Little is known about John Gerard; Soldiers Died in the Great War record him having enlisted in the1/4th Somerset Light Infantry in Bath, which is where the unit was based. However at the outbreak of war, the Malvern News gave his home address as Belle Vue Terrace, Great Malvern.
The 1/4th Somersets were part of the Wessex Division at the beginning of the war. The division sailed from Southampton to Bombay on the 9th November 1914 where the formation was dissolved. In January 1916 the Somersets landed at Basra as part of the 37th Indian Brigade and took part in operations in Mesopotamia.
Malvern News 24/11/14
James, Brig E A British Regiments 1914 - 18 1993