John Barton was born in 1881, the son of Ralph and Margaret Barton. In the 1881 census the family are living in Sunniside, Billy Row. John has an elder sister Mary A, age 12, and four brothers, Richard, 7, James, 6, Peter, 4, and William, 2. There is also a niece, Mary A Young, age 16. John's father, Ralph, was born in Blackburn, Lancashire and his mother Margaret in Durham.

1901 census John is an Elementary School Teacher living at South Bank, Normanby.

John then moved to teach at Brafferton School and is named on the bronze War Memorial Plaque now in Brafferton Village Hall.

November 11, 1915 William is travelling on the White Star Line ship "Adriatic" from New York to Liverpool. He is a teacher. His address is 2, Rosedale Terrace, Willington, Co. Durham. With John were his wife Elizabeth and son Aubrey R, age 9 and daughter Mary J. age 2.

John served first of all as Private 11216, Royal Fusiliers and then as Private 50879, C Coy, 8th Bn., Royal Fusiliers, (City of London).

John was killed in action November 2, 1916, and is remembered with honour at the Dainville Communal Cemetery, western outskirts of Arras, Grave A.7. John was 35 when he died.