John Francis Bullen

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Wed, 27/05/2015 - 17:15

First Name:

John

Middle Name:

Francis

Last Name:

Bullen

Mother's Name:

Johanna (nee Cooney)

Father's Name:

Frank Bullen

Date Enlisted:

Monday, July 26, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Lance Corporal

Unit:

1st Machine Gun Company

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Thursday, September 20, 1917

Place of Death:

Menin Road, Ypres, Belguim

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

John Bullen (Service No 3011) was born in Lismore in December 1892.

The family moved to the Illawarra and at the time of enlistment he was described as a single 23 year old tinsmith and plumber who had served 4 years in the Senior Cadets.

John embarked on HMAT A29 Suevic with 7th Reinforcements, 19th Battalion on 20th December 1915. After he arrived in Egypt he was briefly with 4th Battalion but transferred to 1st Machine Gun Company on 12th March 1916. He saw service on the Western Front and was promoted to Lance Corporal on 15th January 1917.

Lance Corporal Bullen was engaged in the battle of Menin Road as a machine gunner but on 20th September 1917 he was killed by enemy fire. John was buried in the vicinity of Hooge Crater but his grave was lost. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres Belgium.

John's brother, Frank Bullen (Service No 6863) also served.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, BULLEN J