Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Thomas Sturgess, a framework knitter, born 1863 in Fleckney, Leicestershire and his wife Sarah Perkins Sturgess (nee Deacon, married in the 4th quarter of 1883 in the Market Harborough, Leicestershire district), born 1862 in Fleckney. John William was born in the 1st quarter of 1898 in Fleckney, his siblings were, James, a framework knitter, born 1885, Harold Deacon, a hosiery trade winder, born 1888 and Rose Ellen, born 1901, all his siblings were born in Fleckney, in March 1901 the family home was at Saddington Road, Gladstone Street, Fleckney. In the 1st quarter of 1903 in the Market Harborough, Leicestershire district, John’s father died aged 40. In the 3rd quarter of 1906 in the Market Harborough, Leicestershire district John’s mother died age 44. In April 1911 John was residing at Glen Road, Fleckney, this being the family home of his married brother Harold Sturgess, a hosiery trade worker and his wife Miriam Vinctta Sturgess (nee Grant, married in the 3rd quarter of 1908 in the Market Harborough, Leicestershire district), a framework knitter, born 1877 in Fleckney and their daughter Phyllis Dorothy, born 1911 in Fleckney.