Thank you to Bernice Forsyth and Mary Day from Capel Local History Group for allowing Dorking Museum to publish their research. Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the additional detail.
William was born in 1890 in Dorking. He was the first child of seven of John Henry and Sarah Pullen. John worked as a labourer on the roads. At the time of the 1901 census, the family is living in Arnolds Cottages, Beare Green.
Before he joined the Army, William worked as a chauffeur to Mr. Walker of Merstham House, Merstham.
William enlisted in Dorking into the 7th Battalion of the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment. His address at that time was Holmwood.
PTE. W. PULLEN
Queen’s R.W.S. Regt.
Pte. Wm. Pullen of the Queen’s R.W.S. Regt, who was killed on July 1st, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Pullen, of Arnolds Cottage, Beare Green. He joined the Army within a few days of the outbreak of the war, and was wounded at the Battle of Loos. He remained in France, and on recovering went back into the fighting line. In January of this year he was invalided home with frostbite, and went out again in April. Before joining the Army, Pte. Pullen was chauffeur to Mr. Walker of Merstham House, Merstham. His younger brother Jack is also in the Queen’s. He was wounded in the Dardenelles, and having made a successful recovery is now on his way to Egypt.
William Pullen Death Notice © Dorking Advertiser findmypast.co.uk
William was killed in action on the 1st of July, 1916. He is buried in Combles Communal Cemetery Extension in France. William’s brother, John, was killed the following year.
| Born | Dorking, Surrey | |
| Lived | Holmwood, Surrey | |
| Son of | John and Sarah Pullen | |
| Brother of | John Henry Pullen | |
| Enlisted | Guildford | |
| Regiment | 7th Battalion, Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment | |
| Number | G/2236 | |
| Date of Death | 1st July 1916 | |
| Place of Death | Somme, France | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 25 | |
| Cemetery | Combles Communal Cemetery Extension, France |
