John was the youngest son of William and Catherine who lived in Downing Street, Farnham. He was born on 11th June 1900. After leaving school he worked in the office of Mr Preston an architect in South Street. There is also a record of him as an employee of the ‘Farnham United Breweries’. Before he enlisted he had become a King’s Scout with the 3rd Farnham Troop.

Soon after his 17th birthday, he joined the Navy as a Wireless Operator and did duty on H.M.S. Tessi and H.M.S. Duncan before being posted to H.M.S. Pembroke.

He contracted double pneumonia and died on 29th October 1918. Full Naval and Scout honours were accorded to him and his funeral was attended by a Scout Guard of Honour of Boy Scouts from Farnham, Aldershot, Badshot Lea, Wrecclesham, Elstead and Tilford. Mr C. R. Mansell, Captain and Chief Scoutmaster of the District and other Scoutmasters were present and his coffin was draped with the naval ensign and his Scout Hat and Bugle. His coffin was placed on a hand bier, the bearers being ‘old’ comrades of his Scout Troop. He is buried in the West Street Civil Cemetery, Farnham and has a Commonwealth War Grave headstone.

His brother, George Alexander Wallace served in the 9th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps during WW1 and also died in the conflict. He is buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium.