GODMANCHESTERS YOUNGEST FALLEN OF THE GREAT WAR: In memory of Bugler Philip Bullen, Royal Marines, HMS Bulwark. Died 26th November 1914 (100 years ago today!) Rest In Peace ‘IN HIS FATHERS FOOTSTEPS’ On the 7th November 1899, at 12.43pm, Francis Bullen gave birth to twins in a house on East Street, Godmanchester. One was a boy, who they named Philip after his father, Philip senior was in the Royal Marines and he was serving away when his twins drew their first breath. Francis was originally from Wimpole and, perhaps, she had relatives in Godmanchester with whom she stayed as the arrival of her twins became imminent. In 1911 the census shows that the family were living in the Naval town of Gosport and Philip senior was now retired and working as a Mess Steward in Hasler Royal Navy Hospital, Gosport. He and Francis had in total four children, but the census shows that young Philip was their only surviving offspring and he was about to follow in his father’s footsteps. He was too young to sign on and serve as a fully-fledged Marine, but there was another way, via the Royal Marine Band. Young Philip signed on, became a Bugler and then took his place on board HMS Bulwark, a 15,000 ton London Class battleship moored on the Medway as part of the Royal Navy’s Channel Fleet. HMS Bulwark was the flag ship of the Navy’s 5th Battle Squadron. The 5th Squadron had been ordered to Sheerness on the 14th November 1914, to guard against possible invasion. On the 26th November HMS Bulwark was at Buoy 17, Kethole Reach, Chatham and was making ready to sail, the crew were busy, supplies were being brought on board, some crew were returning from leave, coal was being loaded, ammunition stored. Below decks some of the crew were having breakfast, whilst on deck the Royal Marine Band played and somewhere in their ranks was young Philip Bullen. At 7.35am some crew members on board HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Agamemnon noticed smoke to the stern of HMS Bulwark. Moments later there was an explosion near to the aft magazine and then a violent second explosion that ripped the 15,000 ton ship apart. Witnesses on HMS Implacable nearby said a huge pillar of black cloud belched upwards... From the depths of this writhing column flames appeared running down to sea level. The appearance of this dreadful phenomenon was followed by a thunderous roar. Then came a series of lesser detonations, and finally one vast explosion that shook the Implacable from mastheads to keel. The explosion was heard as far away as Whitstable and Southend, where it shook the pier. When divers later examined the wreck of the Bulwark they found only two pieces of sizeable wreckage, the rest had been vaporised. Of the 750 men on HMS Bulwark, only 14 sailors (no officers) survived, two of whom died the following day. Nearly all of the survivors were seriously hurt. Amongst the dead was young Philip Bullen, who had recently celebrated his 15th birthday. His body was never found. Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, made an announcement in parliament that afternoon, I regret to say I have some bad news for the house. The Bulwark battleship, The loss of the ship does not sensibly affect the military position, but I regret to say the loss of life is very severe. Only 12 men are saved. All the officers and the rest of the crew, who, I suppose, amounted to between 700 and 800, have perished. I think the House would wish me to express on their behalf the deep sorrow with which the House heard the news, and their sympathy with those who have lost their relatives and friends. An inquiry into the disaster drew the conclusion that, contrary to regulation, 275 6” shells had been stored side by side, some touching and too close to a boiler room bulk head. It was presumed that the cordite over heated and caused a chain reaction which destroyed the ship. Another explanation was that perhaps a damaged shell had become ‘live’ and was accidently dropped starting a catastrophic explosion. Whatever the cause, nearly 700 families lost their loved ones on that November day in 1914, not in action, not in an epic sea battle, not exchanging blows, shell for shell, with the German fleet, but in a tragic accident that could have been avoided. Amongst the dead was Godmanchester’s youngest casualty and the only surviving child of Philip and Francis Bullen, young Francis, the 15 year old Bugler who trod in his fathers footsteps.
Posted on: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 12:22:41 +0000
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