Name
Walter Thomas Bullard
30 Sep 1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/04/1917
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
13572
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary the Virgin Church, Therfield, Non-conformist Chapel, Therfield, We are not aware of any Dane End memorials
Pre War
Walter Thomas was born on 30 Sep 1887 in Dane End, Therfield, Herts. fifth son of James and Lucy Jane (Hagger) Bullard and was baptised on 25 Dec 1887.
1891 census details:
Father James was a hay binder aged 29 and mother Lucy 29 looked after James 13, Leonard 9, Albert Edward 7, Sidney 5, Walter T. 3 and Amelia E.1.
1901 census details:
The family had increased and 5 more children had arrived! Florence 9, Mabel 7, William 5, Frank 2 and Ethel, 3 months.
1911 census details:
His parents in the 1911 census stated they had been married for 29 years and had had 13 children with 12 still living. Walter was then 23 and working as a farm labourer. He was unmarried but according to a relative, he was engaged. He was known as Tom in the family.
Family note by Julie Hourihan (Great Granddaughter to Lucy & James Bullard):amily note by Julie Hourihan (Great Granddaughter to Lucy & James Bullard):
"Lucy & James Bullard were my Great Grandparents (their youngest son Frederick John was my Grandad). They actually had six sons serving in the Great War (my six Gt Uncles), Frank was their 6th son to serve, he lost his leg. I cannot find his war records or service number, however, his daughter Doreen who is in her 90's has confirmed that he was in the Great War and he lost his leg aged 17.
James the eldest son was also in the war, although he didn't die in the war, he died some years later from his shrapnel wounds. Their cousin Charlie Bullard (Noades) also lost his life in the Great War and is buried at Therfield Church. I am so proud of my Gt Uncles and of my Gt Grandparents who suffered their losses."
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Royston in September 1914 as Private 13572 and after training with the 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, which was the Extra (2nd) Reserve Battalion stationed at Felixstowe and after training was sent over to France on September 30th 1915 to join 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshires (a draft of 3 Officers & 250 ORS joined on 4 Oct 1915 soon after the Battle of Loos).
Here we have a problem as his Medal Rolls Index Card (see opposite) and usually most reliable, states he was in the 2nd Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment (the card would be raised with his deployment to Active Service) but all other details suggest he was in the 4th. The newspaper cutting from, I suggest, the autumn of 1916, states that he enlisted in September 1914 leaving his employment as a roadman with the Herts. County Council.
He was injured in August 1916 at the Battle of the Somme and was sent back to hospital in Derbyshire where his fractured left arm was being attended to. The report said that he had been out in France for about a year confirming his entitlement to the 1915 Star as well as the War and Victory medals. Thus it likely that he started in the 2nd Btn. as the 4th. did not leave Felixstowe/Harwich until July 1916, Perhaps he was transferred into the 4th on returning to the Front after his time convalescing in England.
The 4th. Btn. was involved in the Operations on the Ancre in February 1917 then the Action at Miraumont (Somme) from 6-16th after which they were on the move towards Arras with daily marching between 20th and 27th March. Road building and training followed until early April, which was to be the fatal month for Walter.
Battalion war diary:
- 12-13 Apr 1917 Battalion standing by to move.
- 14 Apr 1917 - front line near Gavrelle. Battalion moved to ARRAS by motor busses and took over line from 23rd N.F.
- 15 Apr 1917 Reconnaissance of GAVRELLE in conjunction with 10/R.D.F. Casualties Killed 2/Lts Freear [Eric Charles FREEAR] & MARSHALL WOUNDED Left [Lieut?] Wray [George Frederic WRAY], 2/Lts. Romain [Jessel Anidfar ROMAIN] & Mogridge [possibly Edward Cole MOGRIDGE]. 55 O.Rs
Walter was killed on April 15th. alongside 54 other ‘OR’s’ (other ranks) that day in what is known as the Reconnaissance of GAVRELLE, a prelude to the Battle of Arras. His name appears on the Arras Memorial to the Missing (below) as does another village lad, Rifleman Edward F. Leete. Walter was the 4th. son of James and Lucy to be killed in battle which must have brought heartbreak to the family. His remains were not recovered and he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.
Additional Information
Six Bullard brothers served in WW1, four were killed, William Ralph, above, Albert Edward died 6 Aug 1915, Walter Thomas, died 15 Apr 1917 and Sidney, died 27 Jul 1917. They are all listed on this same memorial. James and Frank were injured but survived. War Gratuity of £12 and arrears of £9 5s 1d was paid to his Father.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Malcolm Lennox, Jean Handley, Julie Hourihan
