Photograph of John by kind permission of Mr Barrie Wild
(L to R) 1914-15 Star; British War Medal; Allied Victory Medal
We don't know anything about John's early life or family.
The First World War broke out in August 1914 and John joined the Army soon afterwards. He enlisted in the Manchester Regiment and was given the service number 3319. After training he was sent to France on the 4th May 1915.
Shortly after this John will have joined a frontline unit. He did not leave the Manchester Regiment during this period, but unfortunately we don't know which battalion he joined. This means it is impossible to say where he served.
In mid 1917 John was transferred to the Labour Corps and given the service number 269436. This tells us he was no longer fit or healthy enough to serve as an infantryman in the front lines. We don't know if he had been wounded or fallen ill.
Units of the Labour Corps carried out a wide variety of unglamorous but essential jobs, including construction, trench digging, moving supplies and guarding Prisoners of War. We don't know which of these jobs John had.
John survived the war. He was demobilised out of the Army on the 7th February 1919. The rest of his life remains a mystery. His medals were donated to the Museum of the Manchester Regiment in January 2011.
