Christopher [Ginger] Pullman was born on the 16th April 1891, at 7 Williams Street, Southwick in Sunderland. His parents were Christopher Pullman, [born 1862, Ireland, died 26th February 1921, at 71 North Street, South Bank, Yorkshire], and Mary Gillespie, [born 1866, Scotland, died September 1892 at Middlesbrough], his father was employed as a ship-plater at the time of his birth. They had married on the 5th January 1882 at Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Christopher Pullman senior left a will of £162 2s to Elizabeth Pullman a widow in 1921.

The family had moved from Scotland between 1889 and 1891. By 1901 they had five children Maria, born 6th June 1882, [married Harry Goodfellow in 1904 at Sunderland, in 1939 they were residing at 7 Eden Terrace, Hetton], Margaret, born 26th May 1884, [married Brown Newbitt in 1906 in Sunderland, in 1939 were residing at 10½ Beatrice Terrace, Hetton], Ellen, born 25th May 1887, [married Robert Owens on the 1st January 1910 at The Register Office, Sunderland, in 1939 were residing at 31 Middle Row, Hetton], Annie, born 1889, [married Peter Burke on the 5th October 1913, at St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church, Houghton-le-Spring, in 1911, she was working as a servant at 4 Sunderland Street, Houghton-le- Spring for Henry and Mary Jane Cox. Henry Cox was an Ironmonger and House Furnisher]. Peter Burke died in WW1 and is remembered at Houghton-le-Spring on H132.09, H132.11 and also at Shiney Row on S124.01, S124.03 and S124.08], and Christopher the youngest in 1891.

Shortly after Christopher was born his mother died in September 1892 at Middlesbrough of pneumonia.

Christopher became a riveter at a shipyard in Sunderland, and in 1911 was a residing at his Aunt's residence, at 7 William Street, Southwick, Sunderland, [Elizabeth Pullman who was 62 years of age a widow who has been married 40 years to a Samuel Pullman. They had ten children of which nine died, only Christina Margaret survived, Her daughter Rebecca who was listed in the 1901 Census died in July 1907 age 18 years.], as a boarder. Also at this address is Elizabeth's granddaughter Elizabeth Jane age ten.

Christina Margaret married John Thompson and is the mother of Elizabeth’s granddaughter, Elizabeth Jane Thompson who is mentioned in the 1911 census age 10.

After serving in WW1, Christopher married Catherine Lahey, [born 5th November 1896, Middlesbrough, died 7th September 1990 in Thornaby, in the 1939 register at 4, Wear Street, Eston, Middlesbrough (Yorkshire, North Riding) prior to her second marriage to John Crossen in 1940], she was the daughter of Thomas Lahey, born 1868 Manchester, died June 1935, and his wife Margaret Boylen, [born 30th May 1869, died 3rd June 1953 at Eston], they had seven children between them, Mary Pullman, born 1919 died in March 1920, Thomas Joseph Pullman born 1921, died on the 20th February 1944, [see below], Christopher Pullman born 1923 died in 2011, John Pullman born 7th May 1926, died in 2009, Stephen Pullman, born December 1928, died 1930, Joseph Pullman, born June 1931 and William Norman Pullman, born 24th April 1934, died in 2005.

Christopher Pullman died in March 1937. His wife remarried in 1940 to John Crossen. In 1939 they were residing at 4 Wear Sreet, Yorkshire, North Riding.

Christopher Pullman enlisted in the 8th (Service) Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, know as the Alexandra Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment, [The Green Howards], on the 2nd September 1914, as a private with the service number 15059. He arrived in France on the 26th August 1915.

Formed at Richmond on the 22nd September 1914 as part of K3 and in October were vattached to the 69th Brigade, 23rd Division. Moved to Frensham and in February 1915 went on to Folkestone and Maidstone in Kent.On the 26th August 1915, landed at Boulogne.

The Battles of the Somme were from 1st July to 18th November, although it is the first day which proved to be the worst for casualties, and is the most remembered. Contalmaison village was destroyed during this period, and did not finally fall until Monday [the] 10th July when the 8th and 9th Battalions of the Yorkshire Regiment captured the village.

On the 8/9th July leading up to the attack, the 8th Battalion moved up to the area located in front of Becourt Wood, before falling back to their former bivouacs. They had been heavily shelled and the Battalion Headquarters dugout was blown in.

The War Diary gives the following account for Monday 10th July; The 69th Infantry Brigade were ordered to attack and capture Contalmaison, with the 8th Yorks. on the right, and the 9th Yorks. on the left flank. The 11th West Yorks. operating on the left of the 9th Yorks., and protecting the flank. The Battalion advanced to the attack at 4.50p.m. from the Horseshoe Trench, and came under shrapnel fire from Contalmaison wood. As the Battalion further advanced and when within about 500 yds. from the village heavy machine gun and rifle fire was opened on them by the enemy from the front and left flank. On reaching Trench XXXX 23-41 the wire was found to be practically intact and provided a serious obstacle.

After gaining this trench, where the men were still under heavy fire, the line advanced to the assault. A second obstacle in the shape of a hedge and wire netting held the line outside the village, and 50% of the casualties occurred between the trench and hedge. This obstacle was surmounted and the line advanced to the village firing at the enemy who were now retreating. At this point unexpected machine gun and rifle fire took the men in the rear and caused some casualties. Not more than 4 Officers and 150 men reached the village. 8 German Officers and 160 men were captured exclusive of 100 wounded Germans in dug-outs. 6 machine guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition were also taken. Immediate steps were taken to consolidate and a line was chosen that extended from the Chateau through the Vieux Manoir to point 84. It was not the best line for defence, but was selected in view of the small number of men available. By daylight the line was dug. At 7.30p.m. a small party of Germans appeared at the Cutting but were dispersed by machine gun (their own) fire. Our right was exposed and at 9p.m. a party of about 40 Germans were seen to be lining the Hedge N. from point 93. They opened fire and the position was critical. Major Western made a barricade across the road at 84, and was reinforced with more men from this and the 9th Battalion. The enemy were kept in check and finally dislodged by the further aid of a bombing party from the 9th and Lewis Gun fire from a house. At 11p.m. the Battalion was reinforced by 2 Coys’ of the 11th West Yorks. and the 10th West Riding Battalion. These got into touch with the unit on the right, and the position became satisfactory. The village was shelled all night, and during next day, but no counter attack was launched. Our patrols were out all night, and Boche patrols in the Cutting were fired on. The Battalion was relieved on the night of the 11th July, and marched to bivouacs at the same place in Belle Vue Farm.

Another Source : The 8th and 9th Green Howards [69th Brigade], assembled in and near the northern part of Horseshoe Trench on a front of 1,000 yards (914m), some 2,000 yards (1828.8m) west of Contalmaison. Two companies of [the] 11th West Yorkshire, (69th Brigade), were sent to Bailiff Wood to make a flank attack. At 4.30 pm, under fire of all kinds, the Green Howards captured the village of Contalmaison, the numbers of the 8th having been reduced to five officers and 150 men. A flank attack by the West Yorks caught the retreating Germans with rifle fire, and they joined with the Green Howards at 5.30 pm, the attack having taken one hour. At 9pm. a counterattack was repulsed by bombers.

Source : The Somme Day by Day Account Chris McCarthy, Brockhampton Press, 1993 ISBN 1860198732.

This is the location of where Second Lieutenant Donald Simpson Bell, earned his Victoria Cross.

In recognition of their efforts in a Special Order of the day General Babington wrote;The G.O.C. the Division cannot allow the action of the 69th Brigade on July 10th to pass without special recognition. Nothing could have exceeded the steadiness and gallantry with which they carried out the attack and bore themselves in the hard fighting that followed. The example of gallantry and devotion to duty which they set calls for the highest admiration, and the Division is proud to possess such gallant comrades in their ranks.

In total nine Battalions of the Yorkshire Regiment fought on the Somme, each one comprising of about 1000 men. By the 18th November 1916 it had suffered 3,500 casualties.

There are no details given as to the nature or severity of Private Pullman’s injuries, if he was hospitalised or if he stayed with his battalion after receiving treatment. However, a casualty is likely to have received attention first at an aid post, these were close to the front line position. They generally had a Medical Officer, orderlies and stretcher-bearers. The Field Ambulances (which were mobile medical units, and not vehicles) established Dressing Stations where a casualty could receive further treatment and if necessary were prepared for evacuation to a Casualty Clearing Station (CCS). This was a rearward move of several miles, undertaken either on foot, horse drawn wagon, motor ambulance, lorry or possibly by light railway.Casualties would then normally be moved from the CCS to a Base Hospital for treatment. There were two types of Base Hospital; Stationary and General Hospitals, which were large facilities and in France and Flanders the British hospitals were often located near the coast. Close proximity to a port was important so men could be evacuated to Britain for further long-term treatment. Once discharged from hospital, many men were sent to various locations for convalescence.

Christopher was severely wounded around the 10th July 1916, also on the same day 15061 Private Thomas Henry Renney, [who resided at 33 Victor Street, Monkwearmouth], was also wounded in the same action, however Renney died on the 10th July 1916. 'The Times' show their names on the 19th August on their daily Wounded list.

Thomas Henry Renney is remembered at Monkwearmouth in M46.20 and on M46.022 as well at Sunderland in the Book of Remembrance S140.048 Part 4, page 76.

Christopher Pullman was discharged from the army on the 7th December 1917, under 'Para. of Army Order II of 10.8.1917 (2) (b) (1)'. This is simply defined as a soldier who had served overseas and been discharged on account of disablement or ill health caused otherwise than by misconduct. He was awarded the Silver War Badge number 277806, issued on the 12th December 1917. His age was 25 years 7 months.

Middlesbrough North Eastern Gazette Friday 05/02/1937.

PULLMAN At 42, Upper Branch-Street South Bank, Christopher (Ginger), loving husband of Catherine, and son of the late Kit Pullman. Cortege leaves address Saturday, three o'clock. Friends, neighbours and British Legion kindly invited. R.I.P.

Christopher Pullman is not remembered on a War Memorial in the North East, however his son is, Thomas Joseph Pullman born 1921, died on the 20th February 1944 in the North Sea, off the coast of the Dutch Fresian Islands. [Thomas was a Sergeant in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service nu 948791, he was in 626 Squadron]. 626 Squadron was formed from a nucleus of 12 Squadron 'C' Flight and personnel. He is remembered at Thornaby on T70.01

Below is a list of the crew members who were with Thomas, they were flying a Lancaster I ME589, UM-D2 from Wickenby to Leipzig. See Aircrew Remembered.

Pilot Flight Sergeant, Matheson Alexander McGregor, J/85929 RCAF, Engineer Sergeant, Dunn Henry, 154934, Navigator Sergeant, Cook Harry, 1579359, Bomb Aimer Sergeant, Mitton Arthur Westwood, 657731, Son of Arthur and May Mitton of Chorlton-cum-Hardy Manchester.Wireless Operator Sergeant , Latham Malcolm, 1535809, Air Gunner Sergeant, Bodycot Gordon Harry, 1624767, Air Gunner Sergeant, Thomas Joseph Pullman, 948791.Took off from Wickenby at 23:33. Believed to have crashed into the sea off the Frisian Islands.

See Bomber Command War Diary Summary.

Also further details about 626 Squadron losses.

ME589, UM-D2, 19/20th February 1944, F/Sgt A. McG Matheson RCAF, Sgt H. Dunn, Sgt H. Cook, Sgt A.W. Mitton, Sgt M. Latham, Sgt G.H. Bodycot, Sgt T.J. Pullman. ME589 was delivered to 626 Squadron on the 21st January 1944. Took part in the following Key Operations: Berlin 27/28th January 1944; Berlin 30/31st January 44; Berlin 15/16th February 1944; Leipzig 19/20th February 1944-Lost. When lost this aircraft had a total of 50 hours. Airborne 2333, 19th February 1944 from Wickenby. Presumed crashed in the sea off the Dutch Frisian Islands chain. The grave of Sgt Mitton is on Ameland in Nes general Cemetery, while Sgt Bodycot is buried on Schiermonnikoog in Vredenhof Cemetery. The rest are remembered on the Runnymede Memorial. F/S A.McG Matheson RCAF KIA, Sgt H.Dunn KIA, Sgt H.Cook KIA, Sgt A.W.Mitton KIA, Sgt M.Latham KIA, Sgt G.H.Bodycot KIA, Sgt T.J.Pullman KIA.

Source : William Young 626 Squadron co.uk with Thanks.

Research : Jean Atkinson/James Pasby

Yorkshire Regiment Remembered
Friesland Wartime History
Photos of 626 Squadron Crew Members.
RAF Wickenby Roll of Honour for Sergeant T J Pullman
The CWGC entry for Sergeant Pullman