Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John T. Bland a bricklayer, born 1858 in Newton Harcourt, Leics., and his wife Matilda, born 1857 in Fleckney, Leics. John William was born in 1883 in Fleckney, Leics., his siblings were George A., born 1886 and Maude E., born 1889, both siblings were born in Fleckney, Leics., in April 1891 the family home was at Dun Cow Yard, Main Street, Fleckney, Leics., in the Ecclesiastical Parish of St. Nicholas. In March 1901 John was employed as a bricklayer and was residing in the family home at Saddington Road, Fleckney, Leics., together with his remarried father, and step mother Edith, born 1874 in Fleckney, Leics., and his siblings George and Maude, and half brother Leonard, born 1899 and half sister Alice M., born 1901, the latter two siblings were both born in Fleckney, Leics. In April 1911 John was employed as a bricklayer and was residing in the family home at Kilby Road, Fleckney, Leics., together with his father, step mother and siblings, George, and half brother Leonard, and half sisters Alice and Gladys, born 1903 in Fleckney, Leics. The War Diary for today records. ARQUEVES. Church Parade 10.00am. Tile shooting competition won by 3 platoon, Transport 2nd. 2nd Lt. A. C. C. NUNN joined from Hospital (late 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT.).