Name
Henry Quinton Bullard
10 September 1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/10/1916
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/28135
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 12D and 13B
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Welwyn Village Memorial, Welwyn, St Mary the Virgin Roll of Honour, Welwyn
Pre War
Henry Quinton Bullard was born 10 September 1897 in Welwyn, the son of Henry Quinton and Pauline Susanne Bullard (nee Haldy) and baptised at St Mary's, Welwyn on 7 November 1897. His father was a basketmaker and the Registrar of Births and Deaths, as well as Clerk to the Burial Board and Parish Clerk. His mother was Swiss born and had come to work as a nurse to Henrietta Blake, of Welwyn Hall.
On the 1901 Census Henry, then aged 3, was staying with his uncle and aunt, Henri and Mary Haldy at 4 Ulysses Road, Hampstead, London, where his uncle was working as a Butler (Domestic).
Henry Quinton Senior had been a member of the Herts Volunteers for some 20 years, rising to the rank of sergeant. On the outbreak of war he joined the National Reserve as a corporal. Henry Quinton junior had been a chorister at St Mary’s Church. On the 1911 Census he was living with his family at Mill Lane, Welwyn and, although only 13 years of age, was working as a Junior Clerk in a Coal Merchants Office. At the outbreak of war he was employed as a Grocer’s Assistant by J. Robarts of Codicote, but left this to take over his father’s duties as Registrar of Births and Deaths and Parish Clerk.
Wartime Service
Henry enlisted in May 1915 and joined the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment). But does not seem to have arrived in France until 1916 (no date on Medal Index Card).
The Battalion were in the vicinity of Trones Wood on the Somme on 21 Oct 1916 and on 23 Oct an attack was made, taking the German front line and some ground beyond. The position was consolidated over the next few days but the cost was high with more than 200 casualties, of which Henry was one.
His death was assumed on 24 October 1916 and he has no known grave. His name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Additional Information
A memorial service was held in St. Mary’s Church for both Henry Bullard and Albert Gentle on 7 December 1916.
His mother received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of 2 15s 11d. No pension appears to have been claimed.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper, Brenda Palmer
Paul Jiggens, Welwyn and District History Society - www.welwynww1.co.uk, Brenda Palmer
