William Harold Cullen
Educated Nottingham High School. A member of the Nottingham Rowing Club, he was also a rugby and hockey player. He attended Castle Gate Congregational Church, Nottingham.
1911: employed as a lace warehouseman.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
William Harold was the son of Alfred and Elizabeth Cullen (née Briggs).
Alfred and Elizabeth were married in 1879 and had five children, Edith Annie b. 1880, Alfred Edgar b. 1883, John Wilkinson b. 1888, William Harold birth reg. 1890 JFM and Frank Briggs b. 1892.
Two years after their marriage, Alfred, a cashier (hosiery), his wife and their daughter Edith were living at 5 Arthur Street, Nottingham; also in the household was a general domestic servant. By 1891 Alfred was a hosiery manufacturer (A Cullen & Co.) and the couple were living at 17 Larkdale Street Nottingham, with their four children, Edith, Alfred, John and William. They now employed a nursemaid as well as a general domestic servant. Their youngest child, Frank, was born the following year.
Alfred, Elizabeth and their five children were living at 15 Burns Street in 1901 but by 1911 had
moved to 83 Forest Road. Alfred snr. had now retired from work. Only three of their five children were in the home on the night of the Census: Edith (no occupation), William, a lace warehouseman, and Frank a dentist's apprentice. The couple still employed a domestic servant. Their second son, John, was living in Coventry, one of two boarders, both automobile engineers, in the home of Ernest Everett, also an automobile engineer, and his wife. The eldest son, Alfred, who had qualified as a medical doctor in 1908, may have already left England for either Australia or New Zealand; he was on the 1923 Electoral Roll for Bunbury, Western Australia, and there are later records linking him with Australia.
The only daughter, Edith, married William Henry Heppenshall Shaw, who was some years her senior, later in 1911 and they had one son, William Harold Cullen, born in about 1918.
Alfred snr. and his wife later moved to 'The Chestnuts', 478 Woodborough Road, Nottingham, which was also the address given on their son William's probate record. His parents later lived at 13 Noel Street, the address given on the CWGC record.
However, Elizabeth and her son John were recorded on the 1921 Census at 27 Noel Street in the home of her son-in-law, William Shaw, a spinning mill manager, and his wife and son. John Cullen's occupation was given as mechanical engineer but annotated 'Army, previously in business as employer in motor trade, now out of work.' Alfred Cullen snr. has not yet been traced on the 1921 Census.
Alfred Cullen snr. died on 22 September 1924. The Probate record gives his address as 13 Noel Street; Probate was awarded to his son-in-law, William Shaw, mill manager, and son Frank Briggs, surgeon dentist. Alfred's widow Elizabeth died on 3 February 1937. Both are buried in Nottingham General Cemetery.
John Wilkinson predeceased his mother; he died in Perth, Western Australia, on 1 February 1926. His younger brother, Alfred Edgar, died on 24 December 1948, also in Western Australia. Their sister, Edith Annie Shaw, died on 8 August 1955; she was then living at 4 Cyprus Road, Nottingham; her husband had died in 1951. Administration of Edith's Will was awarded to her son, William Harold Cullen Shaw, an industrial chemist and solicitor. The youngest brother, Frank Briggs, died in June 1956. (See 'Extra information').
William Harold Cullen joined the Nottinghamshire Royal Horse Artillery as a Gunner in September 1914, then commissioned in the 14th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) in March 1915. He was serving with the BEF France in May 1915 and transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (113th Company) in the November.
William was killed in action at Mametz Wood on 11 July 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. (Panel Reference : Pier and Face: 5C and 12C).
He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC History of the Thiepval Memorial: 'On 1 July 1916, supported by a French attack to the south, thirteen divisions of Commonwealth forces launched an offensive on a line from north of Gommecourt to Maricourt. Despite a preliminary bombardment lasting seven days, the German defences were barely touched and the attack met unexpectedly fierce resistance. Losses were catastrophic and with only minimal advances on the southern flank, the initial attack was a failure. In the following weeks, huge resources of manpower and equipment were deployed in an attempt to exploit the modest successes of the first day. However, the German Army resisted tenaciously and repeated attacks and counter attacks meant a major battle for every village, copse and farmhouse gained. At the end of September, Thiepval was finally captured. The village had been an original objective of 1 July. Attacks north and east continued throughout October and into November in increasingly difficult weather conditions. The Battle of the Somme finally ended on 18 November with the onset of winter. ... The Memorial to the Missing of the Somme bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave.' (www.cwgc.org)
William's three brothers also served in the War. There is evidence (full records not sighted) that Alfred, a quailfied doctor, served with the Australian Forces. There is a Medals Awards record for John Wilkinson, M2034709 Private RASC, who was discharged when he accepted a commission in the RASC on 4 Jun 1916 (British War Medal, Victory Medal). Frank was recorded on the UK University of London of War Service as a Captain, Spec. Lists (Dent. Surg.) R. Dent [Dental] Hospital. Entry in the 1920 directory of registered UK Dentists Registration 13 May 1915, Qualifications/date LDS RCS Eng. 1915. His home address was given as The Chestnuts, Mapperley Hill, Nottingham.
CWGC Additional information: Son of Elizabeth Cullen, of 13, Noel St., Nottingham, and the late Alfred Cullen.
Cullen family grave, Nottingham General Cemetery, headstone inscription: 'In ever loving memory of Lieut. William Harold Cullen. Notts. R.H.A., 14th Sherwood Foresters and 113th Machine Gun Corps., Killed In action at Mametz Wood, France on the 11th July 1916, aged 23. Faithful unto death. Also of Alfred Cullen, father of the above who died September 22nd 1924 in his 74th year. Peace perfect Peace.'
Also commemorated on the gravestone is his brother, Alfred Edgar Cullen, who died in Perth, Australia on the 24 December 1948, aged 65, and also Ann Wilkinson [Cullen] who died on 23 June 1886, aged 74 and her husband, John Cullen, who died on the 4 June 1898, aged 89.
Probate: 'Cullen William Harold of 478 Woodborough Road, Nottingham, second lieutenant in HM Army, died 11 July 1916 in France. Probate Nottingham 13 December to Elizabeth Cullen (wife of Alfred Cullen). Effects £1013 2s 9d.'
Included on Castle Gate Congregational Church Roll of Honour printed January 1917: '2nd Lieut Cullen WH, MGC.' (Nottinghamshire Archives ref DD2325/10)
Nottingham Rowing Club archive has a copy of a letter from the Club to William's mother. The Rowing Club was compiling details of members who had served/died and although the Club had a photograph of William they were writing to his mother to ask for additional particulars about him. (Nottinghamshire Archives ref DD 865/671/1-59)
Nottingham Evening Post, 11 September 1916 (extract): ‘Losses and Honours. Nottingham City Council’s Sympathy. The Nottingham City Council met to-day after a month’s rest, and the Mayor (Councillor JG Small) said that since their last meeting several matters had occurred as to which he had been called upon to take action. The Sherwood Foresters had been very heavily engaged in action, and there were a large number of casualties … Several of their friends had suffered losses Councillor Cullen, Councillor Major Walker, the electrical engineer (Mr Talbot), and of their city accountants (Mr TC Leman) among them.’
Nottingham Evening Post, 23 September 1924: ‘Death of Mr Alfred Cullen. Former Nottingham City Councillor. The death occurred at his residence, 13, Noel-street, Nottingham, yesterday, of Mr Alfred Cullen, a former member of the City Council who sat in the Liberal interest for the Sherwood Ward from February 9th 1912, until November, 1920 … He was also prominently identified with the Castle-gate Congregational Church …The late Mr Cullen, who had suffered for some time from heart trouble, leaves a widow, three sons, and a daughter. The eldest son [John Wilkinson] is at present in Australia and another is in New Zealand [probably Alfred Edgar].’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Probate: Cullen John Wilkinson of Acacia Bunbury Western Australia, died 1 February 1926 at Perth Western Australia Administration Nottingham 16 June to William Henry Heppenstall Shaw [brother in law] company director and Herbert Stanley Richards solicitor. Effects £1316 8s. Burial Claremont Western Australia.
Find a Grave: Alfred Edgar Cullen (1883) d. 24 Dec 1948, Karrakatta Cemetery & Crematorium Western Australia. ‘In memory of Alfred Edgar Cullen MD. Loved husband of Elvie, died 24 December 1948.’
Kent & Sussex Courier, 29 June 1956: Report of the inquest on ‘Frank Briggs Cullan, aged 64, of 40 Mayfield Road, Sanderstead, who was found in the river Eden at Edenbridge.’ The pathologist said that ‘death was not due to drowning in the ordinary way but to shock probably through a sudden immersion in cold water.’ Having heard the evidence, which was outlined in the newspaper report, the Coroner recorded a verdict of ‘Suicide whilst the balance of mind was affected.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Photo of William Harold Cullen
Cullen family grave and headstone, Nottingham General Cemetery. Commemorations include 2Lt WH Cullen. Photograph Gary Crosby, 21 August 2022.
Photo of William Harold Cullen
Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France (www.cwgc.org)