The fine and relatively scarce Great War Western Front Battle of Lys 13 April 1918 Cyclist Reconnaissance Officer’s Military Cross group awarded to 2nd Lieutenant F.H.J. Bull, Army Cyclist Corps, later Royal Air Force. From Bath, Somerset, Bull was present out at the front from March 1915 and was commissioned in April 1917, being then awarded the Military Cross for his actions on 13 April 1918 when he was employed on special patrol. Under heavy shell and machine-gun fire he pushed right forward in advance of our line, obtaining touch with the enemy and sending back valuable information. Owing to his indefatigable work, day and night, and utter disregard of danger, reports on enemy movements on different parts of the front were received. His award was gazetted on 18 September 1918 by which time he was under training as a flying observer. Bull who was originally an electrician by trade, went on to form The Peradin Rubber Company in Bath. This company, was established to supply component parts to car manufacturers, but went on to become a world-leader in the field of rubber to metal bonding making engine mountings and similar items for automotive manufacturers world-wide. During the Second World War its factory was bombed and then moved to Freshford Mills in Bradford on Avon, and manufactured inflatable rubber decoy tanks and military vehicles.
Group of 4: Military Cross, GVR bust, reverse privately engraved ‘F.H.J. BULL / LA LYS / 13TH: APRIL 1918.’, complete with original ribbon and wearing pin, and housed in its fitted presentation case; 1914-1915 Star; (294 PTE. F.H. BULL. A. CYC. CORPS.); British War Medal and Victory Medal; (2.LIEUT. F.H.J. BULL.)
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine.
Together with the following related pair:
British Red Cross Society Proficiency Cross for Proficiency in Red Cross First Aid, gilt metal and enamels, reverse engraved: ’027715 M. BULL 1945’, this housed in its original card box of issue; and a British Red Cross Society 5 Years Service Badge, reverse officially numbered: ‘42140’.
Frederick Henry Joseph Bull was born on 19 April 1896 in Bath, Somerset, and between 1912 and 1914 was living and working in London as an electrician. With the Great War he saw service as a Private (No.294 later No.13042) with the Army Cyclist Corps, and was present out on the Western Front from 16 March 1915, before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the Army Cyclist Corps on 13 April 1917.
Bull was awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry in action during the Battle of Lys on 13 April 1918, the award being published in the London Gazette for 18 September 1918 with the following citation: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when on special patrol. Under heavy shell and machine-gun fire he pushed right forward in advance of our line, obtaining touch with the enemy and sending back valuable information. Owing to his indefatigable work, day and night, and utter disregard of danger, reports on enemy movements on different parts of the front were received.’
Bull then transferred into the Royal Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant and Observer on probation on 20 July 1918, and was confirmed as an observer on 21 November 1918. He was released from service on 2 February 1919, and claimed his medals in August 1920 when living in Bishopston, Bristol.
Bull who married Matilda Amelia Ball, went on to form The Peradin Rubber Company at Bradford on Avon which manufactured inflatable rubber decoy tanks and military vehicles during the Second World War, and became a world-leader in the field of rubber to metal bonding making engine mountings and similar items for automotive manufacturers world-wide. Prior to the war it had been established to supply component parts to car manufacturers.
Just after the war Freshford Mills in Bradford on Avon was chosen as the site for the factory for Peradins. It provided significant labour to people from Trowbridge and Bradford on Avon with the company providing buses to bring employees in. The company’s original factory in Bath was bombed during the war and deemed unsuitable for manufacturing. Peradin remained in Freshford until 1995 when it ceased trading. The site was eventually sold and developed into high end housing in 2009. Bull who latterly lived at Winchcombe Hill, Bath, died on 21 January 1949.
