Captain, 1st/4th The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.
Died of wounds on Wednesday 23rd June 1915, age 33.
Buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, grave reference II.A.32.
Former student Law.
John was born on 11th April 1882 to John & Alice Whitfield of Chorley, Lancashire. He was educated at Sedbergh School (1895-01) where he took part in debating and was a prefect. He played cricket for the school, was a Rugby forward, and had a passion for running, particularly ten mile runs. John entered Manchester University in 1902 and left in 1907 with an L.L.B. He was articled to, and then employed as a solicitor, by Plant, Abbots and Plant of Preston. He was a member of the Preston cricket team and secretary and captain of Preston Grasshoppers Rugby Football Club, with whom he returned to Sedbergh to play against the school team.
John became a 2nd lieutenant in the territorial force in September 1908. By the outbreak of war he had attained the rank of captain. His battalion sailed from Folkstone to France on 3rd May 1915. At 6pm on 15th June 1915 ‘C’ company took part in an attack on the Rue d’Ouvert and within three minutes were in possession of the enemy trenches which they held until the next day. During this action John was wounded. He wrote home from No. 7 Stationary Hospital that he was only slightly wounded, but he later died.
John left £1023 17s. 16d. to his mother and a solicitor called Charlton Dunkerley.