Born in Netherbury when his family was living at "Furley", John Archibald was the firstborn son of another John. He had an older step-sister and four younger siblings by the time his elderly father died when he was aged just 12.

He got married to Lilian (AKA Lilia & Lila) Hayter in Peckham, South London on 12th April 1904 when they were both aged 25. She was born in Birmingham and had also lived in Lyndhurst, Hampshire. By 1901 she was living in New Inn St, Netherbury working as a cook. The entry in the Census is confusing but she was probably working for Edward R Tucker, a retired Miller, and his wife Mary at Paradise House.

By 1911 John & Lila were living in Netherbury with three children: Constance (6), Lilian (4) and Archibald (1). In the 1911 Census Summary Book his address is given as Netherbury Village School which is described as a "Private House" and the Census Schedule lists his occupation as "Gardener Domestic".

Three years later Britain was at war and John enlisted on 11th December 1915. However, he was then placed in the Army Reserve and wasn't mobilzed until 24th June 1918. He served in the Royal Army Medical Corps for a total of nine months with his Army Service record suggesting he was stationed at Bridport before being transferred to Blackpool, Cork in Ireland from where he was demobilzed.

He had no entries in the Regimental Conduct Sheet and his Medical History includes nothing except vacinations. His Service Record does include some descriptive details.

On Enlistment:

Address: Musk Cottage, Netherbury, Dorset
Trade or Calling: Sexton
Height: 5ft 9in
Chest girth (expanded): 38in
Range of expansion: 3in
Next-of-kin: Lilian Susan Pye - Wife

On Mobilization:

Trade or occupation: Clerk & Sexton Farmer & Gen. Carrier
Height 5ft 9½in
Weight: 161 lbs
Colour of hair: Brown
Complexion: ? (illegible)
Colour of eyes: Blue

His mother died in 1924 whereupon he inherited the house he'd lived in as a boy (now called Yew Tree Cottages) and which she'd occupied since 1885.

John died two years after his mother on 31st August, 1926 without having made a will.