John entered the war in France on 20th August 1914 with 9th Field Ambulance. He became a prisoner of war between then and 31st December 1914. John was on board the Hired Transport "Transylvania", when it was proceeding to Egypt with reinforcements, and was sunk by a torpedo by the German U-boat U-63 off Cape Vado, a few kilometres south of Savona. His next-of-kin was his brother, Mr Thomas Smith, Address unknown. He was the son of the late William Grieve.