Name
Herbert Harry Bullard
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/08/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
129027
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
30th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
KLEIN-VIERSTRAAT BRITISH CEMETERY
IV. G. 29
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
He was born in the St. Saviour's area of Hitchin and was christened on 5 August 1891. His parents were Henry and Laura Ellen Bullard.
Firstly there may be some confusion over Herbert’s family because his mother appears to be named Laura Ellen in the various baptism/christen records, but Helen in the 1901 census and Laura in the 1911 census – however, it is suggested that this is a case of the census enumerator miss-hearing the names when completing the forms.
In 1901 the family were living at 25 Trevor Road, Hitchin. Present were parents: Henry (47) a house painter, as was his eldest son and Helen (believed Laura Ellen (44), and children: William P (17), Agnes B (15), Ada M (14), Herbert Harry (9) and Fred L (7).
In 1911 the remaining family members were still living at the same address. They were both parents, Henry, still a house painter, his wife now listed as Laura and children: Ivaline (29), Bertha (25) – neither present inn the previous census, Ada and Fred, The census records that Henry and Laura had been married for 30 years with 7 children of whom 1 had died. As can be seen Herbert was missing and he was found working as a house painter working foir a builder in Yalding, Kent, boarding with the Richardson family at Hodges Cottages, Hunton Road, Yalding, Kent
Herbert married Mary E S Tebbutt (b 2/3/1888) in the second quarter of 1914 , lived at 28, Trevor Road, Hitchin. They had 2 children Isaline Beryl (b 26/4/1815) and Wilfred Albert (b 15/2/1918)
Officially recorded as born St. Saviour's, Hitchin, and enlisting there.
Wartime Service
At first he was given the Regimental Number GS5/32122 in the East Surrey Regiment but later transferred to the 30th Battalion Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) which was part of the 30th Division, with the Number 129027. He was killed in action in Belgium after being in France for only two-months.
This was at the end of the Battle of Kemmel when British units were attached to the French Army after the Germans drove the French off Mount Kemmel. The attacks were characterised by heavy gas shell bombardments.
He was buried in Plot 4, Row G. Grave 29 in Klein-Vierstraat British Cemetery, Belgium.
Additional Information
The War Office wrote to Herbert’s wife at 28, Trevor Road, Hitchin, on the 2nd September 1918, to settle his account and she was paid £6 4s 11d. The ‘standard’ letter leaves spaces for the personalised details and includes the information “Of the above amount two thirds is the property of the deceased’s children and must be used for their exclusive benefit.” She later received a war gratuity of £3, authorised to be paid to her on 24 February 1919.
Mary must have requested a photograph of Herbert’s because the family has the official one supplied. It shows a wooden cross amongst many others. She later (24th November 1919) received notification at 28 Trevor Road, Hitchin. that his body was to be exhumed and re-buried. The official record shows that his body (and cross) was located at map ref. N.3.a.1.6. before reburial at Klein-Vierstraat British Cemetery.
Various pension records reveal his widow, had lived at 28 Trevor Road, Hitchin, where she was when she was awarded a pension of 25s 5d a week from 25 November 1918. However she re-,married becoming Mrs MacDonald with address c/o Mrs W Kellar, Box 9, Benito, Manitoba, Canada.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild, Garry Brandon
