John William Fry was the fifth child of Frederick Fry & Mary Ann Waters born at Grove Court, Maidstone, Kent & christened May 26th, 1886 at All Saints, Maidstone.
In 1891 John & his parents & siblings were living at 18 Chillington St, Maidstone.
By 1901 the family had moved to 13 Cage Lane, Chatham, Kent.
John was still living at home with his widowed father in the 1911 census, now 26 Bush St, Chatham & he was working as a telegraph wireman. Later, in July 1911, John emigrated to Quebec, Canada on the Laurentic. He was a described as a wireman, aged 24.
On May 25th, 1914 John crossed the border from Canada to Vermont, USA, his final destination was Detroit Michigan. He gave his last permanent address as 15 Church St, St. John, Ontario. He confirmed that his father was Frederick Fry living in Chatham. He had taken Canadian nationality at this time. His occupation was given as lineman. It was noted on the manifest that he first came to Quebec in July 1906.