John Sieber was the oldest son of German couple, John Frederick and Barbara Sieber, born in South Shields. His father was a pork butcher, and they lived in Mile End Road.

John left the High School in 1913 to attend Armstrong College, where he was when the war broke out.

He joined the Durham Officer Training Corps and, having been awarded his commission as 2nd Lieutenant, served with the 6th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment.

He was wounded in action, and died in hospital of his wounds about 3 weeks later on 4-Oct-1919.

He is buried in the Wimereux Communal Cemetery in Pas de Calais, France.