Selected Biographies

Bullock, Albert Leonard – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 16.12.1923.[1]  Parents: Not known.  Home: Living with Charles and Florence Sansum in Smaley Lane, Long Melford (1939), 36 Woodhall Road, Sudbury, Suffolk [1994].  Occupation: Factory Hand (1939).  Service Record: Albert joined the Local Defence Volunteers in Long Melford when it was formed in August 1942 as ‘H’ Company, 10^th Battalion, Suffolk Home Guard.  His name is recorded in the official tribute to the organization entitled The Lion Roared his Defiance, photographed in and around Long Melford in 1944.[2]  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk on 28.4.1994.[3]

Bullock, Harry – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 7.9.1900.[4]  Parents: George Henry Bullock (Maltster’s Labourer) and Emma Florence [née Gridley].  Home: Cadge’s Yard, Westgate Street, Long Melford (1901) to [1915], Church Row, Long Melford (1939).  Occupation: General Labourer at Stradishall Aerodrome (1939).  Married: Bessie E. Hurrell in 1928.  Service Record: Harry contracted diphtheria on 17.2.1915,[5] it is possible that this prevented him from being conscripted during the First World War as no definitive record has been found.  Harry joined the Local Defence Volunteers in Long Melford when it was formed in August 1942 as ‘H’ Company, 10^th Battalion, Suffolk Home Guard.  His name is recorded in the official tribute to the organization entitled The Lion Roared his Defiance, photographed in and around Long Melford in 1944.[6]  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk 1981.

Bullock, William Scott – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 18.3.1873.[7]  Parents: Henry Bullock (Agricultural Labourer) and Ellen [née Wilby].  Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1881), 6 Holly Road, East Ham, Essex (1901), 20 Sandyhill Road, Ilford, Essex (1911) to [1942].  Occupation: Railway Carman (1901 to 1911), Van Man for WD & HO Wills Tobacco Manufacturers (1921), Tobacco Warehouseman (1939).  Married: Mary Rose Watkins in 1905.  Service Record: No definitive military record has been found.  Died: Ilford, Essex on 8.4. 1942.[8]

Related Biography

Gridley, Archie Walter – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 7.3.1890.[9]  Parent: Emma Florence Gridley (Horsehair Weaver) [married George Henry Bullock (Maltster’s Labourer) in 1893].  Family Connections: Stepson of George Henry Bullock [b1869] and nephew of Alfred Gridley [b1876] and Charles Gridley [b1879].  Home: Living with his mother and Alfred and Jane Gridley (grandparents) in Bull Lane, Long Melford (1891), Cadges Yard, Westgate Street, Long Melford (1901), 70 Gallatly Road, Deptford, London [1933 to 1935], 13 Martins Place, Deptford [1936 and 1937], 309 Queens Road, Deptford (1939) to [1963].[10]  Occupation: Labourer [1907], Beer Retailer [1925], Night Watchman (1939).  Married: Helen May Postlethaite in 1930.  Service Record: Archie enlisted in 1907 as Pte.7521 with 3^rd [Militia] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, transferring to the Cheshire Regiment in the same year.  Although no definitive military record has been found, he could be the same man as Pte.8754 of 8^th [Service] Battalion, Cheshire Regiment who was later renumbered as Pte.81977.  The earlier number is contemporary with other men who joined the Cheshires in 1907.  Archie’s Medal Roll also records that he was in 8^th Cheshire’s N^o. 1 Stokes Mortar Battery and rose to the rank of Corporal.  The battalion part of 40^th Brigade, 13^th [Western] Division, which was posted to Gallipoli from July 1915 and from March 1916 to Mesopotamia, the men seeing action at the Battle of Kut al Amara between December and February 1917.[11]  Died: Deptford, London in 1963.

Notes – [1] 1939 Register.  [2] Published by Marten & Son, Ltd., of Market Hill, Sudbury, Suffolk in 1946.  [3] National Probate Calendar.  [4] 1939 Register.  [5] See Infectious Diseases – Register of Medical Certificates Received [Bury St Edmunds Record Office Ref: EF501/4/20].  [6] Published by Marten & Son, Ltd., of Market Hill, Sudbury, Suffolk in 1946.  [7] 1939 Register.  [8] National Probate Calendar.  [9] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 6.4.1890, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [10] Addresses are taken from Electoral Rolls for Deptford. [11] Chelsea Hospital British Army Service Record [WO 97] up to 1907.  The assumption on the timing of his enlistment is based on the very helpful blog https://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/ cheshire-regiment-1881-1914-1st-2nd.html.  For details of 8^th Cheshire’s movements in Gallipoli and the Mesopotamian Campaign see War Diaries [WO 95/4303 and WO 95/5161/5-6].  Also see his assumed Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].