John, born on 13th April 1892 at Timperley, was the youngest of three sons of Edward James (a Cotton Merchant) and Annie Newton Riley of Ashton-on-Mersey. He was privately educated at home and was a keen sportsman playing cricket and tennis at the Brooklands Club.

John volunteered at the outbreak of war, but was rejected owing to a slight physical defect. After several attempts to join the army he was accepted to the University Officer Training Corps in July 1915 and obtaining a commission in November of the same year. He was first reported as killed in late July 1916, but in September he was classed as missing and wounded. Both his brothers were also serving in the army and were also injured during 1916.