John previously served in the R.A.M.C. Militia. He transferred to the regular army on 17th July 1906. He was 21 years old; was a Labourer by trade, and was living in Glasgow at the time. He entered the war in France on the 19th August 1914. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal "For gallantry and devotion in remaining in a small house in charge of two wounded men of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, and five very badly wounded Germans who it was impossible to remove. After giving all his rations and water from his water bottle to the wounded, he proceeded to the nearest outpost, under fire, in an endeavor to obtain more water for them." He was promoted to the rank of Corporal on 12th December 1914. On 17th July 1916 he was wounded with gas poisoning, and evacuated back to the UK on the 20th, being admitted into a hospital in Cork on 23rd. He was transferred to Class “W” Army Reserve on 14th January 1918, then discharged from the Army on 25th February 1919. John was the husband of Agnes Millar of 462 Crown Street, Glasgow.