Born in Frodingham, Yorkshire in 1880 his family had moved south by 1891. In 1905 he married Daisy Ellen Boakes, the daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (nee Weeding) who lived at Wychwood Cottage, Hartfield Road, Cowden. In 1911 John and Daisy lived at Stone Cottage, Groombridge, his occupation was farm waggoner. As John's service number was G23, his age, and rank Lance Sergeant it would seem possible that he was a reservist with military experience who re-joined at the outbreak of war. The 6th Battalion Royal West Kent regiment was formed at Maidstone on 14th August 1914. They arrived in France on 1st June 1915 and took part in bitter fighting at Loos (1915), on the Somme (1916) and Cambrai (1917). At some point John was transferred to the Labour Corp, possibly after returning from a wound and deemed no longer fit for front line service. He was discharged to the reserves in July 1919. He died in Surrey in 1949.

John Henry McMaster

Possible reservist who fought in France

Thanks to Frank Wiltshire for this research