Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Herbert Staples, a brickyard carter, born 1867 in Cossington, Leicestershire and his wife Eliza Staples (nee Betts, married in the 4th quarter of 1892 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district), born 1871 in Sileby, Leicestershire. John was born in the 2nd quarter of 1893 in Sileby, he had one sibling, a sister, Fanny, born 1897 in Sileby, in March 1901 the family home was at Barrow Road, Sileby. In April 1911 John was employed a a brick cutter, and was residing in the family home at Barrow Road, Sileby together with his father, a brickworks carter, his mother and siblings, Fanny, a shoe trade machinist, Laura, a schoolgirl, born 1904, Alice Ada, born 1908 and George, born 1910, the latter three siblings, were all born in Sileby.
John attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (Three years with the Colours.) on the 2nd September 1914 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Sileby, Leicester, his age as 21 years 180 days and his trade or calling as labourer. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father Herbert Staples and mother Eliza Staples of 67, Swan Street, Sileby, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 4¼ inches in height, weighed 112 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 33 and 35½ inches. His complexion was described as fair, his eyes were grey and he had light coloured hair. His physical development was described as good. 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 8/12029 on the 2/9/14. Posted to the 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 24/9/14. Killed in action by shrapnel, in the field on the 3/2/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 2/9/14 – 28/7/15, 330 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 29/7/15 – 3/2/16, 189 days. Total service 1 year 154 days. John was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory medals. The following information was provided by John’s mother Eliza Staples on the 7th July 1919, and was witnessed and signed by -?-, Vicar of Sileby, Sileby Vicarage, Loughborough on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, Herbert Staples of 67, Swan Street, Sileby. Mother of soldier, Eliza Staples of 67, Swan Street, Sileby. Full blood brothers of soldier, George Staples, age 10 of 67, Swan Street, Sileby. Henry Staples, age 8 of 67, Swan Street, Sileby. Full blood sisters of soldier, Fanny Staples, age 22 of 67, Swan Street, Sileby. Laura Staples, age 15 of 67, Swan Street, Sileby. Ada Staples, age 12 of 67, Swan Street, Sileby. 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: 3 Feb-16 - 300 men for work parties. “D” Company in morning did Company platoon arm saluting drill, and practised fixing of smoke helmets. “D” Company in afternoon marched off with band to Divisional theatre. Men of “C” Company not on work parties fired on the range under Lt. WARNER. The same men practised the same work as “B” Company did in the morning. No. 16 platoon received grenade instruction in the morning and the new band was playing in the courtyard near canteen. The enemy heavily shelled the village for about ½ an hour, all troops and civilian inhabitants were ordered to caverns and caves. One shell fell and exploded near gateway of courtyard killing and wounding, several other men killed and wounded in other parts of the village. 20 were killed and 13 wounded. 3 of the latter died on admittance to Field Ambulance. 9 of the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT were killed in all, and 2 officers and 6 other ranks wounded. 1 ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS officer was killed, 7 other ranks of the ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY and 1 ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY. One civilian inhabitant was killed and one wounded. The Divisional Commander arrived in the village from the trenches shortly after the bombardment had ceased. Most parts of the village including the FRENCH quarter was shelled.
On Friday February 11th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – SILEBY. – ANOTHER LOCAL SOLDIER KILLED. Another has been added to the large death roll of Sileby’s brave lads. On Monday news came to Mr. Staples, of Swan-street, Sileby, that his son, John Staples, 8th Leicesters, had been killed by the bursting of a shell. It is said that the unfortunate young fellow somewhere out in France, was outside a canteen listening to a band, when a shell came unexpectedly amongst a group of soldiers standing with him, he and many more being killed by the explosion. Much sympathy is felt for his parents and sister.