No.20653, Private, Victor William BULLOCK
Aged 21
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Victor William Bullock was born Cavendish on 7th December 1895 (Sudbury Q1-1896 4A:757), baptised in Cavendish St Mary's on 5th January
1896, son of Arthur and Lizzie Jane BULLOCK (née WORDLEY)
1901 census...Aged 5, he was in Poole Street, Cavendish with his father Arthur BULLOCK [35] farm labourer; his mother Lizzie Jane [34]; sisters Elsie [2] and Ruth M [2 months]. All were born in Cavendish. 1911 census...Aged 15, a baker's apprentice, he was at Poole Street, Cavendish with his parents (father now a maltster's labourer); brother George [under one month]; sisters Elsie, Ruth, Effie [7] and Olive [5]. The new siblings born in Cavendish |
Victor at back, father, mother and sister Elsie, in front sisters Effie, Ruth and Olive
photo courtesy Michael and Carol Bullock
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He enlisted in Cavendish.
The battalion war diary is somewhat lengthy for 9th April 1917:- " H Sector- Ronville- 9/4/1917- I was in command of B Coy 5 RSLI, operating on the right flank of the battalion and detailed to capture the COJEUL SWITCH from EYE LANE to DOE LANE inclusiveOn obtaining objective I was to take charge of Battalion front on BLUE LINE. The battalion was formed up in assembly trenches by 2 am and the men were made to lie down to avoid observation by the enemy. The assembly trenches were not shelled. At 7:34 am our barrage commenced and the Battn advanced. At the time there were two tanks just in front of assembly trenches and 2 just behind. The condition of the ground seemed to make their progress very slow and in my line of advance. I saw nothing more of them, and they played no part in the operations.The enemy barrage, which appeared to be fairly heavy was drawn across the crest of TELEGRAPH HILL immediately WEST of TELEGRAPH WORK. At this point the attacking line also came under heavy machine gun fore from the direction of NEULLY TRENCH and TILLOY. Slight resistance was encountered in TELEGRAPH HILLTRENCH and HEAD LANE, but this was immediately overcome and my Company captured between 50 and 75 prisoners here. No resistance was offered in POLE TRENCH, but enemy fired a MG from NOUVIDON LANE. On a patrol being sent forward the enemy abandoned NOUVIDON LANE and ran to the rear but were shot down by our Lewis Gun fire. The enemy MG was captured.The D.L.I. of 43rd Bde had converged slightly into my area but I occupied POLE TRENCH from N.7.d.85.70 to N.7.b.20.25 and had established communication with the D.L.I.on my right by 8:45 am.Germans in the dugouts were cleared out by 9:10 am and work was forthwith started on consolidating the line. I captured and consolidated this line with the remnant of A, B and C Coys. D Coy had meantime obtained their objective in SILENT WORK and by 10 am communications had been established with the SUFFOLKS on their left and with the O.B.L.I. in the TRING and NEGRINE TRENCH at 1:15 pm, the RB passed through my line to establish an outpost line in advance. They appeared to encounter no resistance whatever. OUR BARRAGE was very effective, but in my opinion the creeping barrage moved much too slowly once units became mixed it became almost impossible to prevent the line advancing right into our own barrage and I am convinced that a large proportion of our casualties especially in the two leading Battns of the Bde may be attributed to this. ENEMY BARRAGE with the exception of that put down on TELGRAPH HILL, enemy artillery fire was almost negligible. CASUALTIES. The greater proportion of our casualties resulted from MG fire from the left flank. TOTAL CASUALTIES in the Battn as far as can be ascertained at present amount to 12 officers and 189 other ranks TROPHIES. Only one enemy MG was captured, but the trench system is so smashed up by our artillery fire that it is very possible several others are buried in the debris. Also I needed every man in my final objective and could not send men back to search TELEGRAPH HILL TRENCH, the enemy front line. We have secured several hundred rifles and a large quantity of ammunition, bombs and equipment PRISONERS I would estimate that the prisoners taken by this battalion numbered over 300...signed O.S. Benbow-Rowe, 5 KSLI CWGC records 43, all ranks, killed |
POLE TRENCH - mentioned above photo:Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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