Date of birth: 21/05/1898

Place of birth: Saint Mary's Church, Paignton, Devon, England, United Kingdom

Last known residence: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Profession: Clerk

Religion: Church of England

Country: Canada

Force: Canadian Expeditionary Force

Rank: Private

Service number: 204304

Enlistment date: 16/02/1916

Enlistment place: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Units:  —  Canadian Infantry, 15th Bn. (48th Highlanders)  (Last known unit)

Date of death: 08/11/1917

Place of death: Nile, Langemark, Belgium

Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.)

Age: 19

John William Distin was born in 1898 at St Mary's church, in Paignton, Devon, England. Sometime between 1901 and 1911, the Distin family moved to Maidenhead, Berkshire. His father, John, was a domestic gardener and his mother Elizabeth (Annie) worked in a shop. In March 1914, John William sailed for St John's New Brunswick Canada. He lied about his age and said he was 19 to get on board. Just under two years later, John enlisted in Saskatoon. He again lied about his age and said he was born in 1896. After his training, John was taken on by the 15th Battalion (48th Highlanders).

In November 1917, the 15th was deployed at Passchendaele. On the 6th when Canadian troops advanced towards the ruins of the infamous village, John's battalion was deployed as stretcher-bearers for the 1st Canadian Brigade. The next day, the 15th Battalion moved to the vicinity of the hamlet of 's Gravenstafel, just west of Passchendaele. John was killed on 8 November 1917, resting in his billet while his battalion was in support at the Passchendaele ridge. A shell hit the dugout and killed him instantly. He was buried at Nile House along with three of his comrades who all died between 6 and 9 November 1917.

No grave is known of all four and they are commemorated at the Menin Gate. John is also commemorated at the war memorial in Cookham Dean, near Pinkneys Green, where his parents lived.

Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG13). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used

Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used

Desiree Collings, Maidenhead Heritage Centre, personal communication, 8 February 2023. Sources used

Outwards Passenger Lists (The National Archives, Kew (TNA) BT27-121219). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used

Personnel Records of the First World War (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC) RG 150; Volume: Box 2532 - 51). Sources used

War diaries: 15th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4924, Microfilm reel number: T-10718, File number: 391). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used

War Graves Registers: Circumstances of Death (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG 150, 1992-93/314; Volume Number: 172). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used

War Graves Registry: Commonwealth War Graves (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC): RG150, 1992-1993/314, Box 39-244; Box: 63). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1591777

Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=c7104250-5e87-475c-927e-7f0df0b9bd0a

The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/1591777

Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5832238

15th Battalion CEF memorial project https://museum.48thhighlanders.ca/soldier/