John Jellis was born in Flitwick, Bedfordshire in January 1883. He was 1of 9 children born to John & Sarah-Ann.

In October 1905, aged 22 John married Louie Buckingham in Ampthill, Bedfordshire & in 1906 their first son Arthur was born.

In 1911 John is living with his son, parents & siblings at Horns End in Flitwick. His wife Louie is not living with them at this time, she had been admitted to Fairfield Hospital in Bedfordshire, a psychiatric hospital. John is working as a farm labourer, as is his 58 year old father & 18 year old brother George. His sister Lizzie is 20 years old & a hat machinist, whilst their mother Sarah, 56 is at home looking after younger brother William 13 & John's 5 year old son Arthur.

At the outbreak of war, John is living with his wife & son in Upper Sundon & working at the Gas Works.

Their second son Louis was born in January 1915.

He enlisted into the 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment that was raised in October 1914. They served on the Western Front. In 1916 they fought at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette on the Somme. On the 15th September 1916 the new tanks were put to use in a major offensive against German lines. John's company  walked alongside the lead tank but sadly it went horribly wrong with many casualties. John was 1 of the 122 names recorded that day as killed in action.

John is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial & Sundon Village Memorial.