John Walter Salmon was born in Ballarat East, Victoria, was single and a Station overseer when he enlisted in the Field Artillery Brigade 4, Battery 10 on 5 October 1915 at the age of 25. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire on 18 November 1915. He was appointed as Acting Bombardier in the field on 5 October 1916 and was æslightly wounded' in the field a month later. He was promoted to Bombardier on 26 December 1916.

He joined the Royal Artillery Cadet School at St John's Wood in England in April 1917, receiving a commission to 2nd Lieutenant on 7 September 1917 and on 27 September proceeded overseas to France. On 14 October 1918 he was admitted to 3rd Lindon General Hospital, having suffered a gunshot wound to the right arm. The wound proved severe enough to require amputation. On 6 July 1919 he returned to Australia aboard the Ceramic for medical discharge.

His brother, Wilfred Graham Salmon of the Royal Flying Corps also served. He was killed after discharge over a German raid in London on 7 July 1917. (Tree No. 717)
Tree No. 1764