John was the son of Richard and Alice Bennett of 53, Cross Lane, Newton-le-Willows, and the brother of Fred who was killed in action just before the end of the War. His other brothers were Richard, Alfred and Arthur and his sisters were Alice, Hannah, Eliza and Pollie.

John was apprenticed as a hairdresser to Mr. Edwards of Queen Street until he was 18 when he went to work at the Vulcan Foundry. He only joined up two months before his death. According to the NEG of July 13th 1917 he died in hospital in Cardiff “due to septic poisoning following an inoculation.” The NEG of a week later gave details of his funeral at Newton-le-Willows Cemetery with the Rector, Rev. E. B. Whitley, officiating. The many floral tributes included one from “the Wargrave Schoolchildren and the Infant School”.