BULL, Leopold
| Service Number: | 3682 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 June 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 46th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | London, England, August 1891 |
| Home Town: | St Kilda East, Port Phillip, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Montessori College, Brixton Hill, London, England |
| Occupation: | Law clerk |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 7 April 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No.1, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3682, 14th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Nov 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3682, 14th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 1 Mar 1918: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches, German Spring Offensive 1918, 'London Gazette' No. 30704, 25 May 1918; 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 165, 24 October 1918. | |
| 25 Mar 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 3682, 46th Infantry Battalion, German Spring Offensive 1918 | |
| 7 Apr 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 46th Infantry Battalion, Dernancourt/Ancre, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 46th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1918-04-07 | |
| 9 Apr 1918: | Honoured Military Cross, Dernancourt/Ancre, 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. As Battalion Intelligence Officer, after the delivery of an attack, he led a patrol forward to clear up the situation. Although severely wounded within 30 yards of the enemy's line, he was able to give useful information when brought back two hours later.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 185 Date: 27 November 1918 |
Awarded the Military Cross for actions at Dernancourt
'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. As Battalion Intelligence Officer, after the delivery of an attack, he led a patrol forward to clear up the situation. Although severely wounded within 30 yards of the enemy's line, he was able to give useful information when brought back two hours later.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 185 Date: 27 November 1918
Submitted 3 October 2023 by Steve Larkins
Biography contributed by John Edwards
"...Lieutenant Leopold (Leo) Bull, 46th Battalion of St Kilda, Victoria. Described in his Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing File as "a very plucky man and very popular with the men", Lt Bull suffered machine gun wounds to both legs whilst on patrol as Intelligence Officer in no man's land at Morlancourt, France on the night of 6 April 1918. He died the next day in hospital. Lt Bull was posthumously awarded the Military Cross on 26 July 1918 "for conspicuous gallantry and ability as Battalion Intelligence Officer in action near Albert on 5th April 1918"." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)
Biography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
Leopold BULL was born in London in 1891
His parents were James Adolphus BULL & Maude Mary HAMLEN who married in England in 1888 (marriage registered in Lambeth) - his Mother Maude died in St Kilda, Victoria in 1912
His brother Hugo BULL (SN 3611) also served in WW1 - he returned to Australia on 9th January, 1920
Biography contributed by Aubrey Bairstow
Leopold Bull was born in London in 1891. His parents were James Adolphus Bull & Maude Mary Hamlen who married in England in 1888 (marriage registered in Lambeth). He attended the Montessori College at Brixton Hill, London . His Mother Maude died in St Kilda, Victoria in 1912.
Leo was a law student when he enlisted in the 14th Battalion on 19 June 1915. He stated that he was aged 23 and that his father was his next of kin. He also advised that he had served 4 years in the Cadets in South Africa and that for the past 3 years he was a member of Prahan Rifle Club.
He embarked from Melbourne on Transport A40 “Ceramic” which arrived in Egypt, where, in March Leopold was transferred to the 46th Battalion. A week later he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. The 46th embarked for Marseilles on 2 June 1916 and arrived in France on the 8th.
Leo was promoted to Lieutenant whilst in France in October 1916. The 46th endured two stints in the heavily contested trenches of Pozieres, as well as a period in reserve.
After Pozieres, the battalion spent the period up until March 1917 alternating between duty in the trenches and training and rest behind the lines. On 11 April it took part in the attack mounted against the heavily defended village of Bullecourt - part of the formidable Hindenburg Line to which the Germans had retreated during February and March. Devoid of surprise, and dependent upon the support of unreliable tanks, the attack had little chance of success; after managing to fight through to it's objectives, the 46th was forced to withdraw with heavy casualties.
Later in the year, the focus of the AIF's operations switched to the Ypres sector in Belgium where the 46th took part in the battles of Messines and Passchendaele.
The 46th rotated in and out of the front line throughout the winter of 1917-18. Leo was the officer in charge of the Battalions Scouts and was mentioned in despatches for his work in late 1917 and early 1918
On the night of 5 April 1918 Lieutenant Bull and Corporal Dolan on C Company 46th Battalion were out scouting. They were in support trenches on the right of Morlancourt having relieved the 45th. Accounts differ as to the nature of the woundings but it appears that both encountered an enemy machine gun and were wounded. Bull was shot in the stomach and legs and was difficult to move until a Lieutenant Muriel dragged him to some cover and the stretcher bearers later took him to the Regimental Aid Post where he died on the 7th. Apparently due to heavy shelling he was unable to be removed by the stretcher bearers for some time. Accounts suggest a shell may have also blown his foot off.
He left his possessions to his sisters. His medals were also issued to them, including the Military Cross.
Presumably they wore the medals, hence the reverse mounting. Sadly his other personal effects were lost due to enemy action when HMAT Barunga was sunk
His brother Hugo Bull (SN 3611) also served in WW1 - he returned to Australia on 9th January, 1920
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