Ashtead War Memorials - WWI
Pte Joseph Bullen
1st Bn, Border Regiment
The birth of Joseph, said to have been a native of Tolworth, was registered at Kingston upon Thames in the March Quarter of 1897. His parents seem to have been Charles Bullen [born Kingston, registered 3/1866] (who appears in the 1901 Census, as a married man, away from his family in service at 2 Clarence Street, Kingston, described as a Potman/Barman) and Harriet [born ca 1869 at Norbiton].
The family arrived in the Epsom area before 1911 and Charles Bullen is listed as the occupier of 1 Grange Mount Cottages, Ottways Lane, in a street directory for Ashtead covering 1914/15.
On 24 August 1914 Joseph volunteered at Kingston upon Thames, falsely claiming to be aged 18, for a short-term engagement in the Army of 7 years with the Colours and 5 in Reserve. His initial assignment was as Private10949 to the East Surrey Regiment but a transfer to 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Border Regiment, then based at Shoeburyness, took place on 9 November 1915. He went to Devonport a fortnight later destined for the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force before being posted to the Dardanelles, 20 January 1916. By that time a decision had been taken to abort actions at Gallipoli resulting in the evacuation of 1st Bn. Border Regiment via Mudros to Egypt. The unit moved on to France in March 1916 where Joseph joined it.
He is assumed to have been amongst 67 Other Ranks that joined the 1st
Battalion on, inauspiciously, 13 April 1916 in billets at Acheux. On 28
April 1916, it relieved 2nd Royal Fusiliers in the front line at
Englebelmar before becoming involved in a heavy bombardment exchange the
next day. Joseph was amongst the 16 wounded in action 29 April 1916 (2
others suffered self-inflicted wounds). Having been treated by 87th?
Field Ambulance, for “GSW [gun shot wounds?] Chest, R. Arm, R. Leg”, he
was admitted to No. 4 Casualty Clearing Station where he died from the
shot wound in his chest on 1 May 1916. 4th CCS had been at Beauval since
June of 1915 and men who died there were buried in the Communal
Cemetery.
[source now defunct:
www.kerchi.co.uk/doku.php?id=border_regiment:world_war_one:war_diary_index
if you find a replacement please contact the editor]
An extract from the War Diary of Matron in Chief, B.E.F., describes a visit almost exactly one month earlier than Pte Bullen’s hospitalisation in favourable terms:
Left for 4th Army early, arrived Beauval. To 4 Casualty Clearing Station, everything quite satisfactory in every respect. The OC spoke in very high terms of the whole staff, both officers’ and men’s divisions excellent – beautiful flowers everywhere.
National Archives WO95/3988-3991
Joseph’s father disappears after 1915: the deceased soldier’s personal effects were claimed by Mrs Harriet Bullen, 19 July 1916, and in June 1919 she declared his close relatives that were then living to be herself and his three brothers, Albert 20, Percival? 18, & Patrick 16. Mrs Bullen was sent a 1915 Star on 7 April 1921 to add to his Victory and British medals. This family lived only two doors away from another equally young casualty, Albert Butler, whose home had been at 3 Grange Mount Cottages, Ottways Lane, Ashtead.
text: Brian Bouchard: if you can add to this page please contact
the editor
page added 14 Mar 09:update 26 Nov 17