John Bond was born in January 1879 in Hixon, Colwich, Stafford, Staffordshire, and was baptised on 23 February 1879 at St Peter's Anglican Church in Hixon, Staffordshire. He was the youngest of eight children born to Joseph Bond, a farm labourer (1838–1917), and Ann, née Bentley (1843–1882). Joseph and Ann married at St George's in Darlaston (near Wednesbury), Staffordshire, England, on 22 March 1863.

The 1871 Census shows Joseph, still working as a farm labourer, and Ann living in Hixon, Staffordshire, with five children: Mary Ann (1864), Thomas (1866), Joseph (1868), Charles (1870) and George (1871).

The 1881 Census shows two-year-old John living with his parents and four older brothers: Charles (1870), George (1871), Francis (1874) and Henry (1876). Strangely, no address is given; the entry simply states "not in Hixon," as it does for all entries on this Census for this area of Hixon.

The 1891 Census shows John, aged 12 and a scholar, living in Hixon with his widowed father, Joseph, and his grandparents, Thomas and Jane Bond. 

John Bond married Edith Heele at the Sneyd Holy Trinity Church in Staffordshire on the 11th of December 1898, when he was 20 years old. Their daughter, Violet Bond, was born in Hixon, Staffordshire, but was baptised at St John the Baptist's Church, Burslem, on the 15th of October 1899. Records show Violet died aged 5 in 1905. Furthermore, birth records list the mother's maiden name as Hale. Two other daughters were born to Edith (Hale) and John: Edith (born 1900 in Wolstanton, died 1900) and Bertha (born 1903 in Wolstanton, died 1904). 

While no details for John Bond were found in the 1901 Census, his wife, Edith Bond, and their baby daughter, Violet, can be found living at 4 Bycars, Burslem. They were residing with Annie Badderly, a 75-year-old widowed charwoman born in Kidsgrove, Staffordshire, alongside a lodger named Charles Slack, a 50-year-old widowed worker. Edith's birth name is a little confusing, as there are no records of an "Edith Heele" being born in Burslem. Her relationship to Annie Badderly is stated as "adopted daughter" in the 1901 Census. With an age difference of 53 years, it is thought Annie may have been her grandmother. However, working back through the 1891 and 1881 censuses, an Edith was living with John and Anne Baddley on the same road where Anne and Edith were in 1901. Her surname was Baddley, and she had the same date and place of birth (1879 in Burslem). In 1881, an Ada Hale was living with the couple as a "nurse child," a term used for a child living either as a foster child or through a paid arrangement for carers. Looking through the birth registry for an Ada Hale born in 1879 in Burslem, the match found was Ada Slater Heel, which ties into the given name "Heele" on the marriage details. "Ada" was also a name crossed out on John Bond's service records, where "Edith Heele" was written instead. It seems Mrs Edith Bond was the adopted daughter of the Baddley couple but kept her surname of Heel. Census documents are notorious for misspelling names, so dropping and adding the "e" to Heel is highly likely. 

John and Edith had only one surviving child, George, born on the 12th of March 1906, with his mother's maiden name recorded as Badderly. He is seen in the 1911 Census aged 3, living with his parents at 24 Wain Street, Burslem. John (aged 32) is employed as an Oven Labourer at an earthenware works. Living with them is Joseph, John's widowed father, as well as three boarders: William Simpson (aged 22, oven labourer at an earthenware works), Albert Simpson (aged 18, general labourer at a lead house earthenware works), and Adeline Simpson (aged 12, schoolchild). Adeline is classed as adopted in relation to the head of the household.

John Bond had served with the North Staffordshire Regiment before WW1 as Private 4852. He had enlisted on the 13th November 1895 when he declared his age as 18 with an occupation of Farm Labourer. We know he was born in 1879, so his actual age would have been 16. His next of kin is given as Joseph Bond of Hixon, Staffordshire.

He is described as being 5'5 ", 116 lbs, fresh complexion, grey eyes, brown hair with a cast measurement/expansion of 32.5” - 34”. 

He was posted to the North Staffordshire Depot, where he deserted on the 3rd January 1896 but rejoined on 14th January 1896. Whether willingly or having been detained by the authorities is not mentioned. 

He was sent for trial on the 23rd January 1896, where he was convicted of desertion and awarded 6 months' detention. John then escaped confinement from the guardroom. He was soon returned and tried by District Court Martial on the 13th February 1896. He was held in confinement until 6th May 1896, when he returned to duty. He forfeited all his time in confinement from his total military service. 

He was posted to the 2nd battalion North Staffordshire Regiment on the 22nd August 1896, where he again found himself subject to military discipline. This time he stood trial by District Court Martial on the 4th November 1896 for stealing property belonging to another soldier. He was found guilty and sentenced to a further 6 months' imprisonment.

On the 27th November 1896, he was dishonourably discharged when his conduct was recorded as Very Bad.

John Bond enlisted again with the North Staffordshire Regiment on the 6th January 1915, at which time he was 35 Years of age, 5’7” tall, 138lbs, 38” chest with 2.5” expansion, with blue-grey eyes and dark brown hair. His given age at this time reflects his true date of birth.

His Army pension papers indicate that he was married to Edith Bond and had one child, George Bond, living at 16 Elgrave Street, Burslem, and employed as a Collier.

John entered France on the 28th July 1915 and was reported missing, presumed dead on the 25th February 1917 whilst engaged in the Loos area of France. 

An account of his death exists in the form of a board of inquiry into the explosion and collapse of the Wrexham tunnel, which tells us that the 173rd Tunnelling Company had formed a communication tunnel to link British and French troops.

Charges had been placed within the tunnel (to be blown in the event of infiltration by enemy troops). The tunnel entrance on the British side was permanently guarded to prevent anyone from entering without proper authority.

On the 25th February 1917, 16201 L/CPL White of the East Lancashire Regiment reported seeing a stretcher bearer, Pte Bond of the 9th North Staffordshire Regiment, at the entrance of the tunnel before the explosion. He did not see him afterwards. The board of enquiry did not determine who was responsible but did state that wires had been cleanly cut and that an electric discharge had detonated the charges. It names 2 dead, 2 wounded (found 5 days later), and 1 soldier missing presumed dead, this being 16332 Pte Bond, North Staffordshire Regiment. 

A widow's pension was awarded to Edith Bond on the 26th October 1917, now living at 6 Caulston Street off Scotia Road, Burslem.

He was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal. 

John's body was never recovered, and he is commemorated on the LOOS memorial panel 103-105 (CWGC). And he is remembered on the Royal Doulton Burslem Memorial. 

Source Citation 

Baptism record. : Staffordshire Anglican Parish Registers. Stafford, Staffordshire, England: Indexes created from Anglican Parish Registers held at Staffordshire Record Office.

Staffordshire County Council; Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire, England; Indexes of Births, Marriages and Deaths for the County of Staffordshire; Reference Number: Col/10/368 

1881 Census Class: RG11; Piece: 2691; Folio: 63; Page: 23; GSU roll: 1341645

1881 census Ada Hale Class: RG11; Piece: 2715; Folio: 141; Page: 14; GSU roll: 1341651. 

1891 census Edith Badderly The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 2162; Folio: 83; Page: 34; GSU roll: 6097272. 

1891 census: The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 2141; Folio: 48; Page: 16; GSU roll: 6097251

1901 Census Edith Bond : Class: RG13; Piece: 2594; Folio: 5; Page: 1

1911 Census: The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911. 

Marriage records: Indexes created from Anglican Parish Registers held at Staffordshire Record Office; Stafford, Staffordshire, England. 

Violet Bond Baptism: Indexes created from Anglican Parish Registers held at Staffordshire Record Office; Stafford, Staffordshire, England. 

Pre war service, Fold3, UK, Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Service Records, 1760-1925 (https://www.fold3.com/publication/972/uk-royal-hospital-chelsea-pensioner-service-records-1760-1925: accessed 15 Oct 2025), database and images, https://www.fold3.com/publication/972/uk-royal-hospital-chelsea-pensioner-service-records-1760-1925

Pension card, Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 025/0092/Bon-Bon.

WW1 Service records, The National Archives; London, England, UK; War Office: Soldiers' Documents, First World War Wo363

National Army Museum; Chelsea, London, England; Soldiers' Effects Records, 1901-60; NAM Accession Number: 1991-02-333; Record Number Ranges: 614501-616000; Reference: 361.