Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Gimson, a carpenter, born 1856 in Loughborough, Leicestershire and his wife Sarah Ann Gimson (nee Cook, married in the 1st quarter of 1877 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district), born 1855 in Loughborough. John Henry was born in the 3rd quarter of 1879 in Loughborough, in April 1881 the family home was at 17, Mills Yard, Loughborough. In April 1891 John was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at Court A, Ashby Square, Loughborough, together with his father, a joiner, his mother and siblings, Ethel, a schoolgirl, born 1881, William, a schoolboy, born 1884, Emily, a schoolgirl, born 1885 and Sophia, born 1888, all his siblings were born in Loughborough. In April 1911 John was absent from the family home at 79, Ashby Road, Loughborough, residing there was his father, an unemployed joiner, his mother and siblings, Emma, a hosiery trade folder, Samuel, a hosiery trade linker, born 1894, Elizabeth, a hosiery trade runner on, born 1896 and Albert, a schoolboy, born 1899, the latter three siblings were all born in Loughborough, John’s parents latterly resided at 31, Hastings Street, Loughborough, John was employed as a stone mason’s labourer and was residing in the family home at 2 Court B, Sparrow Hill, Loughborough, together with his wife Alice Gimson (nee Pickering, married in the 2nd quarter of 1901 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district), born 1877 in Loughborough and their children, John, a schoolboy, born 1900, Charlotte, a schoolgirl, born 1905, Alice, a schoolgirl, born 1906 and Ivy, born 1908, all their children were born in Loughborough. His widow latterly resided at 4, Dog and Gun Yard, Loughborough.
The War Diary records: 5-6 Oct-17 - RAILWAY DUG OUTS, ZILLEBEKE. At 6.00pm on the 5th October the 8th/9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT moved from SCOTTISH WOOD CAMP to RAILWAY DUG OUTS on the north side of the railway embankment in I.21.d. (Reference ZILLEBEKE 1/10000). The 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT were in dug outs on the west side of ZILLEBEKE LAKE and the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT in support at CLAPHAM JUNCTION.