John 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 8 MacMurdo Road, Fulham, London S.W. - (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 the Sennelager prisoner of war camp in Germany. He was discharged on 17th February 1917 due to termination of engagement.