BULLUSS, Joseph, Herbert, Edward and Leslie

Joseph, Herbert, Edward and Leslie were the sons of John Henry and Hannah Bulluss of Auburn Vale Road, Inverell. They were born in Victoria before the family moved to Inverell to live.

Herbert, a Wheelwright, was the first of the brothers to enlist. At the age of twenty one he enlisted at Liverpool NSW in November 1914. He became a member of the 12th Light Horse Regiment, A Squadron and left Australia for Egypt on HMAT A29 Suevic in June 1915. He served at Gallipoli from the end of August and was at Quinn’s Post where he ‘took part in the rearguard action at evacuation.’ In May 1916 Herbert was promoted to Wheeler Corporal and transferred to France where he remained until the end of the War. He returned to Australia in May 1919.

Joseph, aged twenty four, and Edward, aged twenty one, enlisted together in Sydney in November 1915. They had worked as Blacksmiths until this time. Edward was one of thirty one men presented with the Inverell Medal at the Inverell Town Hall in September 1915. Both brothers became Gunners with the 5th Field Artillery Brigade, Reinforcement 1 and left Australia on HMAT A34 Persic the same day as their enlistment. They served in Egypt for three months before being sent to France in March 1916. Edward was transferred to the 5th Artillery Brigade; Joseph to the 2nd Division Ammunition Column. Both returned to Australia during 1919.

Leslie enlisted in Brisbane in August 1917 when he was just eighteen years old. His parents gave their permission for him to serve overseas. He had served four years with Senior Cadets and was a member of the Citizen Forces. He joined the 31st Battalion, 15th Reinforcement and left Australia on RMS Ormonde in March 1918. After two months in Egypt he was sent to England and then eventually to France. In March 1919 he was attached to the Australian Graves Detachment. Leslie returned home at the end of 1919. His name is recorded on the Inverell Intermediate High School Honor Roll.

All four Bulluss brothers have their names inscribed on the Inverell Honor Roll.