Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joseph Souter (Sowter) Oswin, a coal merchant’s labourer, born on the 8th November 1859 in Syston, Leicestershire and baptised on the 27th November 1859 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston (son of William Oswin and Mary Souter) and his wife Sarah Jane (Ann) Oswin (nee Preston, married on the 14th April 1879 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston), born on the 7th March 1860 in Syston and baptised on the 8th April 1860 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston (daughter of John Berridge Preston and Alice Smith). John William was born in the January quarter of 1892 and baptised on the 13th July 1892 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, his siblings were, Mary Ann, a Griswold knitter, born in the July quarter of 1879 and baptised on the 6th July 1879 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, Joseph Ernest, an iron trade moulder, born on the 28th August 1881 and baptised on the 24th August 1881 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, Maude Agnes (Alice), a Griswold knitter, born in the October quarter of 1883 and baptised on the 29th October 1883 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, Ada, a wool trade spinner, born on the 14th September 1887 and baptised on the 9th November 1887 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, Gertrude Eliza, born on the 5th October 1889 and baptised on the 14th February 1890 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, Selina Emma, born on the 30th March 1894 and baptised on the 19th April 1894 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, George Edward, born in the April quarter of 1896 and baptised on the 20th May 1896 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, Mildred Ellen, born on the 28th March 1898 and baptised on the 1st June 1898 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston and Herbert Arthur, born in the April quarter of 1900 and baptised on the 9th May 1900 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, all his siblings were born in Syston, in March 1901 the family home was at Brookside, Syston. In April 1911 John was employed as a hosiery trade counter man and was residing in the family home at Brookside, Syston together with his father, a coal carter, his mother and siblings, Ada, a stocking trade mender, Gertrude, a stocking trade mender, Selina, a shoe trade machinist, George, Mildred, Herbert, a schoolboy and Alfred Harry, a schoolboy, born on the 14th January 1904 in Syston and baptised on the 27th February 1904 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston. John’s younger brother, George Edward was killed in action on the 13th October 1915.
John’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted in Leicester into the Leicestershire Regiment, and was allotted the service number 20297, and posted as a Private to that Regiment’s Depot for training, subsequently being posted to the 7th (Service) Battalion. It is unknown when John first entered the theatre of war in France, however as he was not recorded on the medal rolls for the 1914-15 Star, it must be assumed that it was at some time after the 31st December 1915. Nothing further is known of his military service until he was reported to have died on the 6th October 1917 from the effects of gas poisoning while serving with the 7th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment. He was buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery in France. John was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
John’s mother had been awarded a weekly Army Pension of five shillings in respect of her youngest son George, to commence on the 21st November 1916, this was increased to eleven shillings commensurate on the 9th May 1919 in respect of both brothers.
On Friday November 16th 1917 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT NEWS.” – SYSTON. – LOCAL SOLDIER’S DEATH. – Pte. J. William Oswin (25), Leicestershire Regiment, who died of shell gas poisoning on October 6th, was a former choir boy at Syston parish church. His brother George was killed in action some time ago.