Name
Wilfred Herbert Bull
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/05/1917
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Captain
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CERISY-GAILLY FRENCH NATIONAL CEMETERY
I. C. 11.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Elstree Town Memorial,
Church of St Nicholas Memorial, Elstree
Pre War
Wilfrid Herbert was born in 1885 in Willesden, Middlesex to Charles Herbert Bull, a chartered accountant, and Eliza Kate (nee Wright).
On the 1891 Census the Family were living at Christchurch Road, Willesden. On the 1901 Census Wilfrid was living with his Father and two younger sisters at Christchurch Avenue, Willesden (his mother died in early 1891). By the 1911 Census the family had moved to the Homestead, Barnet Lane, Elstree and Wilfrid had become a chartered accountant. He was the only son of Charles Herbert Bull and was a partner in the firm Hibberd, Bull & Co. at 6a Devonshire Square in London.
Wartime Service
Wilfred enlisted on the outbreak of war in Aug 1914 as a Private 888 in the Inns of Court OTC. He was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant on 12 Sep 1914 and posted to 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. He trained with the Battalion and landed in France on the 26th July 1915. Wilfrid took over Command of 'B' Company on 11 Oct 1915.
He led the right side of the assault on the opening day of the Somme offensives on 1 Jul 1916. He was severely wounded by shrapnel at around 8.30am as he led his Company to the outskirts of the Pommiers Redoubt. After nine months convalescing, Wilfred returned to the battalion on the 3 Apr 1917, exactly a month before he was killed in action at Cherisy, during the third Battle of the Scarpe, Arras. He was described as "One of the finest officers we ever had" by his men and fell amongst the front ranks as they tried in vain to force a way through the wire that was swept by machine gun fire that day.
(Acknowledgement for War Record from Steve Fuller, bedfordregiment.org.uk)
Additional Information
Probate of £2436 4s 9d, War Gratuity of £5 and arrears of £148 15s 2d paid to his Father.
Wilfred is also commemorated on his father's headstone in Elstree (St. Nicholas) Churchyard, his part of the inscription reads:
ALSO OF HIS SON (Charles Herbert Bull) CAPTAIN WILFRED HERBERT BULL BEFORDSHIRE REGIMENT KILLED MAY 3RD 1917, AT CHERISY, FRANCE, AGED 32.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
