John Francis Bland was listed in the Accrington Observer as going to Caernarvon with the Chorley Pals in February 1915; his rank then was Private.
There is no record of his Army number nor is he listed on any medal rolls (indicating that he probably did not serve abroad).
John Bland was born in Preston in 1876. He worked as a Coal Miner in 1901, living at White Gates at Charnock Richard with his wife Rose Lily and son Wilfrid Henry (aged 3). He married Rose Offer in Blackpool in 1897. On the 1911 Census, she was listed with her son as living at 355 Preston Old Road in Blackburn and working as a Servant for the Hewith family – her husband was not listed or recorded. However, in 1914 it was known that John was living at Wigan Road in Euxton and attended St. Mary’s Church in the village.
