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Auction: 22003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 285

'I then heard someone singing out to be saved and picked up Stoker Petty Officer Mitchell, who was badly wounded.

I then heard someone else singing out and picked up two more survivors, one of those whose name was Durrant. I tried to proceed to pick up others but was not able to as there were two oars one side of the Float and one the other because of the wounded; she kept sliding round.

Whilst the Vanoc's dinghy was preparing to take us in tow, H.M.S. Ariel sank with a loud explosion.'

Artificer Engineer A. J. C. Bullen recalls the sinking of H.M.S. Ariel after striking a mine in 1917

Five: Lieutenant-Commander (Engineer) A. J. C. Bullen, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (Art. Eng. F. Bullen. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Ch. Art. Eng. F. Bullen. R.N.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine (5)

Alfred James Christopher Bullen was born at Sandwich, Kent on 29 June 1884, the son of James and Louisa Bullen. Working as an Apprentice Mechanical Fitter prior to enlisting on 12 June 1904 with the rank of Acting Engine Room Artificer (Mechanical). His first spell afloat was aboard H.M.S. Suffolk with the rank of Engine Room Artificer Class III.

Posted to H.M.S. Active prior to the Great War he was still with her at the outbreak of hostilities. Joining Seahorse on 4 December 1915 he remained with her until 15 October 1917. Transferring to Ariel 15 October 1917 he was with her while she was engaged in minelaying.

She was present for the sinking of Vehement on 2 August 1918 and while attempting to exit the minefield she struck a mine herself. Bullen himself describes the scene:

'There was a cloud of steam and when I got clear (I was pinned down on deck) I went forward to No. 2 Boiler Room and found Stoker Petty Officer Mott lying across the hatchway badly injured. I succeeded in removing him to the deck and assisted the Doctor to give him an injection of Morphia. I then attempted to enter No. 2 Boiler Room again, but found after descending about three rungs of the ladder that the gratings were blown away. I then entered the engine room and found no steam whatever. The Doctor asked for my torch on my return to deck. I proceeded aft to get another one from the Captain's cabin. I did not find one from the First Lieutenant's cabin. On arriving on deck, I met the TI who told me the Gunner had abandoned ship, and he was just leaving. The TI jumped overboard. I then looked along the deck with my torch and sung out, but could not see anyone.'

One of the last to leave the ship he swam to a nearby Carley float, assisting a number of wounded men in the process. Continuing to serve, Bullen volunteered to join the Royal Australian Navy in June 1927 and served there for two years before returning to Britain where he was promoted Lieutenant (Engineer) on 30 March 1930. Retiring on 29 June 1932 Bullen returned to service during the Second World War with the rank of Lieutenant-Commander (Engineer). Seeing shore service for the entire conflict Bullen nonetheless contributed valuable work with the final comment from Captain Drake at H.M.S. Dolphin reading:

'I am grateful to this officer who has given faithful service in spite of his advancing years'

Retiring again on 20 January 1946 with the rank of Lieutenant-Commander Bullen died at Portsmouth in 1970; sold together with copied service records, extracts from the London Gazette and Navy Lists as well as a typed summary and census data.

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Sold for
£140

Starting price
£140