Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Though only 16, Fred felt it his duty to respond to the call for volunteers for WW1.
Lying about his age, he enlisted with his brother Alan and soon departed with the understanding they were heading to Gallipoli.
They arrived in Egypt, posed for photos at the Pyramids and were later shipped out to Lemnos, awaiting the transfer to Gallipoli that ultimately never came.
Like those in the Gallipoli withdrawal, they soon arrived in the Somme, where Fred fought in Australia’s bloodiest day of any war, The Battle of Fromelles, which he thankfully survived . Luck remained with him until the 25th of September 1917, The Battle of Polygon Wood. Seriously wounded by a shell blast, Fred spoke of the courage of the medic who came to his aid, picked him up, and ran him off the battle field, gravely ill , his lungs riddled with shrapnel.
Given little hope of surviving he proved the doctors wrong, and after 9 months of hospitalisation in England he was repatriated back to Australia.
Fred recovered, married Edith Keats, built a house on the George’s River at San Souci and had 9 children. With a back massively scarred, and with pieces of shrapnel still in his lungs Fred successfully turned to boxing to support his large family. He fought through the depression years, up until the arrival of WW2, when his own son Doug returned from Tobruk headed to fight the Japanese in New Guinea , Fred once again volunteered and this time joined as a Medic .
On behalf of Fred, his 9 children, 11 grandchildren and dozens of great grandchildren , we sincerely thank that brave medic who’s action gave us the gift of life, something for which Fred and all of us are eternally grateful.
Sincerely
Fred's Grandson
Scott Bulliman