Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John William Protheroe, a shoe trade finisher, born 1872 in Leicester and his wife Alice Protheroe (nee Johnson, married on the 31st March 1891 in the Parish Church, Anstey), a shoe trade machinist, born 28th August 1869 in Anstey, Leicestershire. John William was born in the 3rd quarter of 1895 in Anstey, his siblings were, Henry Edward, born 27th April 1891, Emma Elizabeth, born 1894, Joseph Wilfred, born 7th March 1898 and Herbert, born 7th September 1900, all his siblings were born in Anstey, in March 1901 the family home was at Anstey Green, Anstey. In April 1911 John was employed as a boot trade finisher and was residing in the family home at Church Lane, Anstey, together with his father, a boot trade finisher, his mother and siblings, Edward, a boot trade finisher, Emma, a boot trade machinist, Joseph, a shoe trade heel builder, Herbert a schoolboy and Henry Johnson, a schoolboy, born 21st March 1905 in Anstey. John also had another younger sibling, Ada Emily Johnson, born 9th April 1911 in Anstey. John’s parents later resided at Rosina Cottages, Edward Street, Anstey. John died in the 4th quarter of 1918 in the Lambeth, Surrey district, and was buried in Anstey Cemetery, on the 21st October 1918. John’s older brother, Henry Edward, fell in action on the 21st March 1918.
John enlisted into the Regular Army on the 21st August 1915 in Loughborough, and was allocated the service number 27190. He gave his age as 20 years and 22 days.
His medical examination recorded that he was 5 feet 8½ inches in height, had a chest measurement of between 31 and 34 inches, he had no distinctive marks, he gave his religion as Primitive Methodist.
He gave his next of kin as his father, John William Protheroe.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Joined. At Loughborough. 21/8/15.
Posted. To 10th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Details.
Joined. 10th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Private. 23/8/15.
Posted. To 10th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 11/9/15.
Transferred. To 15th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers. 14/11/15.
Appointed. Lance Corporal (Unpaid). 24/12/15.
Appointed. Lance Corporal (Paid). 25/1/16.
Transferred. To Depot. Northumberland Fusiliers. 15/3/16.
Posted. To 14th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers. 16/3/16.
Posted. To Depot. Northumberland Fusiliers. 6/7/16.
Posted. Attached 84th Training Reserve Bn. 6/10/16.
Posted. To 16th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers. 3/11/16.
Posted. Infantry Base Depot. -?-.
Posted. To 20th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers. -?-.
Posted. To Depot. Northumberland Fusiliers. 21/1/17.
Discharged. No longer physically fit for War Service under Para 392 (xvi) King’s Regulations. 7/3/17.
Summary of Service:
Home. 21/8/15 - 15/3/16. 207 Days.
France. 16/3/16 - 5/7/16. 112 Days.
Home. 6/7/16 - 2/11/16. 120 Days.
France. 3/11/16 - 20/1/17. 79 Days.
Home. 21/1/17 - 7/3/17. 46 Days.
Total Service 1 Years 199 Days.
John’s surviving service record amounts to a total of three pages, and these are in poor condition with much of the hand written information relating to his army service in some cases barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into the events that took place during his period of military service. During his service he had been twice seriously wounded the first time suffering a gunshot wound to his right hand. The second time and more seriously he suffered a gunshot wound to his back the consequence of this was that John was discharged on the 7th March 1917 as unfit for further War Service due to the effects of wounds under the King’s Regulations Paragraph 392 (xvi), and was awarded a Silver War Badge, No. 151855. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
On Wednesday February 7th 1917 The Leicester Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL CASUALTIES” – Mr and Mrs J. W. Protheroe, of Edward Street, Anstey, has had official notification that their son, Private J. W. Protheroe, Northumberland Fusiliers, is in King George’s Military Hospital, London, suffering from gunshot wounds in the back. Private Protheroe has been twice wounded. He has two brothers serving with the colours.
On Friday 20th December 1918 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “ANSTEY.” – Pensioned Soldier Commits Suicide. – A verdict of suicide whilst temporarily insane was recorded at a Lambeth inquest yesterday afternoon, on John William Prothero, aged 22, a pensioned soldier from the Northumberland Fusiliers, and a native of Anstey, who committed suicide in King George Military Hospital. – The evidence showed that Prothero was admitted to the hospital in January, 1917, having been shot through the spine. His case was said to be hopeless, paralysis having set in, in the lower part of the body. – Miss Emily Forder, a nurse, said that on Monday she found Prothero with a razor at his throat. She got it away from him, but it was too late as he had already injured himself. – John Mackay, coroner’s officer, stated that a soldier now away on furlough told him that Prothero borrowed the razor, remarking that he would like to give it to his father as a Christmas present.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday December 27th, 1918

A SAD CASE

ANSTEY SOLDIER’S SUICIDE

A verdict of suicide whilst temporarily insane was recorded at a Lambeth inquest on Thursday afternoon last, on John William Prothero, aged 22, a pensioned soldier from the Northumberland Fusiliers, and is a native of Anstey, who committed suicide in the King George Military Hospital. The evidence showed that Prothero was admitted to the hospital in January, 1917, having been shot through the spine. His case was said to be hopeless, paralysis having set in the lower part of the body. Miss Emily Forden, a nurse, said that on Monday she found Prothero with a razor at his throat. She got it away from him, but it was too late, as he had already injured himself.

John Mackay, Coroner’s officer, stated that a soldier now away on furlough, told him that Prothero borrowed the razor remarking that he would like to give it to his father as a Christmas present.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 12/7/2018