Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Henry and Catherine PULLEN
Of Prince Street, Grafton, NSW

HOW PRIVATE PBLLEN DIED.
CONSOLING LETTERS FROM OFFTCER
AND NON. COM.
Mrs. H. Pullen, Prince-street, has, received the following: letter from Lieut. M. H. Gray, who writes from France under date 13/9/16: "Although I am a stranger to you I consider it my duty to tell you all I know concerning the death of your son No. .4876, Private W. ,T. Pullen. I am an officer of the company to which he belonged and I must extend to you and your family my sincere sympathy. On the night, of the 27-28- August we took a position in the front line trench near Thiepval and Pozieres, and we had it fairly quiet until the next night, 28-29 August. On that night I had to dig a sap back from the firing line to the support trenches. ( I led my men out in single file over the ground where the sap had to be dug, and, incidentally, Private Pullen was the man next behind me. We had the sap down a few feet when the enemy started to shell us, and shortly afterwards your son was struck by pieces of shell and killed almost instantly. The shelling continued heavily, causing more casualties, and I had to take my men to the firing line again. Next morning soon after daylight, Sergt. C. M. Black and myself went out to where your son was killed. We took from his person several articles which l am sending to you. Among the articles, were two letters, one addressed to you and the other to Miss Alma Phillis. The latter I am sending to her address, I understand that Sergt. Black is also writing to you. It is very sad Mrs. Pullen, that you should lose your dear one, but it must be consoling and indeed an honor to know that our son fought so gallantly and gave his life for the noble cause for which we are fighting. It may also be consoling to you to know, that during the time that your son was in the 15th Battalion he had won the respect of every officer and man with whom he had come in contact and all are very sorry to lose him. It is a very noticeable and regrettable feature about the fortunes of war that the best men go first, and this case l am proud to state was no exception. He died the death of a hero, Mrs. Pullen, shedding his very life's blood in the act of saving the lives of many men. No doubt you are proud of him, Mrs. Pullen, and indeed, you may be. I am proud to have had the honor of being and fighting with such men as he was. I hope you will receive this letter alright, and I sincerely hope that you will not take the blow too hard. After all, Mrs. Pullen, God knows best and we must trust in Him, although at times we may have a heavy cross to bear. Trusting God will help you in your sad bereavement. -Yours in sympathy, M.H. Gray, I5th Battalion. PS. If there is anything else you would like, to know I would be pleased to do my best to tell you. I am a Richmond River lad myself, Ballina being my native town." Sergt. C. M. Black, also writes in reference to the death of Private Pullen: You will, no doubt, remember Charlie Black from Chatsworth. I suppose you heard by this time of the sad, news of the death of your son, Will. He was one of my "cobbers," and in my platoon. I was close at hand when he was killed, alongside a lot more brave boys. He was hit in the head and arm, and only lived about five minutes. I had to collect his pay book, and these personal belongings, I am forwarding on to you. If I don't send them you will never get them. Mrs. Pullen, I am terribly sorry for you in the loss of your son, as he was my best "cobber" but here you have to take it as it comes. We are all waiting for our turn I have just had two years' fighting. You will excuse this short note as I am suffering a little from shell shock.