John Richard Hotchkies was born in April 1899 in Granville, New South Wales. He represented the Granville district juniors on their tour top Queensland in 1914 and played for the Rechabites U18 team in 1915.
He enlisted at the age of 19 in 1918 and while he embarked his troopship was recalled and he returned to Australia in December 1918. He returned to the club, playing a number of games. He married Jeannie Strachan in 1924 and died on 5 October 1936 in North Sydney, New South Wales, at the age of 37.
His brother Andrew, three years his senior was killed in action.