Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of J. T. Walpole. He was a gardener and a member of the Territorial Force, having joined in May 1914. He embarked for France on the 25th February 1915, and took part in the terrific fighting for the Hohenzollern Redoubt. He was killed by a bullet. His Commanding Officer wrote:- “He was always ready to do anything wanted of him. He died the death of a true soldier, and his devotion to duty was splendid.” His parents also received a touching letter of sympathy from the members of the Northwick Lodge of Oddfellows, of which John was a member. The War Diary for today records. At 6.00am Battn in place in RESERVE trench. At 12.00 noon bombardment of enemy trench FOSSE 8 commenced. At 1.00pm smoke and gas turned on until 1.50pm. At 2.00pm assault. 5th Battn LINCOLNSHIRE REGT and 4th Battn LEICESTERSHIRE REGT advanced in lines of platoon at 50 paces distance against HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. 4th Battn LINCOLNSHIRE REGT attacked from 2nd line followed by the MONMOUTHSHIRE REGT. REDOUBT captured but lines checked and stopped by machine gun fire from MAD POINT, MADAGASCAR, and SOUTH FACE, also heavy rifle fire FOSSE and DUMP TRENCH. First two lines as almost all Coy officers became casualties. REDOUBT and half of NORTH FACE was held – LITTLE WILLIE and BIG WILLIE still in enemy hands. At 3.00pm B Coy sent up to reinforce centre and left of REDOUBT followed by A and part of D Coy’s. Machine guns in position along original front line now held by C Coy and parts of other regiments. Considerable progress made along LITTLE WILLIE by grenade party under Lt C. H. F. WOLLASTON. Ground lost again owing to lack of grenades. At 5.30pm ground now held consisted of front face of REDOUBT and up to LITTLE WILLIE and point 60. Remainder of REDOUBT untenable by either side. 138th Brigade relieved gradually by 139th Brigade. 138th Brigade hold original front line trench. Many of A and B Coy’s still remained in the REDOUBT during the whole of next day.