Harold Cullimore
Harold was born on the 19th of June 1895. He was the 10th child of Anthony William Cullimore and Emily Denning. During the 1901 census the family were living in Acton Lane, Iron Acton. He joined the army at the age of 15 – he easily passed the exams and by 1911, at the age of just 16, he was living in Hampshire barracks. The youngest you could be to join the army was 18 and so Harold needed to convince the army doctor that he was older. After spending time in Malta and China the Gloucestershire Regiment joined other Regiments in Belgium.
I have received this essay which Harold wrote during his time at Queen's Hospital Sidcup, Kent. He was involved in Literacy lessons taught by Lady Gough. The original is in the Liddle Collection in the Brotherton Library, University of Leeds. The reference is General Aspects Wounds Item 34.
I have copied his essay as he wrote it including all spellings, grammar and punctuation.
I have copied his essay as he wrote it including all spellings, grammar and punctuation.
no 6 January 1922
My Personal experiences and reminiscences of the Great War.
Being a time serving soldier on the outbreak of war, seems to necessitate an explanation of my doings prior to its commencement.
I a native of Gloucestershire, was born in the parish of Iron Acton in the year 1895. My father died when I was about the age of seven. Having a strong boyish will and temper, I often quarrelled with one or other of my brothers. During a fit of temper one morning, when I was about fourteen years of age, I struck an older brother with my clenched hand. The result of this action caused me to leave home and to live with a friend. a few months later my friend removed to another district and, not wishing to return to my home, I decided to enlist as a soldier.
By this time I had reached the age of fifteen and I was stronger and bigger than many youths three or four years my seniors.
Early one morning I wished my friend and his wife goodbye, and started on my way to the railway station. Taking a route across the fields, a distance of about five miles, I reached the station and proceeded to Bristol by rail.
Arriving at the recruition office. After a few questions by those in authority I was shown a large room in which lay a pile of small mattresses and blankets and told that was the place where I had to sleep. I then went into the city and on my return late in the evening I noticed what appeared to be a bed made upon the floor. Thinking some kind friend had taken the trouble to make it for me, I took possession.
Soon after I had made myself comfortable beneath the blankets in walked the soldier whose bed it was. He was returning to his regiment and was staying for one night at the recruiting office. When he discovered me in his bed he didn't seem to care, as I apologized and offered to make him another bed and we talked ourselves to sleep.
For three days I continued to receive an allowance of two shillings and nine pence per day to buy food for myself. On the third day, along with several other young men, who wanted to enlist, I was examined by a doctor. I had no difficulty in passing his test. Only, when my age was asked did I begin to falter. I did not want to tell an untruth yet only by doing so could I hope to enter the regular forces. I gave my age as eighteen but the doctor was not satisfied with my answer and only when the seargeant asked me again did I tell them my real age.
At this they began to laugh, which gave me fresh courage, so that I laughed too.
They tried to persuade me to join the Special Reserve force for six months to see if I would like it but I was still obstinate and at last they gave way and I became a regular soldier in my county regiment the Glosters and my age as eighteen years and three months. I was then sent with those who had just passed their examinations to my depot. There I spent the winter, having a week's leave at xmas, during which I returned home. My mother was very pleased as was also my brothers and sisters at seeing me again.
Soon after I had returned to the depot I was sent with a batch of recruits to join my regiment at Portsmouth, which I may mention was the 1st Battalion which had just returned from India after nineteen years service abroad.
The 2nd Battalion had left for Malta, and the 1st Battalion were quartered in the barracks which it's sister had evacuated.
I may add, that, the sergeant who was placed in charge of us during our journey from our depot to the regiment gave me the impression of a savage dog, as he barked his orders to us. I suppose he wanted to impress us with his authority. On arriving at Portsmouth we marched to our regimental headquarters and was soon allotted to the various companies which needed strengthening.
As recruits we had generally to parade four or five times daily, until we passed the various tests such as musketry, gymnastics, bayonet fighting, scouting, also we had to fire a recruits course.
After two years service we were classed as dutymen, and drew proficiency pay if we were entitled to do so. That meant that a man must be a first class shot or marksman, and posess a third class certificate of education, for which he would receive six pence per day, in addition to his ordinary pay, a second class shot would receive three pence per day in addition to his ordinary pay. School was compulsory until a man secured a third class certificate. To become a sergeant it was necessary to obtain a second class cirtificate and obtain a still higher rank, he needed a first class certificate.
At the time I am writing about, a battalion consisted of eight companies. I was fortunate in being attached to B. Company. My captain was a thourough gentleman as was my colour sergeant.
My chums knicknamed the captain Bronco. One day, while we were encamped a Wool, our captain was giving us company drill, which we did not seem to do as he wished it to be done, he remarked, "I know you men call me Bronco," and immediately gave us an order to "double march". He kept us doubling for some time, and then he dismissed us his face full of humour.
I stayed with the 1st battalion about two and a half years. During that period a good deal of my time was in training either on Salisbury Plain, or at various places where we encamped for a month or two. The big strike ...... us on one occasion to be sent to Swindon, where we stayed a fortnight. We did a hundred miles march one a year. It took four days to do the march, in which we were sometimes attacked by the cadets or scouts.
A draft was required to be sent to the 2nd Battalion at Malta, and as some of my chums were going I decided to go with them. We embarked on board the transport Rohilla, and after seven or eight day sailing we landed at Malta. The first part of the voyage was very rough and caused those who were not used to sailing, to have sea sickness. As I was doing duty as a swabber, cleaning the decks I did not feel it so much. With my canvas trousers rolled above my knees, and a hose pipe, or a long handled scrubber in my hands, I used to use from my hammock at five o'clock in the morning, and proceed with the rest of the swabbers, to wash the decks. We generally had coffee to drink, before begining work. Our feet were bare, and the fresh air and cold sea water, gave us an appetite for breakfast.
The 2nd Battalion sent their band and drums to meet us as we disembarked, and we marched to their barracks, to the sound of it's splendid music. I may here mention, that both Battalions had splendid bands and were proud of them.
On reaching the barracks, we were drawn up on the square, and soon the Regimental Sergeant Major assigned us to various companies that required strengthening. My parades began afresh, as one battalion drilled quickly, and the other with slow movements. It was very very difficult to accustom oneself to the change.
My regiment, as I must now call it, had been stationed in Malta nearly three years, and would soon be leaving for China. While in Malta they had won many shooting competitions and also had the best boxers on the Island.
Guard mounting, in reds, was a keen competition amongst the companies. The smartest and cleanest man was given the stick and only did duty as the colonels orderly for the day. The stick, as we called it, was a silver mounted cane, kept specialy for that purpose.
I not being lucky enough to obtain a good set of white cuff, did not feel inclined for many sticks, so to release myself of the necessity of doing guards, I became a signaller.
My shooting suffered somewhat, owing to the change of climate which dried my eyes for some time, and I dropped from Marksman to a 1st class shot. I still was entitled to my proficiency pay, so I did not mind very much at becoming a lesser shot.
After my being in Malta about seven months my regiment embarked for China. We landed at Ching-Wang-Tou (?) on the north-east coast after a voyage of six weeks. We had a good voyage and called at various ports, where we generally took a route march to keep us fit.
On arriving a Ching-Wang-Tou a miserable and outlandish place, we unshipped our ammunition and stores and entrained enroute for Tientsin and Peking. After an uncomfortable ride which lasted some hours we reached Tientsin which was to be our headquarters.
Of my experiences in China, time will not allow me to write much.
Suffice to say, that troops of many nationalities were quartered round Tientsin and also in Peking.
During the season for manoeuvies, they operated together, under one command.
On the outbreak of war, the Germans fortified themselves at Kias-chour some four hundred miles distant. We were ordered to prepare to proceed to attack them, which order was afterwards cancelled, and we returned to England. Soon afterwards we were sent to France. Our first duty was to prepare a line of defence some miles in ..... of our front line trenches.
Before the defence was properly finished we were sent to a position in the firing line. The German troops had been trying to force the position as a present to the Kaiser for Xmas 1914, but I am afraid he was disappointed. The snipers were very troublesome to us at first. It was not much difficulty for them to walk through our lines at night, as we were few and far between. The mud was also one of our enemys, although many times I have laughed at some of the jokes it played on us, as we stumblled along falling over something in the dark. One fellow placed his pack on the back of the trench in the dark and without knowing it, stood on it the rest of the night. When he looked for his pack to find his rations for breakfast, it was with some difficulty that he extracted it from the mud into which it had slipped. Soon after we entered the fighting more fresh drafts began to arrive to arrive to replenish our loses.
On the night preceding my wounds, I and a fellow signaller were marching to a fresh position with no 3 platoon, to which we were attached for duty as signallers. Something uncan seemed about to take place and I fancied we were in for a fresh attack on our positions.
Shrapnel was bursting all round us as we reaced the French though marvelously only a few got hurt. Then after we had waited for some time, it suddenly ceased, and we took our position in the trench.
I had been helping to carry a small bag of charcoal with a view to making some tea in the morning but I threw it away thinking it would not be needed.
As it happened the trench was too exposed to allow of any chance for making a fire. About midnight two more of chums brought a fresh telephone box and a new wire, so we established communication with our headquarters behind the lines.
Strange to say the dawn of the day brought me my misfortune. I and my friend were seated by the side of the phone in a little shelter which would not admitt of anyone else entering unless one of us crawled out.
As the officer in charge wanted to send a message, I crawled outside, so that he could reach the phone. I had not been crouching outside many moments, trying to get a view of ours and the German lines, when suddenly, I felt a smash on my face and a dull thud in my right shoulder. I was rendered speechless, and my arm hung at my side for many months afterwards. My friends looked at me in horror and did not expect me to live many moments. They bandaged my wounds but they were unable to stop the flow of blood in my mouth which was nearly choking me. As it was full daybreak it wasimpossible for our strecher bearers to fetch me untill the following night.
During the time I lay waiting for them to come, the frost began to bite my feet which added to my discomfort.
The platoon had been releived when night came, and still no one came to fech me. Then after a fresh telephone message had been sent which resulted in two bearers and a strecher appearing about 2 o'clock next morning, I was carried out and a few hours later found myself in hospital. The doctors quickly operated and for a fortnight afterwards I was racked in torment. I have never been able to find out the name of that hospital I was in a state of delirium through loss of blood. It was several months after leaving that hospital before I regained my speech, and not for a couple of years later could I speak plainly or to eat solid food properly.
I am sorry to say that shortly after I had been wounded my regiment was cut up badly, at Neuve Chapelle.
There are, however, still a few of my old mates left and I occassionaly meet them in my travels, since being discharged from the forces. I was discharged at my regimental depot in July 1915 though my wounds were far from being healed, and I attended my village Dr. and nurse for many months, after which I was again admitted to a London hospital.
There I had four operations on my face was again discharged to be admitted to the Queen's Facial Hospital about four years later, and I am at present still a patient in that hospital.
My Personal experiences and reminiscences of the Great War.
Being a time serving soldier on the outbreak of war, seems to necessitate an explanation of my doings prior to its commencement.
I a native of Gloucestershire, was born in the parish of Iron Acton in the year 1895. My father died when I was about the age of seven. Having a strong boyish will and temper, I often quarrelled with one or other of my brothers. During a fit of temper one morning, when I was about fourteen years of age, I struck an older brother with my clenched hand. The result of this action caused me to leave home and to live with a friend. a few months later my friend removed to another district and, not wishing to return to my home, I decided to enlist as a soldier.
By this time I had reached the age of fifteen and I was stronger and bigger than many youths three or four years my seniors.
Early one morning I wished my friend and his wife goodbye, and started on my way to the railway station. Taking a route across the fields, a distance of about five miles, I reached the station and proceeded to Bristol by rail.
Arriving at the recruition office. After a few questions by those in authority I was shown a large room in which lay a pile of small mattresses and blankets and told that was the place where I had to sleep. I then went into the city and on my return late in the evening I noticed what appeared to be a bed made upon the floor. Thinking some kind friend had taken the trouble to make it for me, I took possession.
Soon after I had made myself comfortable beneath the blankets in walked the soldier whose bed it was. He was returning to his regiment and was staying for one night at the recruiting office. When he discovered me in his bed he didn't seem to care, as I apologized and offered to make him another bed and we talked ourselves to sleep.
For three days I continued to receive an allowance of two shillings and nine pence per day to buy food for myself. On the third day, along with several other young men, who wanted to enlist, I was examined by a doctor. I had no difficulty in passing his test. Only, when my age was asked did I begin to falter. I did not want to tell an untruth yet only by doing so could I hope to enter the regular forces. I gave my age as eighteen but the doctor was not satisfied with my answer and only when the seargeant asked me again did I tell them my real age.
At this they began to laugh, which gave me fresh courage, so that I laughed too.
They tried to persuade me to join the Special Reserve force for six months to see if I would like it but I was still obstinate and at last they gave way and I became a regular soldier in my county regiment the Glosters and my age as eighteen years and three months. I was then sent with those who had just passed their examinations to my depot. There I spent the winter, having a week's leave at xmas, during which I returned home. My mother was very pleased as was also my brothers and sisters at seeing me again.
Soon after I had returned to the depot I was sent with a batch of recruits to join my regiment at Portsmouth, which I may mention was the 1st Battalion which had just returned from India after nineteen years service abroad.
The 2nd Battalion had left for Malta, and the 1st Battalion were quartered in the barracks which it's sister had evacuated.
I may add, that, the sergeant who was placed in charge of us during our journey from our depot to the regiment gave me the impression of a savage dog, as he barked his orders to us. I suppose he wanted to impress us with his authority. On arriving at Portsmouth we marched to our regimental headquarters and was soon allotted to the various companies which needed strengthening.
As recruits we had generally to parade four or five times daily, until we passed the various tests such as musketry, gymnastics, bayonet fighting, scouting, also we had to fire a recruits course.
After two years service we were classed as dutymen, and drew proficiency pay if we were entitled to do so. That meant that a man must be a first class shot or marksman, and posess a third class certificate of education, for which he would receive six pence per day, in addition to his ordinary pay, a second class shot would receive three pence per day in addition to his ordinary pay. School was compulsory until a man secured a third class certificate. To become a sergeant it was necessary to obtain a second class cirtificate and obtain a still higher rank, he needed a first class certificate.
At the time I am writing about, a battalion consisted of eight companies. I was fortunate in being attached to B. Company. My captain was a thourough gentleman as was my colour sergeant.
My chums knicknamed the captain Bronco. One day, while we were encamped a Wool, our captain was giving us company drill, which we did not seem to do as he wished it to be done, he remarked, "I know you men call me Bronco," and immediately gave us an order to "double march". He kept us doubling for some time, and then he dismissed us his face full of humour.
I stayed with the 1st battalion about two and a half years. During that period a good deal of my time was in training either on Salisbury Plain, or at various places where we encamped for a month or two. The big strike ...... us on one occasion to be sent to Swindon, where we stayed a fortnight. We did a hundred miles march one a year. It took four days to do the march, in which we were sometimes attacked by the cadets or scouts.
A draft was required to be sent to the 2nd Battalion at Malta, and as some of my chums were going I decided to go with them. We embarked on board the transport Rohilla, and after seven or eight day sailing we landed at Malta. The first part of the voyage was very rough and caused those who were not used to sailing, to have sea sickness. As I was doing duty as a swabber, cleaning the decks I did not feel it so much. With my canvas trousers rolled above my knees, and a hose pipe, or a long handled scrubber in my hands, I used to use from my hammock at five o'clock in the morning, and proceed with the rest of the swabbers, to wash the decks. We generally had coffee to drink, before begining work. Our feet were bare, and the fresh air and cold sea water, gave us an appetite for breakfast.
The 2nd Battalion sent their band and drums to meet us as we disembarked, and we marched to their barracks, to the sound of it's splendid music. I may here mention, that both Battalions had splendid bands and were proud of them.
On reaching the barracks, we were drawn up on the square, and soon the Regimental Sergeant Major assigned us to various companies that required strengthening. My parades began afresh, as one battalion drilled quickly, and the other with slow movements. It was very very difficult to accustom oneself to the change.
My regiment, as I must now call it, had been stationed in Malta nearly three years, and would soon be leaving for China. While in Malta they had won many shooting competitions and also had the best boxers on the Island.
Guard mounting, in reds, was a keen competition amongst the companies. The smartest and cleanest man was given the stick and only did duty as the colonels orderly for the day. The stick, as we called it, was a silver mounted cane, kept specialy for that purpose.
I not being lucky enough to obtain a good set of white cuff, did not feel inclined for many sticks, so to release myself of the necessity of doing guards, I became a signaller.
My shooting suffered somewhat, owing to the change of climate which dried my eyes for some time, and I dropped from Marksman to a 1st class shot. I still was entitled to my proficiency pay, so I did not mind very much at becoming a lesser shot.
After my being in Malta about seven months my regiment embarked for China. We landed at Ching-Wang-Tou (?) on the north-east coast after a voyage of six weeks. We had a good voyage and called at various ports, where we generally took a route march to keep us fit.
On arriving a Ching-Wang-Tou a miserable and outlandish place, we unshipped our ammunition and stores and entrained enroute for Tientsin and Peking. After an uncomfortable ride which lasted some hours we reached Tientsin which was to be our headquarters.
Of my experiences in China, time will not allow me to write much.
Suffice to say, that troops of many nationalities were quartered round Tientsin and also in Peking.
During the season for manoeuvies, they operated together, under one command.
On the outbreak of war, the Germans fortified themselves at Kias-chour some four hundred miles distant. We were ordered to prepare to proceed to attack them, which order was afterwards cancelled, and we returned to England. Soon afterwards we were sent to France. Our first duty was to prepare a line of defence some miles in ..... of our front line trenches.
Before the defence was properly finished we were sent to a position in the firing line. The German troops had been trying to force the position as a present to the Kaiser for Xmas 1914, but I am afraid he was disappointed. The snipers were very troublesome to us at first. It was not much difficulty for them to walk through our lines at night, as we were few and far between. The mud was also one of our enemys, although many times I have laughed at some of the jokes it played on us, as we stumblled along falling over something in the dark. One fellow placed his pack on the back of the trench in the dark and without knowing it, stood on it the rest of the night. When he looked for his pack to find his rations for breakfast, it was with some difficulty that he extracted it from the mud into which it had slipped. Soon after we entered the fighting more fresh drafts began to arrive to arrive to replenish our loses.
On the night preceding my wounds, I and a fellow signaller were marching to a fresh position with no 3 platoon, to which we were attached for duty as signallers. Something uncan seemed about to take place and I fancied we were in for a fresh attack on our positions.
Shrapnel was bursting all round us as we reaced the French though marvelously only a few got hurt. Then after we had waited for some time, it suddenly ceased, and we took our position in the trench.
I had been helping to carry a small bag of charcoal with a view to making some tea in the morning but I threw it away thinking it would not be needed.
As it happened the trench was too exposed to allow of any chance for making a fire. About midnight two more of chums brought a fresh telephone box and a new wire, so we established communication with our headquarters behind the lines.
Strange to say the dawn of the day brought me my misfortune. I and my friend were seated by the side of the phone in a little shelter which would not admitt of anyone else entering unless one of us crawled out.
As the officer in charge wanted to send a message, I crawled outside, so that he could reach the phone. I had not been crouching outside many moments, trying to get a view of ours and the German lines, when suddenly, I felt a smash on my face and a dull thud in my right shoulder. I was rendered speechless, and my arm hung at my side for many months afterwards. My friends looked at me in horror and did not expect me to live many moments. They bandaged my wounds but they were unable to stop the flow of blood in my mouth which was nearly choking me. As it was full daybreak it wasimpossible for our strecher bearers to fetch me untill the following night.
During the time I lay waiting for them to come, the frost began to bite my feet which added to my discomfort.
The platoon had been releived when night came, and still no one came to fech me. Then after a fresh telephone message had been sent which resulted in two bearers and a strecher appearing about 2 o'clock next morning, I was carried out and a few hours later found myself in hospital. The doctors quickly operated and for a fortnight afterwards I was racked in torment. I have never been able to find out the name of that hospital I was in a state of delirium through loss of blood. It was several months after leaving that hospital before I regained my speech, and not for a couple of years later could I speak plainly or to eat solid food properly.
I am sorry to say that shortly after I had been wounded my regiment was cut up badly, at Neuve Chapelle.
There are, however, still a few of my old mates left and I occassionaly meet them in my travels, since being discharged from the forces. I was discharged at my regimental depot in July 1915 though my wounds were far from being healed, and I attended my village Dr. and nurse for many months, after which I was again admitted to a London hospital.
There I had four operations on my face was again discharged to be admitted to the Queen's Facial Hospital about four years later, and I am at present still a patient in that hospital.
On the 17th of February 1915 the Gloucestershire Regiment were in the trenches on the front line Voormezeele when Harold was wounded. The gunshot wound to his chin and right shoulder meant that Harold needed to return to England for treatment. I have no idea how he travelled home or the type of treatment he received but in 1920 he decided to go to Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup, Kent to have Plastic Surgery. It would seem that he was not an easy patient, being obsessed with pension problems to the detriment of his treatment. After two years of refusing treatment he was discharged.
These images were sent to me by the Queen's Hospital Sidcup researchers.
Although Harold Cullimore’s service and pension records did not survive the Blitz of World War Two, it is possible to put together a reasonably accurate account of his military career from material in museum archives.
9385 Private Harold Cullimore enlisted in the Gloucestershire Regiment on 20th September 1910. After completing his training at the Regimental Depot at Horfield Barracks, Bristol, he was posted to 1st Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment at Portsmouth. Battalion Orders of 20th January 1911 record him as having arrived on 17th January and being posted to “B” Company.
In peacetime the general aim was to have one regular battalion serving overseas, while the other served at home. The home battalion would receive drafts of new recruits who had completed their basic training, and send out drafts of replacement troops to the battalion serving overseas. Replacements and natural wastage, as soldiers reached the end of their service period, meant that there was a constant to-ing and fro-ing of soldiers between the United Kingdom and Empire.
At some point, date unknown, Harold Cullimore was posted to 2nd Gloucesters, based in Malta, where they had been since November 1910. On 12th September 1913, 2nd Battalion set sail on HMT SOUDAN bound for Tientsin, just south of Beijing. Battalion Orders show 9385 Private H. Cullimore as being with “G” Company. 2nd Gloucesters landed at Ching Wang Tao on 17th October, and arrived by rail at Tientsinon the 20th. Their role was to guard British interests in the face of Chinese insurgents and they formed part of a large contingent of foreign troops with units from France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Russia Japan and the United States.
When the Great War broke out in August 1914, 2nd Gloucesters were still in China. The battalion sailed for England for England aboard HMT ARCADIA and docked in Southampton on 8th November 1914. 9385 Private H. Cullimore was now with “C” Company, battalion organisation having been changed throughout the Regular Army from eight companies to four. At Winchester 2nd Gloucesters joined 81st Brigade of 27th Division and arrived in France on 19th December, Harold Cullimore still being with them.
2nd Gloucesters took up position around St Eloi, under the command of V Corps, Second Army. They were soon in the front line, and although they had not yet taken part in any major action they still suffered a steady stream of casualties from both enemy action and the extreme cold.
Major George Power wrote home:-
27.1.15. Resting. Kaiser’s Birthday today. Deuce of a scrap somewhere last night, by the row. Thank goodness they did not turn us out for it. I think this is No. 13, but I am not sure. I forgot to number the last two, I think. Still very cold, but no rain, which is a great thing. There was a little snow last night and the fields were slightly white this morning. This morning the entire Army is being washed. They walk over to brewery , about 2 miles, and have a much needed hot bath and clean things given to them. Does it seem a year since we went to the German Review? Somehow I don’t think it does. There are many worse places than Tientsin, I imagine. There is no news.
The Battalion War Diary also recorded some typical days in the front line trenches during this period:-
4th to 5th February 1915. ELZENWALEE.
Very heavy artillery fire all day. Our left section of Trenches heavily shelled during hours 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Battalion Headquarters shelled at 12.30 p.m., 3 shells striking the farm, no casualties luckily. Certain amount of rifle fire all day. Many hostile aircraft overhead during day, one dropped bomb on Battalion Headquarters. Very heavy rifle fire heard on our left at 4.15 p.m. lasting for 1 hour. Afterwards discovered to be an attack by enemy who broke the line 1 mile on our left. This was afterwards retaken by counter-attack at 9.30 p.m. Relief ordered to stand by at 6 p.m. Eventually relieved satisfactorily by 1st Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders at 3.15 a.m.
5/2/15. Heavy artillery fire & rifle fire all night. At 10 p.m. very heavy artillery & rifle fire on our left, which was 28th Division successfully counter-attacking. Battalion arrived in close support, billetted in ruined barns etc. at 4.30 a.m. 1,600 yards in rear of firing line.
Casualties during 4/2/15. Other Ranks 2 killed, 7 wounded.
NEW FARM, VOORMEZEELE
6th February 1915. Continued in billets at ELZENWALLE till 7 p.m. Enemy shelled billets from 12.45 p.m to 1.45 p.m. very heavily, 60 to 70 shells being dropped in and around billets. Result 2 men wounded, otherwise no damage. Relieved 1st Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders in same Section of Trenches as held before by Battalion. Changed Battalion Head Quarters to here, owing to it being badly shelled. Occasional sniping during the night, no artillery fire. Total casualties during day, 1 killed, 4 wounded.
On 17th February, 2nd Gloucesters were again in the front line at Voormezeele, and it was on this day that Harold Cullimore was wounded. The Battalion War Diary:-
17th February 1915. Our artillery opened fire at dawn. They kept up heavy fire on enemy all day. Very little rifle fire. During night we dug a new trench 40 yards in rear of centre of our line of Trenches. From information received, enemy very active in front of 28th Division on our left., in consequence, Camerons brought up to support us, to VOORMEZEELE. Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders standing to at DICKEBUSCH. Enemy very quiet during night, no artillery fire. Several casualties in No. 21 Trench.
Casualties night 17th-18th:-
No. 9220 Pte. Broadhurst “B” Company – killed, buried at SHELLY FARM.
No. 9385 Pte. Cullimore “C” Company (Signaller) – Wounded.
No. 8235 Pte. Welch “D” Company – Wounded.
No. 11767 Pte. Salmon “A” Company – Wounded.
No. 8912 Pte. Standley “B” Company – Wounded.
No. 9898 Pte. Banks “A” Company – Wounded.
No. 11732 Pte. Moulder “C” Company – Wounded.
Harold Cullimore was reported in the Cheltenham Echo of 23rd March 1915 as having been wounded and was discharged from the army as a result of his wounds on 20th July 1915. He was entitled to the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal.
On 4th February 1982, Harold Cullimore wrote a letter to the Gloucestershire Regiment Museum:-
Dear Sir,
I was born at Iron Aston in the year 1895. When I joined the army, my home was WICKWAR. I left school when I was thirteen years old, went to work on farm for 6 shillings a week, 9 shillings at the time I enlisted at Bristol 1910. I easily passed exams. The doctor said I was older. Anyway they had a good laugh. 18 years and three months I join the first Bat atPortsmouth (from India). Later I joined the 2nd Bat at Malta, from there to North China, came home to spend the winter in the trenches, had my chin blown in and my right shoulder. Head of humerous and cup of shoulder 1915.
Yours sincerely,
No 9385 H CULLIMORE
At some point during his stay in Kent he met Millie Beatice Stone who he went on to marry in 1923 in Bromley, Kent. They moved back to Gloucestershire leaving Millie’s or Minnie’s, as she sometimes appears on documents, family behind in Foot’s Cray.