Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James Atkins a Boot and Shoe Maker, born 1833 in Measham, Leicestershire and his wife Louisa, born 1843 in , Coton in the Elms, Derbyshire. John was born in 1877 in Measham, Leicestershire, his siblings were William, born 1860, Erye, born 1871 and Fraces, born 1880, all his siblings were born in Measham, Leicestershire. In April 1891 the family home was at High Street, Measham, Leicestershire. In April 1911 John was employed as a Miner Hewer, and was living with his wife Sarah Elizabeth, born 1880 in Measham, Leicesterahire and their children, James William, born 1906, John Leslie, born 1908 and Muriel, born 1911, all the children were born in Measham, Leicestershire, the family home was at Bosworth Road, Measham, Leicestershire. John's wife remarried becoming Sarah Elizabeth Coffey and resided with her husband at at Fernleigh, Bosworth Road, Measham, Leics. John was gassed, he had also served in the South African Campaign.