When he enlisted in the Royal Naval Reserve on 17th August 1915 he was described as being 5 feet 4 inches tall with a dark complexion and blue eyes and his address was given as 118, Craigside Place, Blyth.

During his war service, up to his discharge in 1919, John served on many vessels and was obviously on board HMT Aboyne when the Harbour Commissioners' Roll of Honour was created. They named his ship "A. Boyne" but this should be "Aboyne".

John emigrated to Australia on board the SS "Ballarat" in December 1922 with his wife, Susannah and their two sons, William aged 12 and John aged 3 and the family settled in Mayfield, Victoria. John died in Newcastle, New South Wales in 1975.

John Richardson Tate is remembered in Blyth on B42.03