Lance Corporal Richard Eric Bullows died on 11th November 1916 serving with the 1st/8th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He was the only son amongst the five children of parents William, a carpenter, and Sarah, who lived in a cottage at Little Heath, Castle Bromwich from at least 1891 until at least 1911.
Richard became a tool-maker by trade and, in 1911, aged 18, was living in the family home at Castle Bromwich and working for the firm of Wynn, Timmins & Co Ltd at Century Works, Commercial Street, Birmingham. The firm was taken over by Balfour and Darwins of Sheffield in 1969 and the works in Birmingham was closed. His three unmarried sisters were also working in 1911 – Gertrude (24) was an assistant school mistress working for Aston School Board; Alice (21) was a clerk; and 15-year-old Margaret was a student typist. Oldest sibling, Harriet (27), previously a schoolteacher, had married fellow teacher William Washington Norton in 1909 and was living in Erdington in 1911.
On the outbreak of war, Richard joined the Army. His Medal Index Card shows that he first entered a Theatre of War on 22nd March 1915. He was killed on 11th November 1916 and is buried in Martinpuich Communal Cemetery. He is also commemorated locally on Castle Bromwich war memorial, and the memorial plaque in St Mary & St Margaret’s Church, Castle Bromwich.
If you have any more information, please let us know.
Tracey
Heritage & Local Studies Librarian
tel.: 0121 704 6977
email: heritage@solihull.gov.uk
Solihull Life 
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