John Chatt Napier was the son of Ships Mate, George Napier, and his wife Hannah.

He joined Westoe Secondary School in August, 1905, at the age of 12. At the age of 16 he became a Pupil-Teacher, and left Westoe in 1911 to continue in teaching.

He initially joined the Durham Light Infantry, and then the Northumberland Fusiliers, with whom he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in March, 1917.

He was killed on 29-Oct-1918, and is buried at the Cretinier Cemetery at Wattrelos, just outside of Lille, France, and next to the Belgian border.