John was born in Charleville, Co. Cork, the eldest of at least seven children of David John (a farmer) and Mary Foley of Newtown, Ballyhea, Charleville.
He was educated at Dublin University and Sunderland Teacher Training College (1911 to 1913).
He married Mona Emily Hunting in October 1915 and later lived at 3 Belle Vue Crescent, Tunstall Road, Sunderland, Co. Durham. They had a daughter, Joan, born in 1916.
Prior to the war he was employed in the education department of London County Council as a teacher at Addison Gardens School.
He enlisted as Private 1672, 7th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry in 1914 and received his commission on 2nd January 1915, he was then promoted to lieutenant on 1st March. He went to France early in 1916 and received a promotion to captain on 1st June.
Captain John Foley, 25th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers died on 1st July 1916, aged 29, during fighting near La Boisselle.
A letter written by a private in France indicated that John, although wounded in the thigh and ankle, gallantly led on his men until he was fatally shot through the right lung.
He is also commemorated on the plaque in Sunderland University.
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