28), of the Leicester’s, a Quorn man who worked with his father in the market garden and nurseryman’s business, has been killed. He joined the colours eight months ago. Private S. Blackshaw, Durham Light Infantry, of Quorn, is dangerously wounded and in hospital. His brother was killed in the Gallipoli Peninsula. Private G. Bell, Private S. North, Sergt. Redhead and Private L. Brewin, all of the Leicester’s and belonging to Quorn are in hospital suffering from wounds.