Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Barsby a tailor, born in the 4th quarter of 1858 in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire and his wife Ellen Barsby (nee Gosling, married on the 19th September 1881 in St. John the Evangelist Church, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire), born on the 14th December 1857 in Mansfield and baptised on the 5th August 1868 in St. John the Evangelist Church, Mansfield. John Ernest was born in the 2nd quarter of 1895 in Loughborough, Leicestershire and was baptised on the 8th June 1896 in All Saint’s Church, Loughborough, his siblings were Beatrice Eleanor, a tailoress, born on the 8th November 1882 and baptised on the 25th December 1882 in the Parish Church, Derby, Frances Edith Rose, a school teacher, born on the 20th July 1884, Ethel Mary, a shirt machinist, born 1886, Jane Gurnel, born on the 3rd December 1889 and Marion May born in the 2nd quarter of 1891 and baptised on the 13th August 1891 in the Parish Church, Derby, the latter five siblings were all born in Derby, William Donald, born in the 2nd quarter of 1893, Eric Graham, born in the 2nd quarter of 1897 and baptised on the 6th July 1897 in All Saint’s Church, Loughborough and Gladys Dorothy, born on the 20th April 1899 and baptised on the 2nd July 1899 in All Saint’s Church, Loughborough, the latter three siblings were all born in Loughborough, in March 1901 the family home was at 18, Havelock Street, Loughborough. John’s father died on the 3rd July 1904 in Loughborough, aged 45. In April 1911 John was employed as a pattern fitter and was residing in the family home at 22, Havelock Street, Loughborough, together with his widowed mother and siblings, Frances, an elementary school teacher, Ethel, Jane, an elementary school teacher, Marion, a hosiery trade worker, William, a stores clerk, Eric, an office boy and Cyril Vernon, born on the 15th March 1902 in Loughborough. John had an older sibling, Gertrude Agnes who was born in the 2nd quarter of 1888 in Derby and was baptised on the 29th April 1888 in the Parish Church, Derby and who died in the 2nd quarter of 1890 in Derby, aged two. John’s younger brother Eric, was killed in action on the 24th December 1917.
John enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 26th August 1914 in Loughborough, and was allotted the service number 10401. He gave his place of birth as St. Peter’s, Loughborough and age as 19 years 6 months. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as fitter.
His medical examination took place in Loughborough on the 25th August 1914 and recorded his apparent age as 19 years 6 months, that he was 5 feet 6 inches in height, weighed 116 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 31½ and 33½ inches, his complexion was described as sallow, he had grey brown, normal eyes and his hair colour was dark brown, his physical development was described as normal. The following distinctive marks were noted, small mole on abdomen. He gave his religion as Church of England
He gave his next of kin as his mother, Ellen Barsby, 25, Howard Street, Loughborough, brothers, Donald, Vernon, sister, Beatrice Fox, -?- Edmonds.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Joined. At Leicester. 27/8/14.
Posted. Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 27/8/14.
Posted. 6th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 29/8/14.
Killed in action. Place not stated. In the Field. 10/9/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 26/8/14 – 28/7/15. 337 days.
Expeditionary Force, France. 29/7/15 – 10/9/15. 44 days.
Total Service. 1 year 16 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
John’s surviving service record amounts to a total of twelve pages, of which only six pages relate directly to his military service, and these are in extremely poor condition with much of the hand written information in some cases barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into some of the events that took place during his period of military service.
The War Diary records: 8-10 Sep-15 - BERLES AU BOIS, PAS DE CALAIS. During the night’s 8th/9th and 9th/10th the ROYAL ENGINEERS assisted by a working party of 11th ROYAL WARWICKSHIRE REGT dug some new communication trenches behind our lines.
On Saturday September 18th, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Private JOHN ERNEST BARSBY, of the 6th Leicestershire Regiment, whose home is at 25, Howard-street, Loughborough, was killed on Sept. 10, being shot by a sniper while on sentry duty. Deceased was 20 years of age, and was formerly at the Empress Works, Loughborough.