Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Edward Fenwick, a plasterer’s labourer, born 1869 in Gibraltar Steps, Lincoln, and his wife Timna Fenwick (nee Heawood), born in the 2nd quarter of 1868 in Pingle Street, Leicester, and who was the daughter of Thomas N., and Timna Heawood of Leicester. John William was a schoolboy and was born in the 4th quarter of 1892 in Leicester, his siblings were, George, a schoolboy, born 1890 in Leicester, Thomas, a schoolboy, born 1895 in Glenfield, Leicestershire and Bertie, born 1899 in Oadby, Leicestershire, also residing with the family was his widowed paternal grandfather, John Fenwick, a general farm labourer, born 1846 in Enderby, Lincolnshire, in March 1901 the family home was at Glen Road, Oadby. In April 1911 John William was employed as a farm labourer and was residing as a servant at Twyford, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, his father a bricklayer and his mother continued to reside in the family home at Gorse Lane, Oadby, together with his siblings, Thomas, a shoe trade finisher, Bertie, a schoolboy, Arthur, born 1903 and Frank, born 1906, the latter two siblings were both born in Oadby.
On Saturday March 20th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “THE WAR.” – OADBY MAN WOUNDED. Mr. G. Harris, of 17, Norfolk Street, Leicester, has received a letter from his nephew, Pte. Wm. Fenwick, 2nd Leicesters, who was in the Wrest Park Hospital, Ampthill, Beds., suffering from a wound in the left shoulder. Private Harris, (sic) whose parents live in Stretton Lane, Glenn Road, Oadby, says:- “I think I can say I shot a few Germans before they shot me. I received the hamper in the trenches. The troops all got round me when it came. It took six of them to bring it, and they say they were shot at while doing so.”
The 10th April 1917 edition of the Leicester Mercury published the following under the heading, “IN MEMORIAM.” FENWICK – In loving memory of Pte. J. W. Fenwick, 2nd Leicester Regiment, died April 10th at Persian Gulf, the dearly loved son of Mr. And Mrs. Fenwick, of Stretton Lane, Oadby. Only a private soldier, only a mother’s son. Who marched away so bravely. His head so proudly held. His footsteps never faltered. His courage never failed. He fought and died for Britain. In the honour of his race. – From his loving Mother and Father and Brothers, and Aunt Annie.