Lance Corporal George Brook Bullen
1/6th Battalion, the Gloucestershire Regiment
Killed in Action
Date of Birth: 9 July 1893
Place of Birth: Teignmouth, Devon
Date of Death: 21st July, 1916 in France aged 23
Buried: Remembered on Thiepval Memorial, Somme; Seafront Memorial and St. Michael’s Church, Teignmouth.
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal
Lance/Corporal George Brook Bullen age 23.
George was born on 9 July 1893 and baptised in St. Michael’s Church on 29 Aug 1893. He was the son of John Brook, cabinet maker, and Eliza Kate Bullen. He entered Hele’s School, Exeter, Devon in September 1905 and his home address was at 45 Dawlish Road, Teignmouth, Devon.
George left in April 1910 to take up a clerkship with Wilts & Dorset Bank, Bath branch and was shown living there on the 1911 census. He was living in Avonmouth before he enlisted in Bristol where he was now working with the bank.
Previously a member of the Teignmouth Territorials, George had been at the Front since March 1915 and had only recently been home on leave before returning to the Front.
Newspaper clipping
News of his death reached his parents through the bank in late July and this was later confirmed to them on 17th August.
Gloucestershire Regiment
Cap Badge
He was serving with the 1/6th Battalion, Gloucester Regiment, service no. 2898, when he was killed in action west of Pozières on 21 July 1916.
The Brook Bullen family gravestone in Teignmouth Old Cemetery
George is remembered on the Bullen family gravestone in Teignmouth Old Cemetery, the full inscription on the gravestone is:
"To the memory of Eliza Kate Brook Bullen, the beloved wife of John Brook Bullen who entered into rest on February 25th 1936 aged 69 and also of George Brook Bullen beloved son of the above killed in action in France July 21st 1916, also of the above killed in action in France July 21st 1916 also of the above named John Brook Bullen who entered into rest on February 9th 1939 aged 73 years also of Elizabeth Bidwell Cave who entered into rest on April 11th 1944 aged 84 years".
Also remembered on Thiepval Memorial, Somme; Seafront Memorial and St. Michael’s Church, Teignmouth.
Download George's Commonwealth War Graves Certificate
Will administered on 14 November 1919 to John Brook, cabinet maker, total £666.16s.2d.
The 1/6th Battalion of the Gloucester Regiment
George's battalion went to France in March 1915.
Their first major experience of battle came during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
On 20th July, during the Battle of Bazentin (part of the Battle of the Somme) the 1/6th went into action north of Oviller as part of the 48th (South Midland) Division.
They are all located in strong dugouts, but are very noisy as hundreds of guns are firing over one's head all of the time. We have never expended such vast quantites of ammunition before.
Morland – Great War Corps Commander: War Diaries & Letters, 1914-1918
By Bill Thompson
In the early hours of the morning of the 21st of July 1916, George's battalion attacked the German trenches 500 yards (460 m) north of the village.
Losses to the 1/6th Glosters in this action were 11 killed and 92 wounded or missing.
That was the day that George Brook Bullen of Teignmouth died in the Great War.
