Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Taylor, a granite quarry worker, born 1865 in Sileby, Leicestershire and his wife Sarah Ann Taylor (nee Smith, married on the 26th September 1886 in Christ Church, Mountsorrel, Leicestershire), born 1863 in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire. John Henry was born in the 1st quarter of 1895 in Mountsorrel, his siblings were, George Shadrach, a bricklayer’s labourer, born 1886, Rebecca, born 1888, Sarah Elizabeth, born 1892 and Margaret Maria, born 1896, all his siblings were born in Mountsorrel, also residing in the family home was John’s widowed maternal Grandfather Henry Smith, a general farm labourer, born 1823 in Seagrave, Leicestershire, in March 1901 the family home was at Main Street, Hill Side, Mountsorrel. In April 1911 John was employed as a shoe trade worker and was residing in the family home at North Street, Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire, together with his father, a granite quarry worker, his mother and siblings George, a gas stoker, Rebecca, an elastic web trade weaver and Margaret, a hosiery trade worker. John had previously served with the 1/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (Territorial’s) with whom he embarked to join the Bristish Expeditionary Force in France on the 27th February 1915, he was later transferred to the 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals.
The War Diary records: 22 Mar-18 - During the night the enemy rushed forward his field and heavy guns and in the early morning he opened an intense bombardment of the RED LINE, PEIZIERE and the YELLOW LINE, under a heavy barrage he attacked the RED LINE but was driven off. 10.00am. About this hour news was received that the enemy had captured ST. EMILIE and the southern edge of EPEHY and the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT had been ordered to form a defensive flank on the EPEHY – SAULCOURT ROAD, to combine with this and to cover the right rear of PEIZIERE a second defensive flank facing south was made with every available man from Battalion HQ between YELLOW SUPPORT LINE and CHAUFOURS WOOD. 11.00 am. As it was seen that the enemy were entering EPEHY in force from the south the two Tanks were ordered forward to check his advance and if possible clear EPEHY. The enemy retired on seeing their approach, and they report having inflicted heavy casualties. Unfortunately they were running short of petrol and as the engines required repairs they were unable to proceed further and attempting to withdraw to SAULCOURT both were knocked out. 12.00 noon. About this hour orders were received to withdraw the Battalion behind to BROWN LINE and concentrate at LONGAVENES. 12.15 pm. Orders were issued for the withdrawal, up to this hour Captain VANNER M.C. was still holding the RED LINE and driving off every attack made on it. After the withdrawal of his Company he waited to superintend the demolition of both bridges over the cutting. This was successfully carried out. The withdrawal of the Battalion and the extrication of the posts in PEIZIERE was a matter of some difficulty as by the time of the receipt of the order by the Companies the enemy was in occupation of EPEHY and firing in from the north. The withdrawal was made under heavy machine gun fire from the south east and north east and a considerable number of casualties were incurred during it. 3.30 pm. Battalion reorganised in valley just north of LONGAVESNES and received orders to march to AIZECOURT LE HAUT. 6.00 pm. Battalion arrived and went into camp. Men had a hot meal.
On Friday May 3rd 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “BARROW UPON SOAR.” – LOCAL SOLDIER MISSING. – Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, of North Street, Barrow, are notified that their eldest son, Private G. Taylor, is unaccounted for. No information has been obtained of the whereabouts of their youngest son, Private J. H. Taylor, who has been missing since March 21st.