John entered the war in France on 19th August 1914 with No 1 Casualty Clearing Station. He was serving on the hospital ship "Galika" when the ship was sunk by a mine explosion near the Havre at 6 a.m. on 28th September 1916. He was the son of William and Ann Rolfe; and the husband of Alice Mary Rolfe of 45 Palmerston Road, Southfields, London.