John Richard John, coal miner, oldest son of Thomas and late Rachel John of 2 Penmain Villas, Penmaen, served in the 1st Battalion South Wales Borderers, part of the 1st Division.

In early May 1916 the battalion moved to Philosophe, a village between Bethune and Lens, Artois, France. On the night of 7 September and the afternoon of 8 September, his company, 'D' Company, were making a new front trench at the nearby village of Vermelles.

On the afternoon of 8 September, a hot sunny day, the work was hindered by German machine guns resulting in a few casualties. Lance Corporal J R John (13208) was killed in action 8 September 1916, aged 23.

He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, a memorial to those with no known grave who fell in the Somme Sector. Tragically, his younger brother William would also fall in France just two months later.