Name
Ernest John Bullen
1872
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/10/1916
44
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
8483
Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN
O. I. E. 9.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
Barley Village Memorial, St Margaret's Church Memorial, Barley
Pre War
Ernest John BULLEN was born in late 1872, in Wimpole, Cambridgeshire, son of Benjamin (Ben) Bullen, an Agricultural worker and Hannah Bullen (nee Osborne). One of their six children.
His parents were married on 6th November 1862, in the Parish Church, Wimpole, Cambs.
He was Baptised on 10th November 1872, in the Parish of Wimpole, Cambs, The Baptisum register records his mother as Ann Bullen.
1881 Census records Ernest aged 8, at school, living with his parents, three brothers and sister Ada (15) at 41 Cottage, Wimpole, Cambs.
His mother Hannah died on 6th October 1885, aged 50, in Wimpole, Cambs.
His father Benjamin remarried on 5th August 1889, at Holy Trinity Church, Chrishall, Essex, to Emma Temperance Soole. They went on to have four children.
1891 Census records Ernest aged 18, employed as a Domestic Stable Boy, living with his Father Benjamin, stepmother Emma, brother Charles (15) and half-brother Walter (7 months), at 40 & 41 A Bridge, Wimpole, Cambs. His step grandmother, widow Susan Soole was visiting the family on the night of the Census.
Ernest enlisted on 9th February 1893, for 9 years with the colours and 5 years in the reserve, giving his aged as 18, he was posted to the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment) with the service No. 3664 joining his Regiment at Wellesley Barracks, Halifax, Yorkshire. In October 1894 Ernest sailed with his Battalion for a tour of duty in South Africa. In January 1898, Ernest and his Battalion were posted to India, while there he extended his service to 12 years with the colours on 9th October 1901. On 8th February 1905, the Battalion returned to the UK. On his return Ernest was discharged on 14th February 1905, on completion of his 12 years’ service at Gosport, Hampshire.
On 7th June 1905, Ernest re-enlisted in The Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment) for 9 years with the Colours and 5 years in the reserve and issued with the new service number 8483. In June 1906, Ernest and his Regiment were posted to India, returning in December 1911. The Regiment was later posted to Dublin, Ireland.
Wartime Service
At the out break of war Ernest was still serving with the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, who were stationed in Dublin, mobilised for war service they arrived in France, on 14th August 1914, the Battalion saw action on the Western Front, at The Marne, The Aisne, Ypres, Hill 60, and the Battle of the Somme.
Ernest was wounded in Action on 14th October 1916, during the Battle of the Somme (Battle of the Somme 1st July to 18th November 1916), he was admitted to Hospital in Rouen, France, on 17th October, were he died on 27th October 1916, of his wounds, aged 44. He is Buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France. Grave Ref; O. 1. E. 9.
Additional Information
His effects of £37-04s-05d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £12-10s-00d, went to his father Benjamin.
His half-brother Private 18193 Francis William Bullen of the Worcestershire Regiment died on 17th July 1915, aged 18, of wounds received in action. He is buried in St Margaret Churchyard, Barley, Herts.
Ernest’s service record is available on-line at, Find my Past UK www.findmypast.co.uk and
Ancestry UK www.ancestry.co.uk
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
