Name
Herbert Harry Bullard
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/08/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
129027
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
30th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
KLEIN-VIERSTRAAT BRITISH CEMETERY
IV. G. 29
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial,
St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
Herbert Harry Bullard was born in the St. Saviour's area of Hitchin and was baptised on 5th August 1891.
In 1901 the census recorded the family as living at 26 Trevor Road. The family consisted of father Henry Bullard (47) a housepainter, mother Helen (44) and children, William P (17) and also a housepainter, Agnes B (15), Ada M (14), Herbert H (9) and Fred L (7).
In 1911 Herbert was boarding in Yalding, Kent and working as a housepainter for a builder.
He married Mary E S Tebbutt between April and June 1914 and his wife lived at 28 Trevor Road, Hitchin.
He enlisted in Hitchin.
Wartime Service
At first, he was given the Regimental Number GS5/32122 in the East Surrey Regiment but later transferred to the 30th Battalion Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) which was part of the 30th Division, with the Number 129027. He was killed in action in Belgium after being in France for only two-months.
This was at the end of the Battle of Kemmel when British units were attached to the French Army after the Germans drove the French off Mount Kemmel. The attacks were characterised by heavy gas shell bombardments.
Additional Information
The War Office wrote to Herbert’s wife at 28, Trevor Road, Hitchin, on the 2nd September 1918, to settle his account and she was paid £6 4s 11d. The ‘standard’ letter leaves spaces for the personalised details and includes the information “Of the above amount two thirds is the property of the deceased’s children and must be used for their exclusive benefit.”
Mary must have requested a photograph of Herbert’s because the family has the official one supplied. It shows a wooden cross amongst many others. She later (24th November 1919) received notification at 28 Trevor Road, Hitchin. that his body was to be exhumed and re-buried. The official record shows that his body (and cross) was located at map ref. N.3.a.1.6. before reburial at Klein-Vierstraat British Cemetery.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild, Garry Brandon
