Hi Barry,6th DLI was as you may know a territorial battallion which was recruited from Bishop Auckland
and the surrounding area,John's number would suggest(to me) he was a pre-war member if so would
have fought near Ypres in April 1915 where the battalion first saw action,they were spared the initial
month's of the Somme battle but the 151 brigade (6,8,9th DLI) fought near the end especially at the
Butte de Warlencourt,three original wartime crosses were brought back after the war recording this action
one has pride of place in Durham Cathedral inthe regimental chapel.
http://www.newmp.org.uk/article.php?categoryid=99&articleid=1291&displayorder=9