John, known as Wally, was the 25th enrolled student at Knox. He attended the School from 1924 to 1926. John was in the School’s first 1st XI Cricket team and 1st XV Rugby team. He also participated in Track and Field as a member of South House.
After school, John studied electrical work and later became an insurance inspector. He enlisted in the Merchant Navy as an engineer on the ‘Canberra’. He married Ethel Harvey in 1942.