John was born on 14 January 1920 in Witton, Birmingham to Alfred and Dora Rose nee Stone. The family were Christian and John had one younger sister Edna. Their father worked as a stoker at the steel works. John attended a local school before becoming an apprentice at the General Electric Company. He enlisted in 1941 and whilst training in Canada he met Helen Rudie who was Jewish. He converted to Judaism and they were married at the Shaare Zion Synagogue, Montreal on 22 February 1943. Helen travelled from Canada in 1944 to be with her husband arriving only six months before he was killed.

John was an air gunner on Lancaster LM626 which departed from RAF East Kirkby on a night operation to Munchen. The aircraft was shot down and crashed near Bourgtherould, Normandy killing all eight crew. John’s body was not found and he is commemorated on Runnymede Memorial.

Pilot, Noel Somervell Culpan, RNZAF 427019, buried St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen.

Pilot, Alfred Victor Donkin, 182009, buried St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen.

W/Op/AG, Thomas Jackson, 1072879, commemorated on Runnymede Memorial.

Nav, Henry Noel Trevor Medrington, 153446, commemorated on Runnymede Memorial.

F/E, Donald Maurice Pearce, 1603564, commemorated on Runnymede Memorial.

A/G, Edward George Rawley, 1235510, buried St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen.

A/B, Brian Edward Wright, 153605, commemorated on Runnymede Memorial.