John enlisted on 10th August 1899. He was 24 years and 2 months old, and was a Clerk by trade. He saw active service in South Africa from 24th November 1899 to 2nd January 1803, and served in Cairo, Egypt from 24th September 1904 to 29th November 1910. During this time he was appointed the rank of Lance-Corporal on 6th December 1907, then gained promotion to the ranks of Serjeant on 1st April 1909. He entered the war in France on 16th August 1914 with the 4th Field Ambulance. His name appears on a list of R.A.M.C. personnel who were taken captive up to & including 31st December 1914. His address was given as 34 Grosvenor Place, Aberdeen - (kindly provided by Steve Mattocks). In the early hours of 26th August, the 4th Field Ambulance were ordered to go to Landrecies to treat and evacuate the wounded. A couple of hours after entering the town the Germans arrived, and John became one of 219 of the rank and file of the R.A.M.C. to be held captive there. He was taken to Germany entering Sennelager POW camp on 2nd September 1914. He returned to England on 29th June 1915. On 21st July 1915 he embarked to serve with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. He joined No 54 Casualty Clearing Station for duty on 18th October 1915 at Suvla Bay. On 1st January 1916 they disembarked at Alexandria from Suvla. He was promoted to the rank of Staff Serjeant on 26th October 1916. On 27th November 1916 he was posted to serve at No 2 Prisoner of War Hospital in Mustapha, then he joined the 147th Field Ambulance for duty on 4th July 1917. On this day was appointed acting Serjeant Major. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When in charge of bearer sub-division, his officer having been temporarily withdrawn, he worked unceasingly day and night, getting wounded away over difficult ground and constantly exposed to heavy fire. He has consistently displayed great bravery and disregard of personal danger and has set a magnificent example of devotion to duty." He was discharged on termination of his second period of engagement on 29th August 1920.