Photo: B. Chandler
In Newcastle upon Tyne (St.Nicholas) Cemetery is a headstone which reads:
John Aynsley Pullan
Flight Lieut. 3rd D.L.I.
fell in action in France
Nov. 28 1917
aged 21 years.
William Stanley Pullan
L.C. ?2205 London Regiment
fell in action
before Jerusalem, Dec. 8th 1917
aged 19 years.
Nellie Aysnley Pullan
Oct. 7th 1905, died Sept. 19th 1906
In front of it is a cross bearing the words:
1914
Lest we forget
Colin Boyd has provided the following:
John was born in September 1896, the son of Alfred and Nellie Pullan of 55, Woodbine Road, Gosforth. He was educated at Rutherford College, Newcastle upon Tyne.
He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry in April 1915. After service at home John transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in September 1916 and having qualified as a pilot he was posted to No. 7 Squadron in France in March 1917.
After being promoted to Lieutenant John was posted to No. 5 Squadron flying RE 8 aircraft where he was mentioned in despatches on 07/11/1917.
Three weeks later, on 28/11/1917, John and his observer, Lieutenant C.H. Dixon were shot down and killed while on a photographic mission near Ypres by Paul Baumer of Jasta 2, a holder of the "Blue Max".
His brother William Stanley Pullan also died.
John Aynsley Pullan is remembered in Durham on D47.013 page 323, in Elswick on E35.09 in Gosforth on G9.21, G9.22 and G9.23 and in Newcastle on NUT070 and NUT126 page 27