Jack had been born within the parish of St Matthews C of E Church, Stockport. His parents, Henry & Elizabeth, lived at 16 Bakewell Street, Edgeley.

Jack's service number suggests that he had originally served with one of the Cheshire Regiment "service battalions", probably enlisting around early spring 1915. In the early years of the war, soldiers where given new numbers whenever they transferred between Battalions. This stopped in March 1917 and men retained their original numbers. It can be assumed, therefore, that it was after this date that Jack transferred to the 1/4^th Territorial Battalion.

He is recorded as having "died of wounds" in hospital at Rouen and, whilst it is not possible to be certain when these were received, the Battalion was in action only a few days before. Details of the fighting are here.