Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Hardy Cawrey an agricultural labourer, born 1852 in Woodhouse Eaves, Leics., and his wife Sarah, born 1848 in Ticknall, Derbys. John was born in 1877 in Quorndon, Leics., his siblings were, Alice, born 1872 and Sarah A., born 1874, the latter two siblings were both born in Quorndon, Leics., and Eliza, born 1880 in Woodhouse, Leics., in April 1881 the family home was at Woodhouse Fields, Woodhouse, Leics. In April 1891 John was employed as a gardener and was residing in the family home at Meeting Street, Quorndon, Leics., together with his widowed father and siblings, Alice, Sarah, Mary, born 1876 in Quorndon, Leics., Albert E., born 1883 and William, born 1885, the latter two siblings were both born in Woodhouse, Leics., Annie, born 1887 and George, born1889, the latter two siblings were both born in Quorndon, Leics. In March 1901 John was employed as a bricklayer’s labourer and was residing in the family home at the Cottage, Meeting Street, Quorndon, Leics., together with his widowed father and brother Albert. In April 1911 John was employed as a bricklayer’s labourer and was residing in the family home at Meeting Street, Quorn, Leics., together with his widowed father. The War Diary entry for the 30th October 1917 records. TRENCHES. Intermittent shelling during the day, much quieter at night. Hostile aeroplanes again very active, continually flying low and using machine guns.