BULL, Richard Henry
Richard Henry Bull was born at Woolwich, Kent on 21 August 1910, only son of Henry Bull (born 20 January 1873), then a lieutenant in the Royal Horse Artillery, and his wife Constance Mary Sopper (13 March 1873-11 February 1975), daughter of William Sopper of Dunmaglass and Easter Aberchalder, Inverness-shire, Henry and Constance married at St Peter's Church, Eaton Square, London on 20 September 1906, Richard was a brother of Constance Helen Bull. In 1911, Richard was living at Houghton Hill, Huntingdon with his parents, 38-year-old Henry, born Sydney, New South Wales and 27-year-old Constance, born Herne Hill, Surrey with sibling sister Constance, and they retained six indoor servants. In 1921 Richard was a boarding pupil at St Andrew's School, Eastbourne but by 1924 the family had moved into Levington Hall, near Ipswich, Suffolk. Richard obtained his B.A. degree at Cambridge and was admitted a solicitor in 1936. A painter of birds in watercolour, and a member at the Ipswich Art Club 1932-1935 and exhibited from Levington Hall in 1932 two watercolours, ‘Pigeon’ and ‘Sheldrake’ and in 1934 ‘Jay’ and ‘Grouse’. In 1939, a solicitor, living at 30 Hans Road, Kensington, London, also living at this address were author & journalist Amelia Defries (12 December 1882-1945) and Jenny D. Thorne (1888-1947), reader for publishers & theatre manager, who was a widow. On 25 January 1940, commissioned from the Royal Fusiliers into the Foot Guards of the Scots Guards, being awarded the Military Cross in 1943 and, as a Major in the Scots Guards, was killed in action at Anzio, Italy on 30 January 1944, aged 33, when his parents were living at Upper House, West Burton, Pulborough, Sussex.