Thomas Henry Bull
Thomas Henry Bull
Thomas joined the Australian Imperial Force on 7th November 1914 at the age of 21. His medical records state that he was 5 foot 8.1/2 inches tall, fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He was assigned to the 15th Battalion of the Australian Infantry and was promoted to Corporal on 1st January 1915. He was sent out to Egypt with the 2nd Australian Expeditionary Force. Thomas had made a will on 28th May 1915 leaving all his property and effects including his pay to his mum, Mrs Eleanor Bull. Thomas died of wounds; a bullet to the head received earlier on 29th May 1915 at Quinn’s Post, Gallipoli and is buried in the Beach cemetery, Anzac, Anzac Cove, Turkey. He is also commemorated on Folkestone War Memorial and the headstone of Charles and Ruth Bull, Cheriton Road Cemetery, Folkestone.
There was a delay between the two cables being sent although Thomas died the day that he had been shot. This meant that Mrs Eleanor Bull, who was cited as being Thomas’s next of kin, was told that he was wounded and only a couple of weeks later that he had in fact, died. The Folkestone Herald 26th June 1915 reported Thomas being wounded. The paper also stated, “He was quickly promoted to sergeant’s rank, and was attached to the headquarter staff as a clerk. Prior to his being wounded he had been through several engagements, and was in the landing force that fought so gallantly and successfully to obtain a footing on the Gallipoli Peninsular.”
Thomas Henry Bull was born in the Elham District of Kent to Eleanor and Thomas Bull, a boot maker. Thomas was the eldest son, Harold Joyce, James Alfred, Stanley Charles, Sidney Martin, Victor Edward and Leonard Hanson, were his younger brothers. He was educated at St. Mary’s School and was also a Colour sergeant in the boy scouts. The family lived at 4 Cheriton Road, Folkestone. Thomas then went on to become a law clerk at Mr G.W.Haines, Solicitor and commissioner for oaths, Coroner for Borough of Folkestone and Registrar of County Court at 18 Church St, Folkestone. (The 1910-11 Pike’s Folkestone etc street Directory entry). He and his brothers Harold and Stanley emigrated to Australia in c1911. They had an Uncle S.J.Bull, Winsley Farm, Littlemore, Boyne Valley, Queensland who they settled near. Thomas worked as a clerk in a produce merchant’s office in Gladstone, Australia.
