John Reid was born at Foulden in Berwickshire on 22 August 1887, the son of the Reverend John Reid. He joined the Royal Naval Reserve as a Probationary Midshipman on 14 September 1906. He was confirmed as a Midshipman on 14 September 1909 and was promoted to Acting Sub Lieutenant on 21 December 1910. He was confirmed as a Sub Lieutenant on 26 May 1913. On 3 November 1913 he was serving as the Fifth Mate in the Rotorua of the New Zealand Shipping Company.

John Reid was appointed to HMS EXCELLENT for Gunnery Course on 7 February 1914 and to HMS VERNON for Torpedo Course on 4 April 1914. This was followed by an appointment to HMS VICTORY on 6 June 1914 and, on 1 July 1914, he was appointed to the cruiser HMS ROXBURGH.

He was appointed to the HMS D8 as Navigating Officer on 22 November 1914. John Reid was promoted to Lieutenant on 10 June 1915. His next appointment was to HMS HEBE at Rosyth ‘for Special Service’ on 7 September 1916. He was appointed to the HMS K11 as Navigator to date 19 February 1917 and on 1 December 1918 he was appointed to the ex-German U-Boat UB-122.

He was ‘Gazetted’ for the award of his DSC on 20 February 1919. The Commodore (Submarines) Citation wrote:

“John Reid was one of the first RNR Officers to join submarines during the war. Since October 1914 he has served continuously in Overseas and Fleet Submarines against the enemy and is strongly recommended for long and arduous service”.

John Reid was appointed to HMS L55 as Navigating Officer on 12 May 1919. L55 was sent to the Baltic during the Russian Intervention in 1919. On 4 June 1919 L55 was sunk in action with Soviet Destroyers GAVRIL and AZARD (near Kronstadt in the Gulf of Finland) and was lost with all hands.

HMS L55 was, in August 1928, raised by the Russians. The bodies of the crew were recovered and were returned to UK. John Reid was the thirty-three-year-old husband of Irene Helen Reid of 50, Morpeth Mansions, London. He is buried in the Haslar Naval Cemetery in the L55 Grave.