Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Henry Bullock a general labourer, born 1861 in Pontefract, Yorks., and his wife (Margaret) Margery A., born 1862 in Rawmarsh, Yorks. John was born in 1883 in Pontefract, Yorks., his siblings were, Charlotte, born 1885, Harry, born 1887, Thomas, born 1890 and Jane, born 1891, all his siblings were born in Pontefract, Yorks., in April 1891 the family home was at 8, Post Office Yard, Pontefract, Yorks. In March 1901 John was employed as a draper’s assistant and was residing in the family home at 9, Post Office Yard, Pontefract, Yorks., together with his father, now a pit top banks man, his mother and siblings, Charlotte, Harry, Tom, Laura, born 1891, Willie, born 1894, Lewis, born 1898 and Sarah A., born 1899, the latter four siblings were all born in Pontefract, Yorks. In April 1911 John was employed as a clothing shop assistant and was residing as a boarder at Belvoir Road, Coalville, Leics. The War Diary for today records. FONQUEVILLERS. At midnight the Battn was disposed thus for battle:- A Coy – Captain R. WARD-JACKSON and D Coy Captain THOMPSON were in dug outs and cellars in FONQUEVILLERS. Battn HQ’s, B and C Coy’s, Lewis guns, Bombers were in MIDLAND trench, an assembly trench running north and south 700 yards west of FONQUEVILLERS church. GOMMECOURT was to be attacked. The 46th Division was to advance in south east direction, the 56th Division in north east direction. The Park, the point of the salient was to be refused – the intention being to isolate the Park Garrison and to attack it from north east and south east at 3.00pm. The position had been shelled by artillery trench mortars for some days previously and smoke barriers had been formed. Much wire however was left – dug outs were not destroyed, and machine gun emplacements were free from damage. The village was flattened out and the trees bared and torn down. The 46th Division was disposed thus:- The NOTTINGHAM AND DERBY BRIGADE on the left – the STAFFORD BRIGADE on the right. The attack was to be in 8 waves. The 5th Battn LEICESTERSHIRE REGT formed a ninth wave behind the STAFFORDS. Of A Coy 2 platoons under 2nd Lt’s HEPWORTH and SALMON were to dig a communication trench from the SUCRERIE, a ruin in front of our line to the nearest point in the Hun first line. This work was actually started by Captain WARD-JACKSON who superintended until he was severely wounded and carried in by C.S.M. HILL. Artillery had fired all night on enemy’s approach lines. At 6.24am the bombardment of front lines began, at 7.30am the infantry advanced. The 56th Division reached the 3rd Hun line and took prisoners, but were driven back. They lost many by the fire from PUISEUX. A smoke barrier had been formed, but apparently this blew off at the time the 4th and 5th wave was starting across from the 46th Division. The Hun machine guns got into action and the attack of the 46th Division was held up at about 8.00am. The remainder of A and D Coy’s of the 5th Battn LEICESTERSHIRE REGT had been reorganised in carrying parties, ammunition, bombs, ROYAL ENGINEERS material, water. These parties started but were held up by lines in front which could not advance. B and C Coy’s with Lewis guns started at 7.30am with the advance, they were to have taken up position in our old front line, but again were held up by waves in front. A second attack was organised for 3.30pm, but it proved impractical. The recent heavy rains had made the trenches sticky, and the task of sorting the units proved impossible. At 3.50pm orders were given for the 5th Battn LEICESTERSHIRE REGT to hold our front line, and for the STAFFORDS to withdraw. This was done and the 5th Battn LEICESTERSHIRE REGT remained in the trenches that night. Casualties during the battle are given in Part II Battn Orders. They include 2nd Lt W. K. CALLARD, 1385 C.S.M. F. JOHNSON and 6 other men killed. Captain WARD-JACKSON, 2nd Lt’s G. RUSSELL and T. P. CREED wounded to hospital and 3 officers slightly wounded, returned to duty.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday July 14th, 1916

COALVILLE SOLDIER KILLED

News has been received that Private John Bullock, of the Leicestershire Regiment, has been killed in action. He was a single man, a native of Pontefract, but he had lived in Coalville for a good number of years, being formerly in the employ of Mr T. B. Pickworth, draper, etc., of Belvoir Road.

Coalville Times article - Friday July 21st, 1916

COALVILLE SOLDIER’S LAST LETTER

Mr S. Cart, of Whitwick, was in correspondence with Private J. Bullock, of the Leicestershire Regiment, whose death we reported last week, and the last letter received from him was soon after Easter.

Writing on Easter Wednesday, the deceased soldier stated: “Just a few lines to let you know that you are in the pink. I thought I would write a few lines as we are now out having a bit of a rest, which I think we deserve, as we have had a rough time of it with the weather, for it has been very cold and wet, in fact, we could hardly get about. But this Easter it’s been grand here. Well, old boy, I should like to see old Whitwick again and the old pals once more. If I have luck. I don’t think I shall be long now before I am getting a bit of leave, as I think it is about time. I hope it won’t be long before it is over, and we are all safe at home once more. If you send anything out, don’t forget the fags and matches, for they have been useful to us, and have been a great comfort to us this winter. I shall have to come and give you a start this time at football. I expect the ‘Half-way’ is still there.”

This refers to the Half-way House football ground, where the Coalville Half Holiday Football Club used to play. Bullock was one of the leading spirits of the team, and very popular with all the members. He was formerly employed by Mr T. B. Pickworth of Belvoir Road.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 14/10/2017