Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Bonser a shoe riveter, born 1858 in Leicester and his wife Elizabeth a shoe machinist, born 1859 in Coventry, Warwks. John William was born on the 2nd April 1892 in Anstey, Leics., his siblings were Elizabeth, born 1881, Florence, born 1833 and Kate, born 1886, the latter three siblings were all born in Leicester, Thomas, born 1890 and Eliza, born 1897 the latter two siblings were both born in Anstey, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at Albion Street, Anstey, Leics. In April 1911 John was serving as a Stoker 2nd Class, stationed aboard Prince George in Lyme Regis, Devonshire. In the October, November, December quarter of 1913 John married Jessie Peace in the Hinckley, Leics., registration district. His parents later moved to live in The Nook, Anstey, Leics. John enlisted into the Royal Navy to serve a 12 year engagement on the 19th July 1910 and was allocated the service number K/7761 in Portsmouth, Hants. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 3½ inches in height, had a chest measurement of 37¼ inches and had dark brown hair and blue eyes, his complexion was described as sallow. It was noted that he had a broken dagger and clasped hands tattooed on the back of his right forearm, and a snake and tree on his left forearm, he gave his trade or calling as a bootmaker’s apprentice. His record of service began when he joined HMS Victory II as a Stoker 2nd Class on 19/7/10 – 6/8/10. HMS Renown, 7/8/10 – 24/9/10. HMS Victory II, 25/9/10 – 8/11/10. HMS Prince George, 9/11/10 18/7/11, when he was promoted to Stoker 1st Class. HMS Prince George, 19/7/11 – 31/7/11. HMS New Zealand, 1/8/11 – 20/11/11. HMS Zealandia, 1/12/11 – 31/3/15, when he was promoted Acting Leading Stoker. HMS Zealandia, 1/4/15 – 30/9/15, when he was promoted to Leading Stoker. HMS Zealandia, 1/10/15 – 19/9/17. HMS Victory II, 20/9/17 – 18/12/17, when he was promoted to Acting Petty Officer. HMS Victory II, 19/12/17 – 21/12/17. HMS Wallington (Ariel), 28/12/17 – 30/6/18. HMS Leander (Ariel), 1/7/18 – 2/8/18, when he was killed in a mine explosion in the North Sea.