John enlisted on 25th October 1906. He was 18 years and 9 months old, and was a Plumber by trade. He embarked at Southampton on 5th November 1914 as part of the Regimental Medical Officer's team for the 45th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Then disembarking the next day at Harve, he entered the war in France on 6th November 1914. On 17th November 1916 he was admitted into No 36 Casualty Clearing Station, his symptoms were described at the time as "shell shock and P.U.O (Pryexia of unknown origin)", brought on by an explosion. He was evacuated the following day, via No 29 Ambulance Train, to No 12 General Hospital in Rouen. On 27th December 1916 he was evacuated to the UK via the hospital ship "St Patrick". From 29th December 1916 to 21st February 1917 he was a patient with the 2nd Western General Hospital, Manchester. His diagnosis was "shell shock and trench fever". On 26th March 1917 he was posted to serve in the UK with No 9 Coy. He was discharged from the army on 24th October 1919.