Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Allen Walker Archer, a coal miner, born in the October quarter of 1866 in Desford, Leicestershire and baptised on the 12th May 1867 in St. Martin’s Church, Desford (son of Henry Archer, 1826-1877 and Fanny Walker, 1830-1905) and his wife Elizabeth Jane Archer (nee Tyler, married on the 27th October 1888 in St. Mark’s Church, Leicester), born on the 15th November 1869 in Devonport, Devonshire and baptised on the 20th November 1869 in the Church of St. James the Great, Devonport (daughter of John Tyler, 1840 and Mary Jane Higman, 1850). John Henry was born in the July quarter of 1894 in Desford and baptised on the 9th September 1894 in St. Martin’s Church, Desford, his siblings were Maud, born in the January quarter of 1891 and baptised on the 5th June 1892 in St. Martin’s Church, Desford, Clara Grant, born on the 19th April 1892 and baptised on the 5th June 1892 in St. Martin’s Church, Desford, Frederick Walker, born on the 19th May 1896 and baptised on the 2nd June 1901 in St. Martin’s Church, Desford, Minnie Maria, born on the 18th January 1898 and baptised on the 30th January 1898 in St. Martin’s Church, Desford, Henry, born on the 9th May 1899 and baptised on the 2nd June 1901 in St. Martin’s Church, Desford and Fanny, born on the 2nd April 1900 and baptised on the 2nd June 1901 in St. Martin’s Church, Desford, all his siblings were born in Desford, in March 1901 the family home was at the Bull Head Inn, Desford. In April 1911 John was employed as a pit boy and pony driver and was residing in the family home in Desford, together with his father, a collier, his mother and siblings, Frederick, a pit boy, Minnie, a schoolgirl, Henry, a schoolboy, Fanny, a schoolgirl, Sarah Ann Walker, a schoolgirl, born in the October quarter of 1902, Polly Elizabeth, a schoolgirl, born in the October quarter of 1905 and baptised on the 21st January 1906 in St. Martin’s Church, Desford, George Allan Walker, born on the 8th April 1908 and baptised on the 24th April 1908 in St. Martin’s Church, Desford and Hilda May, born in the October quarter of 1909, the latter four siblings were all born in Desford.
John’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Leicester into the Regular Army, date not known.
Joined. At Leicester, date not known.
Posted. To Leicestershire Regt. Pte., date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 9611.
Posted. To 1st Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte., date not known.
Arrived. At Southampton. 8/9/14.
Embarked. 8.00am from Southampton per R.M.T. Braemar Castle. 9/9/14.
Disembarked. 10.00pm St. Nazaire. 10/9/14.
Marched to Rest Camp. Grand Marais. 10/9/14.
Allotted to “A” Company. Date not known.
Killed in action. In the Field. 17/11/15.
Buried in La Brique Military Cemetery No.1, St. Jean-Les-Ypres, Belgium.
Inscription on headstone, “IN WAR HE DIED IN PEACE HE SLEEPS.”
Awarded the 1914 Star with Clasp & Rose, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, John nominated his mother Elizabeth as his sole legatee.
On the 14th April 1919, John’s father, Allen Archer of Hill Entry, Desford, Leicestershire was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of five shillings, commensurate on the 6th November 1918, after John’s father passed away on the 22nd October 1938, the pension was transferred to his mother, Elizabeth Archer, now residing at Main Street, Desford, Leicestershire.
The War Diary records: 17 Nov-15 - Germans active with shell fire. One shell nearly knocked out one of our Machine Guns, killed 2 and wounded 1 of the team. Casualties’ “A” Company 1 killed, 1 wounded. “B” Company 1 killed, 1 sick. “D” Company 1 wounded, 1 sick. Transferred to 71st Infantry Brigade, (6th Division), in place of 8th BEDFORDSHIRE REGIMENT (to 16th Infantry Brigade). (71st Infantry Brigade 1st SHERWOOD FORESTERS) (from 18th Infantry Brigade). 9th NORFOLK REGIMENT, 9th SUFFOLK REGIMENT). 1st EAST KENT REGIMENT relieved us, and we went forward to re-entrant between the WIELTJE and FORWARD COTTAGE salients. Distribution. “B” Company, ½ “D” Company front line. “C” Company and ½ “D” Company in X line and ST. JEAN DEFENCES. “A” Company CANAL BANK. Machine Guns to billets in POPERINGHE. We took over this time from 9th NORFOLK REGIMENT. Trenches fearfully wet and quite impassable in places. Communication trenches between X line and front line impassable.
On Thursday, December 9th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. – Leicestershire and the War. – THE ROLL OF HONOUR. – Pte. H. J. ARCHER (9611), A Company, Machine Gun Section, 1st Leicester Regiment, the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Archer, of Hill Entry, Desford, was killed in action on November 18. He was 21 years of age, and joined the army about two years before the outbreak of war.
[recognitum XXIII-X-MMXXII]

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday January 21st, 1916

DESFORD MAN KILLED

Mr A. Archer, of Hill Entry, Desford, whose son, Private J. W. Archer, of the 1st Leicesters, has been killed in action, has received a profoundly sympathetic letter from Lance-Corporal S. T. Newcombe, of the 1st Leicestershire Regiment, who has been wounded.

The Lance-Corporal states that Archer was in his section and speaking of how deceased was killed, he says, “They (the Germans) bombarded our trenches practically all day. About 2.15 in the afternoon of November 17th we were well concealed in the trench. A shell burst, and all that I can remember is hearing it burst, and being thrown along the trench. When I came to myself I found I was wounded in the right arm and hand. As soon as I could walk I went to see how the others were. All I could see was a heap of earth and sandbags. Jack’s head was first uncovered, but he was not dead. He was bleeding very heavily owing to a severe wound in the head. He was unconscious, and he remained so until he died.”

“But I am pleased to inform you,” continued the writer, in simple, yet touching words, “that he was a very good man, and never failed to do his duty. He was respected by all who came in contact with him – officers and men – and we miss his presence.”

Lance-Corporal Newcombe adds that he has just come out of hospital. He lost the use of his right hand for a time, but he is glad to say he feels the benefit of the operation he has undergone

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby, 11/10/2017