Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James Barkby a Below Ground Coal Miner and Road Repairer, born 1857 in Griffydam, Leicestershire and his wife Mary, born 1865 in Thringstone, Leicestershire. John William was a Coal Miner and Pony Driver and was born in 1896 in Thringstone, Leicestershire, his siblings were Lewis, born 1889, James, born 1890, Frederick, born 1892, Joseph, born 1894, Jesse, born 1898, Johanna, born 1900, Mary, born 1903, Elizabeth, born 1904 and George, born 1907, all his siblings were born in Thringstone, Leicestershire. In April 1911 the family home was at Clay Lane, Peggs Green, Leicestershire. The War Diary for today records. At 12.30am our Medical Officer Captain BARTON was climbing on our parapet looking across no mans land to see if his help was needed there, when he turned and vaulted into the trench a rifle with bayonet fixed ramming into his right thigh. It is reported that towards the end of our bombardment last night one of our 18 pounders made a direct hit on a particularly troublesome Hun machine gun. We also located one of the large enemy mortars. The Brigadier General Commanding had his HQ’s in the trench during the raid. At 2.45am a sentry on our right Coy reported a man in our wire. Lance Corporal ARCHER and 2 men went out to investigate, the enemy heard this patrol and two of their bays at once opened fire. At this moment our 240mm, which had become jammed during the bombardment fired a solitary round which dropped amongst the firing Huns and must have considerably startled them. 2nd Lt MORRIS went to the Divisional Bombing School. The day passed very quietly. When daylight appeared that much damage had been done by our artillery and could clearly be seen. At 11.30pm in a shell hole not far from our trenches a patrol found the body of Private COBLEY, one of the raiding party. Private WRATH also one of the raiding party returned to the trenches uninjured at about the same time.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday September 15th, 1916

PEGG’S GREEN SOLDIER’S DEATH

The death is officially reported to have taken place on August 6th, of Private John William Barkby, of the Leicestershire Regiment, as the result of wounds received in action. He was 21 years of age, and was the son of Mr James Barkby, retired miner, of Lily Cottages, Pegg’s Green, near Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Before the war, he worked at the Coleorton Colliery, and resided with his parents. He enlisted in May, 1915, and had been about six months in France. A letter from a chaplain states that he has been buried in an English cemetery behind the firing line.

The deceased soldier was formerly a popular member of the Pegg’s Green Victoria Football Club, being their left half-back. It is interesting to note that members of this club have done splendidly for their King and country. Of the eleven which won the Coalville League cup the two seasons prior to the war. In addition to Barkby having lost his life, the captain, Harold Curtis and W. Bird are reported missing. Another player, Driver Hy. Challoner, of the R.F.A. has been “out there” since the commencement of the war, and Private W. Holt, R.A.M.C., and Private W. Wilton, are also serving – a total of six from the football team of eleven.

Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 15/10/2017