John enlisted on 20th November 1914 into the 3rd East Lancashire Divisional Field Ambulance, Territorial Force, and was embodied into their 3rd line, reserve unit. He was 27 years and 10 months old, and was living at 7 Rectory Lane, Radcliffe at the time. He embarked at Southampton in 1st March 1917 with the 2/3rd East Lancashire Field Ambulance, then disembarking at Havre the next day, he entered the war in France on 2nd March 1917. John was admitted into No 46 Casualty Clearing Station with wounds to his left wrist on 12th March 1919. A court of inquiry was held on the 19th, which concluded that the wounds were self inflicted. He was the son of Thomas and Martha Ann Allen of Radcliffe, Manchester; and the husband of Hannah Allen of Hampstead Cottages, 4 New Lane, Burscough, Ormskirk.