WILLIAM FRANCIS BULLEN 

William Francis Bullen was born on 6th November 1891, the son of William Bullen and Elizabeth Eleanor Bullen. His father was born in Liverpool, in 1861, and his mother had been born in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. They married in 1886 and had 2 children: Dorothy A. Bullen (born in 1887); and William Francis Bullen (born in 1891). William Bullen was a Solicitor, and in 1901, was living at “Whinmoor”, Vyner Road, Bidston, Birkenhead. The Bullen family had 2 servants employed by them: Jane Jones (Domestic Cook / born in Birkenhead, in 1871); and Sarah Gibson (Domestic Housemaid / born in Chester, in 1874). By 1911, the Bullen family employed 2 different servant’s: Lily Hargreaves (Domestic Servant / born in Runcorn, in 1884); and Emily Lutins (Domestic Servant / Born in Liverpool, in 1871). William Francis Bullen was educated at Charterhouse School from 1905 – 1907, and was in Hogsonites House. He also served in the school Officer Training Corps. On leaving school he became a Cotton Salesman with Messrs. Hannay & Co., Liverpool, and in his spre time was a member of the Birkenhead Park Football Club.

On 6th August 1914, William Francis Bullen enlisted into the 1st/10th (Scottish) Bn King’s (Liverpool) Regiment (No.3117), at Liverpool. At his medical he was described as being aged 23 years 9 months; was 5ft 10 ¾ in tall; with a fully expanded chest of 37in. He  quickly gained promotion, being promoted to Lance Corporal on 16th September 1914, and to Corporal on 26th September 1914. Corporal Bullen trained with his battalion at Edinburgh and Tunbridge Wells, before embarking on board the S.S. Maidan at Southampton, on 1st November 1914. The battalion was disembarked at Havre, France, later the same day. On 15th January 1915, Corporal Bullen was granted a commission as Second Lieutenant with the 1st/10th (Scottish) Bn King’s (Liverpool) Regiment , and continued to serve with this battalion until he was killed in action at Hooge, Belgium, on 16th June 1915. His body was never recovered and identified from the battlefield and is therefore commemorated by name only on Panel 4 & 6, The Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.

Second Lieutenant Bullen is commemorated on: The Trinity With Palm Grove war memorial, and war memorial plaques and roll of honour inside the same church; Bidston Village war memorial; St. Oswald’s Church war memorial, Bidston; The Birkenhead Park Football Club roll of honour; The Liverpool Cotton Association war memorial (now in private hands); Charterhouse School war memorial; the family gravestone in Flaybrick Hill Cemetery, Bidston, Birkenhead; and the Scottish National War Memorial.

His medal entitlement consisted of Memorial Plaque, 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal.



Researched and compiled by Peter Threlfall.