James BULLOCH, M.M.,

Corporal 139055

257th Tunnelling Company

Royal Engineers

formerly Private 14446

7th Battalion

King's Own Scottish Borderers

Gravestone in ADINKERKE MILITARY CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

This photograph was kindly provided by Pierre Vandervelden InMemories Website

DALSERF War Memorial, Ashgillhead.

Cap Badge of The Royal Engineers

Shoulder insignia of the Tunnelling Companies of The Royal Engineers

Cap Badge of the King's Own Scottish Borderers

JAMES SIMPSON BULLOCH, M.M., Corporal 139055, Royal Engineers, is NOT named on the LARKHALL WAR MEMORIAL.

He is named on the DALSERF WAR MEMORIAL at Ashgillhead. (See above photo).

He formerly served as Private 14446, 7th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers, and was later transferred to the Royal Engineers.

JAMES SIMPSON BULLOCH was born at Curries Buildings, McNeil Street, Larkhall, on 5th January, 1891.

His parents were Daniel Bulloch, a Coal Miner, and Agnes Simpson, who were married at Larkhall on 31st December, 1874.
His paternal grandparents were Duncan Bulloch, a Coal Miner, and Grace McKay.
His maternal grandparents were John Simpson, a Coal Miner, and Mary McAulay.

The 1901 DALSERF Census was taken on 31st March, 1901.
The family are listed at 12 Ayr Road, Dalserf, as follows:
Daniel Bulloch, age 50, Head, Coal Miner, b Larkhall.
Agnes Bulloch, age 40, Wife, b Larkhall.
John Bulloch, age 21, Son, Coal Miner, b Larkhall.
Duncan Bulloch, age 19, Son, Coal Miner, b Larkhall.
Daniel Bulloch, age 17, Son, Coal Miner, b Larkhall.
Grace Bulloch, age 15, Daughter, b Larkhall.
Walter Bulloch, age 12, Son, Scholar, b Larkhall.
JAMES BULLOCH, age 10, son Scholar, b Larkhall.
Hunter Bulloch, age 7, Son, Scholar, b Larkhall.
Jeanie Bulloch, age 5, Daughter, b Larkhall.
Andrew Bulloch, age 3, Son, b Larkhall.
Sarah Bulloch, age 1, Daughter, b Larkhall.

His father Daniel Bulloch, age 56, died on 14th March, 1909, at Ayr Road, Dalserf.

On 1st October, 1910, JAMES, age 19, of 32 Ayr Road, Dalserf, Larkhall, married Jeanie Edmiston Smart, age 19, of 28 Ayr Road, Dalserf, Larkhall, at 21 Hope Street, Glasgow.

A daughter Jeanie Wood Bulloch was born on 4th November, 1910, at Ayr Road, Dalserf.
The baby died on 1st January, 1911, at Ayr Road, Dalserf, age 2 months. The cause of death was Lung Congestion.

The 1911 DALSERF Census was taken on 2nd April, 1911.
The family are listed at No 30 Ayr Road, Dalserf, Larkhall, as follows:
JAMES BULLOCH, age 20, Head, Coal Miner, b Larkhall.
Jeanie Bulloch, age 20, Wife, b Lasswade, Midlothian.

His family are listed at No 32 Ayr Road, Dalserf, Larkhall, as follows:
Agnes S. Bulloch, age 51, Head, Widow, b Airdrie.
Walter Bulloch, age 21, Son, Pony Driver, b Larkhall.
Hunter Bulloch, age 16, Son, Pony Driver, b Lesmahagow.
Jeanie Bulloch, age 14, Daughter, b Dalserf.
Andrew Bulloch, age 12, Son, Scholer, b Larkhall.
Sarah Bulloch, age 10, Daughter, Scholar, b Larkhall.

JAMES joined the King's Own Scottish Borderers as Private 14446, and went to France on 11th July, 1915.
At some point he was appointed as a Corporal in the KOSBs.

He was transferred to the Royal Engineers, renumbered as Corporal 139055, and became a member of the 257th Tunnelling Company.

In The London Gazette No 29749, of 14th September, 1916, "139055 L./C. J. Bullock [sic], R.E." is named as having been awarded The Military Medal for Bravery in the Field.
This information was repeated in The Edinburgh Gazette No 12986, of 18th September, 1916.

JAMES was reported 'Died of Wounds' on 23 August, 1917, at 39th Casualty Clearing Station, Belgium, age 26.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) entry for JAMES  shows that he is buried at ADINKERKE MILITARY CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. There are 359 identified casualties buried at ADINKERKE MILITARY CEMETERY.

JAMES is commemorated at The Scottish National War Memorial (SNWM) in Edinburgh Castle.

The entry in Soldiers Died in the Great War (SDGW) shows that JAMES was born and enlisted in Larkhall.

The Medal Rolls Index Card (MIC) for JAMES shows that he was awarded The 1914-15 Star Medal, The Victory Medal and The British War Medal. The MIC is dated 11th July, 1915, and indicates that he went to France on that date.
The MIC also shows that his wife was living at Walker's Buildings, Muir Street, Larkhall.

The "Soldier's Effects" record shows that his widow Jeanie received his Outstanding Pay of £3/4/-, additional Pay of £6/8/2, and a War Gratuity of £15/-/-.

A clipping taken from The Hamilton Advertiser dated 16th December, 1916, reads:
"LARKHALL.
HONOUR FOR LARKHALL SOLDIER - Corporal James Bulloch, R.E., who resides at 33 Ayr Road, Larkhall, has been decorated with the Military Medal for great gallantry in the field. This award to another Lanarkshire miner will be hailed with great delight in the district".

Another clipping taken from The Hamilton Advertiser dated 8th September, 1917, reads:
"LARKHALL AND THE WAR - Mrs Marshall, Ayr Road, Larkhall, has been officially notified that her son, Corpl. Jas. Bulloch, R.E., died from wounds at the 39th Casualty Station on the 23rd August. He was awarded the Military Medal about a year ago for bravery in the field. Corpl. Bulloch was 26 years of age, and previous to enlisting was employed in Skellyton Colliery, Larkhall. He was a son of Daniel Bulloch, Ayr Road, Larkhall.

...
<snip>".

His mother died on 15th October, 1935, age 76, at 60 Cornsilloch, Dalserf.

Lest We Forget!

A summary of the operations of 257th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers

Medal Rolls Index Card (MIC) showing the award of The 1914-15 Star Medal, The Victory Medal and The British War Medal.

The rear of the MIC shows the address of his widow.

Medal Roll showing the award of The Victory Medal and The British War Medal.

Medal Roll showing the award of The 1914-15 Star Medal.

Pages of The London Gazette and The Edinburgh Gazette showing the award of The Military Medal.

His name 'BULLOCH' is mis-spelled 'BULLOCK'.

Entry taken from UK Recipients of The Military Medal.

Entry taken from UK Soldiers Died in the Great War.

Entry in the Register of Soldier's Effect.

Newspaper clipping taken from The Hamiton Advertiser, 16 Dec 1916, p5.

Newspaper clipping taken from The Hamiton Advertiser, 8 Sep 1917, p5.

Entry in the Scottish National War Memorial, Edinburgh Castle.

CWGC Commemoration Certificate - old version.

CWGC Commemoration Certificate - new version.