Lance Corporeal John Bend was born in Staveley, Derbyshire and was the son of Alfred and Mary Anna Bend. He was a miner by trade. He enlisted on the 23rd August 1914 and joined the 1st Battalion on the 23rd December 1914 and served with “A” Coy. He arrived in France on the 17th December 1914.  

Whilst serving in France, he received a gun shot wound to the right foot and left ankle on the 1st September 1916 and was transferred to Class W on the 29th January 1917. 

He later transferred to the 2/5th Battalion on the 13th July 1917 and was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on the 6th October 1917. He was awarded 1 Good Conduct Badge on the 25th August 1917.  

On the 7th December 1917, John was sadly killed in Action during German shelling of the trenches near Trescault, France. He is buried in an isolated grave about 30 yards West of the road from Trescault to  Harlincourt, Gouzeaucourt.