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The information displayed here is at the time of death.
John was born in Sheffield in 1896, the only son of John and Florence Brewis' five children. At the outbreak of the war, John had just completed his first year of study at Armstrong College, where he studied Medicine.
John was commissioned into the Durham Light Infantry as A Second Lieutenant in 1914, and in May 1915 was sent to serve in France. After sixteen months at the front, during which time he was promoted to Lieutenant, John joined the Royal Flying Corps, and acted as an observing officer for six months with 40 Squadron. In 1917 John finally qualified as a Flying Officer, and was one of several British pilots who, on 24th April 1917, attacked an enemy aircraft, forcing it to land, with the resulting capture of two prisoners.
On the 29th April 1917, John was shot down and initially reported as being captured. It was reported in September 1917 that John had in fact been killed in his crash on the 29th April 1917, aged 22 years old.
John is commemorated at Arras Flying Services Memorial
John is remembered on a plaque in St Nicholas' Church, Gosforth.
Newcastle University Archives (Roll of Service, College of Medicine Calendars, Medical Gazette, 1916-17, vol. 17, p. 71).
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Ben Howson
Jake Wall