John Louis Deighton was the son of Louis and Emma (nee Sefton) Deighton of Mangorei Rd, New Plymouth. He had two sisters, Florence and Olive and was educated at New Plymouth Boy's High School. He was a good rugby player and played for the Star Rugby Football Club.
In 1941 at the age of 21 he joined 27th (Machine Gun) Battalion and was sent to Egypt. His regiment were one of the first to land in Sicily and fought from Alamein to Tunisia.
John's mother Emma died on 8 October 1942, while he was serving overseas.
In a story published on Auckland Museum's Online Cenotaph, an Italian man recounts a story told to him by his grandfather about meeting John when he was serving as a solider in the Italian town of Forli. The Italian, who was 14 at the time, brought John home several times, where John shared food that had been sent to him from home. The Italian family later learnt of John's death.
He was killed in action on 17 April 1945, just two weeks before the Armistice was signed, ending World War Two. John is buried at Faenza War Cemetery, Italy. He was 24.
Auckland Museum Online Cenotaph
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