Name
Harry Robert Sauve Pulman
23 May 1867
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/03/1915
47
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Captain
London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers)
3rd (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Mentioned in Despatches
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ROYAL IRISH RIFLES GRAVEYARD, LAVENTIE
III. D. 6.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Holy Trinity Church Wall Memorial, Potten End, St James Memorial, Piccadilly, London
Pre War
Robert Harry Sauve Pulman was born on 23 May 1867 in Marylebone, London. the son of George and Cordelia Pulman. On the 1871 Census the family were living at 24 Thayer Street, Marylebone and his father was a Printer. They remained at the same address in 1881, when Harry was a 14 year old schoolboy and his father was a Printer employing 8 persons.
He was educated at Archbishop Tenison's School where he excelled at cricket. He joined the family printing firm of George Pulman and Son Limited, and rose to become Managing Director when his father died in March 1889. His mother died later the same year. On the 1901 Census he was a boarder at 16 Thayer Street, the home of Henry Thornton, a wood engraver/sculptor and his wife Grace (Harry's sister).
From 1896 to 1901 he was a member of the Freemasons Lodge of Fidelity. He then resigned to join the Old Boys Lodge. On the 1911 Census he was listed as a visitor at Belmont, Atkins Road, Clapham Park, the home of Theodore Schmitz. a General Merchant, and his wife Clara and gave his occupation as Master Printer.
He was elected as a member of the Westminster City Council initially for Regent's Park but , after 1912, for the Pall Mall Ward and received the Freedom of the City of London on 14 November 1911 by redemption in the Worshipful Company of Stationers.
He served in the territorial army for 25 years and was awarded the Long Service Medal and King's Coronation Medal. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in September 1906 when he joined the Oxford & Bucks Infantry territorials.
When war broke out in August 1914 he encouraged a number of Westminster Council employees to join him in the 3rd (City of London) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. He also married Edith Rosa Fordham the same month at Maidenhead and they lived at Fryth, Great Berkhamstead. Harry was also President of the Berkhamsted Cricket Club.
Wartime Service
He enlisted into the 3rd London Regiment, (Royal Fusiliers) and served as a Captain. He arrived in France in January 1915 where his battalion was tasked with supporting the Indian Garhwal Brigade at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle.
On 10th March1915 he was ordered to lead ‘A’ company to secure a house on the corner of the village which was thought to contain twelve Germans. He led his men towards it but to his horror discovered a whole German company, (around 150 men) who were well armed with machine guns. Despite the overwhelming odds Captain Pulman led his men forward and during a bayonet charge he was shot in the shoulder, he grabbed a rifle and continued to charge, was shot again in the forearm but carried on until a third shot killed him. He died alongside twelve of his men. Through his bravery the remaining Fusiliers were able to drive the Germans out of their position and capture the house. Captain Harry Pulman was posthumously Mentioned in Despatches for gallant and distinguished service in the field. He is buried in the Royal Irish Rifles Graveyard, France.
Two weeks after his death, on the morning of the 25th March 1915, a memorial service for Captain Harry Pulman was held at the church of St James, Piccadilly. This was attended by the Mayor and members of the Council, who themselves paid for a brass memorial tablet to him subscribed for by members of the Council to be fixed to the wall of the Council Chamber in Charing Cross Road. Sadly this tablet and the main Westminster Council staff memorial has subsequently been lost.
Additional Information
Probate of his estate was granted in London on 29 September 1915 to Edith Rosa Pulman, widow and James Henry Stephens, chartered account, with effects of £6739 16s 2d. His widow and James Stephens also received his pay owing of £65 13s 8d
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, dacorumheritage.org.uk., hemelatwar.org., www.ww1playingthegame.org.uk, www.masonicgreatwarproject.org.uk, www.londonremembers.com.,
