MILITARY HISTORY

Gunner Victor Evelyn Bullock    —    2327301        —        ACTIVE SERVICE (World War I)

Victor Evelyn Bullock was a 23 year, 2 months old, single man when, on the March 22, 1917, he completed his Attestation Paper in Cobourg, Ontario. He was living at 195 Foster Ave., Belleville, Ontario at the time and gave his birth date as January 21, 1894; born in Lakefield, Ontario. His previous employment was as a Teacher. At the time Victor was 5′ 5″ tall, 37″ chest, fair complexion, light brown hair, blue eyes and weighed 133 pounds. Victor’s Medical Examination was done March 23, 1917 at Cobourg, he was found fit for Duty. Victor named his father, William John Bullock, as his next-of-kin. Victor would have attended the schools in Lakefield. He indicated that he did not serve in any Military Force but he did serve for 6 months with the Queen’s Officers Training Corps in the Military Force. On March 22, 1917 Victor Evelyn Bullock entered the Active Service when he was enlisted in the Military Force with the Cobourg Heavy Battery (CHB), 6th Repair Depot (RD), Canadian Active Service Force (CASF) as an Acting Bombardier (A/Bdr) with Service Number 2327301.

There is a 3 month gap in information in A/Bdr Bullock’s Military File from March 23, 1917 to about June 25, 1917. He would have been training with the CHB, 6th RD, probably in the Cobourg and Kinston, Ontario areas. June 25, 1917 A/Bdr Bullock embarked the SS Justicia at Halifax, Nova Scotia. July 5, 1917 A/Bdr Bullock disembarked at Liverpool, England from the SS Justicia; reverts to the Rank of Gunner (Gnr) on arrival in England and is struck-off-strength from the CHB, 6th RD to the 2nd Reserve Brigade (RB), Commander Royal Artillery (CRA) at Shorncliffe, England . Also on July 5, 1917 Gnr Bullock was taken-on-strength to the 2nd RB, CRA at Shorncliffe. July 15, 1917 Gnr Bullock initiated a Pay Assigned of $15.00 monthly to his father, Mr. John Bullock of RR #2 Orono, Ontario. November 1, 1917 Gnr Bullock initiated a Separation Allowance of $15.00 monthly to his mother, Mrs. John Bullock of RR #2 Orono.

August 25, 1917 Gnr Bullock is drafted to the 1st Canadian Siege Battery at Shornecliffe to France. August 26, 1917 he arrived at his Unit and was taken-on-strength to the 1st Canadian Siege Battery in the Field. September 16, 1917, with the Canadian Garrison Battery Depot (CGBD, Gnr Bullock left for his Unit in the Field. September 17, 1917 he joined his Unit in the Field. March 20, 1918 Gnr Bullock is with the 1st Siege Brigade (Bde); now known as the 1st Bde Canadian Garrison Artillery* (CGA) and was hospitalized in the Field and transferred to the1st Bde on reorganization. *The CGA is an organization responsible for using large-calibre guns against heavily fortified positions. September 5, 1918 Gnr Bullock, with the 1st Bde CGA, is granted 14 days Leave to the United Kingdom (UK). September 21, 1918 he rejoins his Unit from Leave.

February 25, 1919 Gnr Bullock, still with the 1st Bde CGA, is granted 7 days Leave to Paris. March 5, 1919 he rejoined his Unit from Leave. April 1, 1919; after one year and one month with no data in his File; Gnr Bullock, now with the Casualty Clearing Centre (CCC), proceeded to England from the Field.
April 2, 1919 he arrived in England and was taken-on-strength with the 2nd CHB on transfer from the 1st Bde CGA with effect on April 5, 1919. April 7, 1919 Gnr Bullock is attached to the No 3 Military Depot (MD) at C Wing, Kinmel Park, Rhyl, England pending return to Canada. May 3, 1919, while at the 2nd CHB, Gnr Bullock is struck-off-strength to Canada on transfer to the CEF and embarking on proceeding to Canada. He was taken-on-strength to the No 3 District Depot (DD) at Kingston. Gunner Victor Bullock embarked the HMT Mauretania on Sailing Draft 53 at England May 3, 1919 and arrive at Halifax May 9, 1919. Victor Evelyn Bullock was discharged in Kingston on May 12, 1919 on demobilization. On release Victor Evelyn Bullock lived in Orono, Ontario, he passed away on October 24, 1956.

Gunner Victor Evelyn Bullock would have received his War Service Gratuity of $153.00, a Clothing Allowance, his Last Pay and a Rehabilitation Grant.

Gunner Victor Evelyn Bullock’s File indicates that he was eligible to receive the following medals which were shipped to him after he was discharged, the:
British War Medal; and
Victory Medal.
He would have also received the CEF Class “A” War Service Badge.
Victor Evelyn Bullock’s medals and decorations were dispatched to him October 24, 1922.

Gunner Victor Evelyn Bullock served for about 3 months and 6 days in Canada; 2 months and 21 days in the England; 1 years, 7 months and 6 days in France and 12 days Travel Time for a total time of about 2 years, 1 months and 15 days.

An excerpt from an article in McLean’s magazine by Barbara Amiel, September 1996:

The military is the single calling in the world with job specifications that include a commitment to die for your nation. What could be more honorable?

PERSONAL HISTORY

VICTOR EVELYN BULLOCK

Victor Evelyn Bullock was born in Lakefield on January 21, 1894, the son of William “John” Bullock and Mary Ann Campbell. He got his education in the Lakefield public schools and went through for a school teacher.

In 1915 he was living and teaching in the Belleville area. Since he had military training with the Queen’s Officers Training Corps, he went to Cobourg in March of 1917 and enlisted to serve King and Country.

After the war he returned home and took a teaching job in Ottawa. There he met his wife Kathleen Nelson, daughter of Abraham Nelson and Kate Higginson who was working as a Civil Servant. They were married in Ottawa on May 19, 1925. Kathleen Bullock passed away in 1942 and Victor died in 1956; both are buried in the Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa, Ontario.

Victor Evelyn Bullock was a member of the Lakefield Methodist Church and is included on a Memorial Plaque which remembers with honour their members who served in the Armed Forces during World War I. This plaque hangs in the Sanctuary of the Lakefield United Church on Regent Street.

THE VICTOR EVELYN BULLOCK FAMILY OF LAKEFIELD

Victor Bullock’s paternal grandparents were James Bullock born in 1817 and Elizabeth “Eliza” Leslie. They farmed in Douro Township and had seven children; Mary Jane, Elizabeth, William John, Thomas J., James, Robert George Bullock. James Bullock died on May 15, 1861 and is buried in St. Mark’s Cemetery, Warsaw, Ontario.

Victor Bullock’s maternal grandparents were John Hutchison Campbell and Mary Whitfield and they resided at Nassau Mills, Ontario. John died on May 10th, 1909 and Mary died April 1, 1915, both are buried in Little Lake Cemetery, Peterborough, Ontario.

Victor Bullock’s parents were William “John” Bullock born in 1850 in Warsaw, Ontario and Mary Ann Campbell born in 1857 in Douro Township. They married in Peterborough on April 25, 1883. John was a farmer in Douro Township and they had a family of seven children: Eva Ethel; Clara Alma; Gordon; Edna Pearl; Kenneth; Victor Evelyn & Asa Ulmont Bullock. By 1915 the family was living in the village of Lang in Otonabee Township then moved to Clarke Township in Durham County in 1918. John passed away on July 18, 1925 and Mary died on December 8, 1932; both are buried in Lakefield Cemetery.

Victor Bullock’s father was previously married to Margaret Fitzgerald born in 1858. They farmed in Douro Township and had a family of four children: Bernard; Raymond Hilliard; Lillie Florence and Howard James Bullock. Margaret died in 1882 the same year their last child was born. She is buried in Lakefield Cemetery.

Victor Evelyn Bullock was a member of the Lakefield Methodist church and is included on the Memorial Plaque which honours their members who served in the Armed forced during World War 1. The plaque currently hangs in the sanctuary of the Lakefield United Church 47 Regent Street, Lakefield Ontario.