Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Eaton, a general labourer, born 1849 in Loughborough, Leicestershire and his wife Margaret Eaton, born 1861 in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire. John Henry, a schoolboy was born in the 4th quarter of 1883 in Guildford, Surrey, his siblings were, Edith Eveline, a schoolgirl, born in the 2nd quarter of 1883 in Portland, Dorset, Ellen, a schoolgirl, born in the 2nd quarter of 1885 and Ernest, born in the 2nd quarter of 1888, the latter two siblings were both born in Loughborough, in April 1891 the family home was at 7, H Court, Baxter Gate, Loughborough. In March 1901 John was employed as a boiler makers labourer, and was residing in the family home at 16, Factory Street, Loughborough, together with his father, an iron foundry labourer, his mother and siblings, Edith, a hosiery worker, Nellie, a hosiery worker and Ernest. On the 3rd August 1907, John married Elizabeth Baker in the Parish Church, Loughborough, officiant being, L. A. Fisher, Curate and witnessed by Henry Oliver and Annie White. In 1911, John’s wife Elizabeth, born 1887 in Loughborough, was employed as a mender, and was residing in the family home at 43, Pinfold Street, Loughborough, together with their children Edna May, born on the 10th June1908 and William, born 1910, both children were born in Loughborough, also residing in the family home were Elizabeth’s parents, James Baker, a retired blacksmith’s striker, born 1843 and Elizabeth, born 1847, both parents were born in Loughborough, and had been married for 45 years. John’s son William, died in the 3rd quarter of 1911 aged 1 year.
John attested into the Militia to serve an engagement of 6 years on the 7th April 1902 in Loughborough, Leicestershire. He gave his place of birth as Barracks, Guildford, Hampshire, his age as 18 years and 4 months and his trade or calling as striker, his employer being Mr. Cook of Loughborough, Leicestershire. He gave his home address as 16, Factory Street, Holy Trinity, Loughborough, Leicestershire. He stated that he was unmarried. He gave his father William Eaton, his mother Margaret Eaton, his brother, Ernest Eaton and sister’s Edith Eaton and Nellie Eaton, all of 16, Factory Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 6 inches in height, weighed 131 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 34½ and 37½ inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was brown and he had grey eyes. It was noted that he had a small mole on the back of his left wrist. He gave his religion as Wesleyan. He was pronounced fit for the Militia on the 8th April 1902 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 8202 on the 7/4/02. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and commenced 49 days drill training on the 7/4/02. Enlisted into the Regular Army (Leicestershire Regiment) on the 11/7/02. John attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement of 3 years with the Colours and 9 years in the Reserve on the 10th July 1902 in Loughborough, Leicestershire. He gave his place of birth as Barracks, Guildford, Hampshire, his age as 18 years and 7 months and his trade or calling as striker. He stated that he was unmarried. He confirmed that he was serving with the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment – Militia. He gave his father William Eaton, his mother Margaret Eaton, his brother, Ernest Eaton and sister’s Edith Eaton and Nellie Eaton, all of 16, Factory Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 6¼ inches in height, weighed 125 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 35 and 37½ inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was light brown and he had blue eyes. It was noted that he had a tattoo of a ballet girl on his right forearm. He gave his religion as Wesleyan. He was pronounced fit for the Army on the 11th July 1902 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 6427 on the 11/7/02. Commenced recruit training on the 11/7/02. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment stationed in Guernsey on the 26/11/02. Posted to Alderney on the 15/12/02. Granted Messing Allowance on the 16/12/02. Posted to Guernsey on the 4/7/03. Transferred to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and embarked for India on the 11/2/04. Posted to Bellary, India on the 20/3/04. Awarded the 3rd Class Army Certificate of Education on the 1/8/04. Transferred to Section “B” Army Reserve on the 8/4/05. Re-engaged Section “D” Army Reserve with effect from 10/7/14 on the 28/3/14. Mobilized on the 5/8/14. Posted to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 5/8/14. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force on the 8/9/14. Landed at St. Nazaire on the 10/9/14. Wounded in action and died, place not stated, on the 13/4/15. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 10/7/02 – 9/2/04, 1 year 215 days. India, 10/2/04 – 6/4/05, 1 year 56 days. Home Service, 7/4/05 – 8/9/14, 9 years 155 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 9/9/14 – 13/4/15, 217 days. Total service 12 years and 278 days. John was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory medals. John’s widow and one child were awarded a weekly pension of 15 shillings to commence on the 1st November 1915. John’s surviving service documents are in a very 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: 12 Apr-15 – RUE DU BOIS. Relieved EAST KENT REGIMENT in RUE DU BOIS.
The War Diary records: 13 Apr-15 – RUE DU BOIS. A good deal of grenade and rifle fire, 6 light Howitzer shells fired, 5 men wounded.
On Friday April 23rd 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” LOUGHBOROUGH SOLDIER KILLED. – Mrs. J. Eaton, who with her one child, lives at 43, Penfold Street, Loughborough, received official intimation on Monday, that her husband, Private J. Eaton of the 1st Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action “somewhere in France” on April 13th. Pte. Eaton who was 31 years of age, was a Reservist, and was employed at the Empress Works.
On Saturday April 24th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. Mrs. J. Eaton, who with her one child, lives at 43, Penfold Street, Loughborough, received official intimation on Monday, that her husband, Private J. Eaton of the 1st Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action “somewhere in France” on April 13th. Pte. Eaton who was 31 years of age, was a Reservist, and was employed at the Empress Works. On Tuesday morning Mrs. Eaton received the following letter from 2nd Lieut. S. B. Morgan, of D Company, 1st Leicestershire Regiment:- “I am very sorry to have to tell you that your husband was killed in action yesterday morning. He died without pain, and never regained consciousness after being hit. At the same time you have the consolation of knowing that he did his duty at all times as a good soldier, never doing anything unnecessarily rash, and yet always doing what was expected of him. I, as his platoon commander, wish to express my utmost sympathy with you on my own behalf, and also on behalf of the whole company. Should there be anything I could do for you I should only be too pleased if you would write to me.”
On Friday May 14th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR.” – LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT CASUALTIES.
The following casualties in the Leicestershire Regiment are reported from the Base, under date 25th April:-
DIED OF WOUNDS.
1st Battalion.
Eaton (6427), Private J. H., Johnson (10005), Private J. A.