Colin Boyd has provided the following:
John was born on 30th October 1894 and was working as a miner living with his parents, John and Minnie at 18, Buxton Road, Benfieldside, Blackhill when he enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers on 3rd September 1914.
He transferred to the RNVR on 10th September 1914 and joined the Anson Battalion on 13th November 1914 and served until 8th May 1915 when he was hospitalised with Rheumatism.
John rejoined the Anson Battalion on 31st January 1916 and was invalided to the UK on 13th November 1916 suffering from Pyrexia.
After rejoining the Anson Battalion in France on 24th March 1917 John went sick again on 2nd November 1917.
He rejoined the Battalion again on 29th November 1917 and was hospitalised again on 9th January 1918 with an injury to the right knee.
John rejoined the Anson Battalion yet again on 2nd April 1918 and after a couple of weeks detached to Brigade HQ he died from the effects of a gun shot wound to the right side at 29th Casualty Clearing Station.
