Name
Francis William Bullen
1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/07/1915
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
18193
Worcestershire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BARLEY (ST. MARGARET) CHURCHYARD
Spec. Memorial.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
Barley Village Memorial, St Margaret's Church Memorial, Barley
Pre War
Francis William Bullen was born in late 1896, son of Benjamin (Ben) Bullen a Domestic Groom and Gardener and Emma Bullen (nee Soole). The youngest of their four children.
His parents were married on 5th August 1889, at Holy Trinity Church, Chrishall, Essex, Emma was Benjamin’s second wife. He had six children by his first wife Hannah Osborne.
Francis was Baptised on 7th March 1897, in the Parish Church, Wimpole, Cambs.
1901 Census records Francis aged 4, living with his parents, brother Walter (10) sisters Susan (9) and Elizabeth (6) at The Shah Beer House, Cambridge Road, Barley, Herts. Benjamin’s Sister-in-Law Lydia Anderson was living with the family.
1911 Census, Francis aged 14 has left school and is employed as a Domestic Gardeners Boy, living with his parents, at The Shah Beer House, Cambridge Road, Barley, Herts. Benjamin’s sister-in-Law is still living with the family.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of war, he was working away from home and enlisted in 1914, at Worcester, joined the Worcestershire Regiment, and issued with the service No. 18193.
On completion of his training, he was sent to the Western Front arriving on 24th March 1915, seeing action at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle and Battle of Aubers.
He was wounded at Armentieres on the 10th May 1915. He was evacuated to Southmead Hospital, Bristol, where, two days after his arrival, one of his feet was amputated.
Despite all the attempts to save his life he died on the 17th July 1915, aged 18, from the effects of his wounds. Francis was brought back to Barley and is buried in the St. Margaret Churchyard, Barley.
Additional Information
His effects of £6-19s-05d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £3, went to his father Benjamin Bullen.
His Half-brother Private 8483 Ernest John Bullen of the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment) died on 27th October 1916, of wounds received in action.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Paul Johnson, Adrian Pitts
