John George Jepson was born in 1896 at Codnor Park, Ironville, son of George Jepson a coal hewer and his wife Elizabeth Jepson. John's parents produced nine children but John and a younger sister were the only two that survived to adulthood. John enlisted at Eastwood, Notts, attesting at Derby on 12th December 1915 aged 19 years and 4 months. Being in a reserved occupation he was not called up for service until 25th April 1918. He served in France for only for only 68 days before his untimely death on the Sunday 20th October 1918, aged 22 years, just three weeks before the Armistice.
Jacksdale Heritage Group JACHs