Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Edward Bullock a shepherd, born 1853 in Bitchfield, Lincs., and his wife Mary Ann, born 1852 in Eaton, Leics. John William was born in 1889 in Bitchfield, Lincs., his siblings were, Florence, born 1891 and Frederick, born 1893, the latter two siblings were both born in Bitchfield, Lincs., Walter, born 1895 in Croxton Kerrial, Leics., and Kate, born 1900 in Harston, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at Main Street, Harston, Leics. In April 1911 John was employed as a farm labourer and was residing in the family home at Muston, Leics., together with his father, now a farm labourer, his mother and siblings, Walter and Kate. In the October, November, December quarter of 1912, John married Nellie Harby in the Grantham, Lincolnshire marriage registration district. In the April, May, June quarter of 1922, John’s widow Nellie married William E. Pinfold in the Grantham, Lincolnshire marriage registration district, and they resided at 2, Barker's Place, Hinckley, Leics. The War Diary for today records. Heavy artillery bombardment of enemy positions commencing at 5.00am and continuing until Zero hour (8.30pm) + 3 minutes. Coys begin to assemble in trenches in the CITE DU RIAUMENT at 5.00pm under orders of Lt Col TRIMBLE 5th Battn LEICESTERSHIRE REGT (2 Coys B and C) and Lt Col YOOL, 4th Battn LINCOLNSHIRE REGT (D Coy). The assembly was complete at 7.45pm and at 8.00pm the enemy barraged the position of assembly though fortunately little harm resulted. At 8.30pm the assault commenced under cover of heavy artillery. At Zero + 3 the field artillery put down a shrapnel barrage which crept forward on to HILL 65. On the right progress was good, troops reaching their objectives in ALMANAC TRENCH and B and C Coys under Captain G. ABELL (B) and Lt HYSLOP (C) commenced “mopping up”. They found a large number of enemy in FOSSE 3 where there were in buildings with many dugouts. These were dealt with, with bombs and mobile charges. Heavy casualties were inflicted upon the enemy and 2 officers – 12 other ranks taken prisoner. C Coy were greatly impeded by uncut wire which prevented them silencing a machine gun which was troublesome. The whole operation was a great success in that destruction was caused to enemy dugouts and casualties inflicted. On the left D Coy under Captain A. J. WAKERLEY “mopping up” for the 4th Battn LINCOLNSHIRE REGT met with more serious opposition in AHEAD TRENCH and suffered many casualties. Captain WAKERLEY being killed and 2nd Lt R. F. Wagstaff slightly wounded. The trenches were entered and many dugouts bombed and many casualties inflicted upon the enemy. The withdrawal commenced at 1.00am on the 9th June and all Coys were back in cellars by 3.00am. A Coy has specially training for wiring but was not called upon. 2nd Lt’s E. C. DOUDREY, J. DOUGLAS, D. T. SLOPER, J. A. PARKINSON were wounded and there were 70 other ranks killed or wounded.