British War Medal; Allied Victory Medal

John was born in 1898 in Cropston, Leicestershire. His father, also called John, was born in 1872 and worked as a stoker in a stationary engine. His mother, called Emma was born in 1876 and they had eight children together.

It is not known when exactly where or when John joined the Army. When he did, he was given the service number of 3171 and placed into the 2/8th Battalion of the Manchester Regiment. This was a ‘second line’ Territorial battalion and first landed in France for active service in February 1917.

At some point John was transferred to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and given the service number of 204221.

Details of his later life are not known. He died on the 4th March 1925.

John’s medals were donated to the museum collections in 2016.