Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Alice Augusta Warner. John was born in in the July quarter of 1880 in Newport, Shropshire and baptised as Augustus John on the 20th June 1883 in the Church of St. Nicholas, Newport. John’s mother was born in 1859.
In March 1901 John was employed as a groom and was residing as a servant at Normanton Hall, Thurlaston, Leicestershire,
In the July quarter of 1905, John married Ida Willett in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district. Ida was born on the 11th May 1878 in Anstey, Leicestershire (daughter of James Willett, 1851 and Catherine Davie, 1850).
In April 1911 John was employed as a domestic coachman and was residing in the family home at Leicester Road, Anstey, Leicestershire, together with his wife and children, Mary Alice, a schoolgirl, born on the 19th December 1905 and Austin Archibald, born on the 13th November 1908, both children were born in Anstey, also residing in the family home was his wife’s siblings, Tom Archer (Archie) Willett, a boot trade clicker, born on the 29th July 1885 and Emma Davie Willett, a boot trade stockroom worker, born on the 27th July 1888, both siblings were born in Anstey.
John’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Glen Parva, Leicestershire into the Territorial Force. Date not known.
Joined. At place and date not known.
Posted. To Royal Field/Horse Artillery. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 149792.
Transferred. To Durham Light Infantry. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 6401.
Posted. To 1/5th Bn. Durham Light Infantry. Pte. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France after the 31st December 1915.
Under the Army Council Instruction (A.C.I. 2414/1916), published on the 23rd December 1916, that promulgated a new numbering system for all Territorial Force units, John was allotted the regimental service number 200757.
Killed in action. In the Field. 23/4/17.
Body not recovered. Commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.
Awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, John nominated his wife Ida, as his sole legatee.
The War Diary records: 23 Apr-17 – Moved from NIGER trench to bank side East of the river at WANECOURT in support to the left Battalion – 4th YORKSHIRE REGIMENT at ZERO + 1.
“D” Company sent to reinforce the left flank of the 4th YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. An hour later “B” Company moved up to support the left at the SUNKEN ROAD. Heavy casualties.
11.30am the enemy counter-attacked at centre and left flank. The Battalion took up positions in front line trench.
The Battalion was in support to the 9th DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY in our counter-attack at 6.00pm and went as far as the SUNKEN ROAD.
The Battalion was relieved at night by the 8th DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY and moved back to the trench East of the HARP.
Casualties for Operations of April 23rd.
Killed. Officers 4. Other Ranks 23.
Wounded. Officers 3. Other Ranks 137.
Missing. Officers 1. Other Ranks 96.
Total 8 Officers. 256 Other Ranks.
Officers killed. Captain W. MARLEY, 2nd Lieutenant F. W. HEAP, 2nd Lieutenant H. R. HERRING.
Officers died of wounds. Lieutenant E. W. COULSON MAYNE.
Officers missing. 2nd Lieutenant PEREIRA.
Officers wounded. 2nd Lieutenant C. D. MARLEY, 2nd Lieutenant R. J. STOCKDALE.
2nd Lieutenant E. W. WEEKS, (Shell Shock).
24 Apr-17 – Moved from near the HARP to billets at ARRAS after being relieved by the 9th RIFLE BRIGADE.
On the 17th November 1917, John’s widow Ida, of Little Glen, near Blaby, Leicester was awarded a weekly Army Dependants Pension of twenty-two shillings and eleven pence, for herself and her two children, commensurate on the 26th November 1917.
[recognitum XXIV-XI-MMXXII]