Gunner John Henry Machin was the son of John Thomas Machin and Lucy Machin, and husband of Edith Minnie Machin, of Lichfield, Staffordshire. He served with E Troop Headquarters, in 4th Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery, Royal Artillery.Gunner Machin took part in D-Day landings to Normandy on 5-6 June 1944. He flew to Normandy as a gliderborne passenger onboard a Horsa glider, Chalk Number 99. The glider was shot down near to the coast, off Le Havre. Gnr Machin drowned, and his body later washed ashore, where it was recovered by German Forces.

Gunner Machin died on 6 June 1944, aged 26 years old. He is now buried in Banneville-La-Campagne War Cemetery, near Caen, Normandy.