Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of David Pawlett, a slater, born 1857 on Oakham, Rutland, and his wife Emma Pawlett (nee Dexter, married in the 4th quarter of 1879 in the Uppingham, Rutland district), born 1857 in North Luffenham, Rutland. John Thomas was born on the 14th May 1887 in Oakham and was baptised on the 19th September 1898 in Hambleton, Rutland, his siblings were Frances Rachel, a schoolgirl, born 1880 and baptised on the 13th June 1880 in Oakham, Elizabeth Ann, a schoolgirl, born 1881 and baptised on the 1st January 1882 in Oakham and Ethel Esther, a schoolgirl, born 1883, the latter three siblings were all born in Oakham and Samuel, born in the 1st quarter of 1890 in Burley on the Hill, Rutland and was baptised on the 9th February 1890 in Burley on the Hill in April 1891 the family home was at Burley on the Hill. In March 1901 John was employed as a farm labourer and was residing in the family home at Hambleton, together with his father, a slater and plasterer, his mother, a domestic washer woman, and siblings, Samuel and Frederick, born 1891 in Burley on the Hill and baptised on the 11th October 1891 in Burley on the Hill. In 1905 John’s father died aged 48, he was buried in Hambleton on the 9th June 1905. In April 1911 John was employed as a farm labourer and was residing in the family home at Upper Hambleton, together with his widowed mother and sibling, Frederick a farm labourer. John Thomas was officially recorded at birth with the surname spelling of Pawlett, however the surname has variously been recorded as Paulette and Powlette. John was awarded the British War and Victory medals. His brother Samuel fell in action in July 1916.
The War Diary records: 5 Jul-17 - CAMBRIN TRENCHES. Weather very cold and frosty but otherwise fine. Trenches are consequently dry and no gum boots are required. Enemy quiet all day. Very little shelling or trench mortaring. At 6.00pm enemy raided our extreme right front line Lewis gun post. Enemy party apparently about six strong arrived with revolvers and cudgels crept close up to the post in the dark, rushed it, shot one sentry through the lung and made their escape taking the other sentry before the waiting men could come to the rescue. The Lewis gun was knocked over its parapet but not taken. This was again rendered possible by the entire absence of any wire round the post strong enough to be an obstacle. Search was made for the missing man and his helmet was found some yards from the post, but no trace could be found of him, so he is presumably a prisoner. Large wiring parties have been out along the front every night during this tour but unfortunately other posts had been considered more important than this one. 2nd Lieutenant BOARLAND rejoined the Battalion from Brigade Schools to replace 2nd Lieutenant WATHERSTON. Night cold and posts, trench boards very slippery indeed. One man of “A” Company shot through the neck and killed.