L/Corp F C Bull

F C Bull does not appear to have been a native of Bridgnorth, neither does he seem to have been a long-time resident. The name does not occur in any of the usual censuses or registers.

The memorial almost certainly refers to the man known to the army as Frank Charles Bull, Private 32034 Machine Gun Corps (Heavy Branch) later Private 206149 Tank Corps. Private Bull was known in civilian life as Charles Frank Bull.

Charles Frank Bull was born at Pokesdown, Hampshire in 1891, the son of Gilbert Bull (a painter and sign writer) and his wife Mary Ada. Gilbert appears to have died in 1894 causing the family to disperse. In 1901 Charles Frank was living with his uncle Richard in Tenbury, Worcestershire; his older brother and sister appear to be inmates of children's homes. By 1911 Charles Frank had moved to Preston, Lancs, where he was working as an ironmonger's assistant. His widowed mother was working as a live-in cook domestic in Eastbourne.

It seems probable that Charles Frank came to Bridgnorth to work at an ironmonger's shop in the town. An article in The Motor Cycle of 30th March, 1916 lists over two hundred motor cyclists who had recently been recruited into the Motor Machine Gun Service. The list includes 'Bull, C. F., Bridgnorth'.

In March 1916, just at the time Charles Frank enlisted, The first tank companies were being formed at Bisley, known as the Heavy Section of the Machine Gun Corps. They first saw action at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette on the Somme on 15th September, 1916. Private Frank Charles Bull of C Coy died of wounds on 28th September, 1916, shortly after that first attack. He is buried in Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte.

Private Frank Charles Bull (206149 previously 32034) was awarded the Victory and British War medals. They were never claimed.

My thanks to Stephen Pope of First Tank Crews for identifying this man and for pointing out the article in The Motor Cycle.