Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Robert Bishop a Shoe Rivetter, born 1868 in Mountsorrel, Leics., and his wife Harriet, born 1869 in Mountsorrel, Leics. John Thomas was born in 1892 in Mountsorrel, Leics., his siblings were Florence, born 1887, William, born 1889, Robert, born 1891 and Langham, born 1894, the latter four siblings were all born in Mountsorrel, Leics., Harriet, born 1897 and Elizabeth Ann, born 1901, the latter two siblings were both born in Anstey, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at Cropston Road, Anstey, Leics., in the Ecclesiastical Parish of Anstey, St. Mary. In April 1911 John was employed as a Boot Clicker, and was residing in the family home at Cropston Road, Anstey, Leics., together with his parents and siblings, Robert, Langham, Harriet, Elizabeth and Walter Leaton, born 1905 in Anstey, Leics. His younger brother Langham also fell in action. His enlistment documents show that he attested in Leicester on the 2nd December 1915 into the Leicestershire Regiment, he gave his place of residence as 48, St. Marks Street, Leicester, his age as 23 years and 9 months, his trade or calling as Shoe Hand, he stated that he was married and that he had served as a Private in the 4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment for 4 years and was time expired. He gave his next of kin as his wife, Beatrice Mary Bishop. Particulars of his marriage were that he married on the 23rd February 1914 in Leicester, his wife being Beatrice Mary Cheney, a spinster. They had a daughter Emily Elizabeth who was born on the 5th February 1915 in Leicester. Information taken from his medical examination shows him to have been 5 foot 6¼ inches in height, weighed 124 pounds and had a chest measurement of between 32 and 34 inches. His service record shows that he attested on the 8th December 1915 and was immediately placed on the Army Reserve. He was mobilised on the 7th April 1916 and posted to the Leicestershire Regiment Depot in Leicester with the service number 27693 on the 10th April 1916. He was transferred to the 10th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment in Rugeley, Staffordshire with the service number 24198 on the 12th April 1916. Posted to the 3rd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment in Earsdon, Northumberland on the 27th August 1916. Embarked from Folkestone on the 5th September 1916. Disembarked in Boulogne, France on the 5th September 1916. Posted to the 7th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment at Beaumaris on the 6th September 1916. Transferred to the 7/5th Battalion South Lancashire Regiment, “C” Company, in the field, with the service number 31212, on the 22nd September 1916. He was killed in action in France on the 8th November 1916.