John William Frederick Bond

A Private with the 6th Battalion, John died on 29th of September 1918 aged 38. 

John was born at Lowestoft on 4 August 1879, a son of John and Emma Mariah Bond. He was baptised at Christ Church on 28 March 1880. In 1881 his family lived at 5 South Arnold Street, and in 1891 at Walton Road which was still their residence in 1901 when John was an apprentice sailmaker.

On 14 December 1902 John married Annie Louisa Nunn. John was a sailmaker living at Walton Road and Annie lived at 205 Raglan Street. In 1911 they lived at 48 Salisbury Road and John was a sailmaker. Later Annie lived at 187 Raglan Street.

John enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft in June 1916. He joined the Royal Flying Corps, service number 30123. On 11 January 1918 he was compulsorily transferred to the 3rd Battalion Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), service number 29948. John was then transferred to the Border Regiment, service number 29612, and posted to the 8th Battalion in France, but it appears that when this battalion was disbanded in France in July 1918 John was transferred back to the Queen’s Own, service number G/31658, and posted to the 6th Battalion. 

On 29 September 1918 the 6th Battalion attacked Swallow Trench, east of Epehy. They encountered strong resistance and made little progress despite fighting throughout the day, but they renewed the attack the next day and took their objectives. John was one of six men killed, with 31 wounded and six missing.

John, Private Webb, and two unknown soldiers, were all buried at map reference 57C.X28.B.4.4. and after the war they were all reburied at Villers Hill.