John Henry Carless was born in Walsall, Staffordshire, on 11th November 1896 to John Thomas and Elizabeth.

During World War I, he applied repeatedly to join the army, but was turned down on four occasions, due to a "weak heart".

A subsequent application to join the Royal Navy was accepted, and he enlisted on 1 September 1915.

John was 21 years old, and serving as an Ordinary Seaman on HMS Caledon when, on 17th November 1917, British ships were engaging German forces in the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight, off Germany's north coast.

During the action, John took a fatal shrapnel wound to the stomach but kept loading his gun and encouraged his colleagues to do likewise. Once relieved, he collapsed and died. 

John was buried at sea the following day and his name is inscribed on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

A personal report from Commodore Walter Crown, written on November 21, 1917, concluded: “My feeling is, if the Vice-Admiral agrees, that his memory is worthy of the Victoria Cross, as he not only showed a very bright and memorable example but he also, whilst mortally wounded, continued to do effective work against the King’s enemies.”

In May 1918, John Carless was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross, the Citation reading: “For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. Although mortally wounded in the abdomen, he still went on serving the gun at which he was acting as rammer, lifting a projectile and helping to clear away the other casualties. He collapsed once but got up, tried again, and cheered on the new gun's crew. He then fell and died. He not only set a very inspiring and memorable example, but he also, whilst mortally wounded, continued to do effective work against the King's enemies.”

In June 1918, John's parents received his VC from King George V.

The commander of HMS Caledon, H.S. Harrison-Wallace, subsequently wrote to his parents: “He was a most gallant lad and very promising. We feel his loss on the ship very much and all send their sincere sympathy to you and his family in his loss... You will be very proud to have the satisfaction of knowing that he did his duty so bravely and gallantly, fighting his King and country's enemy – the finest death a man can have. I buried him at sea, and he had a very impressive funeral, attended by all his shipmates and the commander.”

The public raised money for the erection of a memorial and a bronze bust was mounted on a large plinth of Portland stone, outside Walsall Museum, and on 20 February 1920, it was unveiled by Admiral Sir Walter Cowan, whose flagship had been HMS Caledon.