John was born on 7th October 1879 at Oldbury, Worcestershire and was the son of Joseph and Eliza Sephton.  He was a Carpenter by trade and joined the Sherwood Foresters on 28th November 1899 at the age of 20 years, on a 7/5 engagement.  John served in the Boer War with H Company, where he was wounded at Vlakfontein, South Africa on 29th May 1901.  

John was promoted to Lance Corporal on 31st October 1901 and then to Corporal on 11th September 1902.  Prior to the Great War, he served with the 1st Battalion in India where he rose to the rank of Colour Sergeant on 11th November 1908 and was reduced to Corporal on 1st July 1909 for a negligent act in shooting and killing a native with a miniature rifle.  He re-enlisted at Coventry on 11th December 1911 and transferred to the 3rd Battalion on 18th January 1916 with D Company.  

John returned to the 2nd Battalion serving as Regimental Sergeant Major in 1917.  He was Mentioned in Despatches on 31.5.1915 and was awarded the Military Cross (London Gazette 1.1.1919) for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty and was discharged on 31st March 1920.  

On 6th October 1920, he re-enlisted into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment where he served for a further 3 years before being discharged on 5th October 1923.  John died on 15th March 1956.