Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family poignant group:

The Great War campaign pair awarded to Lieutenant J. A. Pullan, Royal Flying Corps, late Durham Light Infantry, who was mentioned in despatches for his gallantry as a pilot in No. 9 Squadron prior to being shot down and killed by the renowned ace Paul “Iron Eagle” Baumer of Jasta 2 in November 1917

British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lieut. J. A. Pullan), together with the recipient’s Memorial Plaque 1914-18 (John Aynsley Pullan), a white metal Coronation 1902 commemorative medal issued by the Educational Board of Northumberland, a silver pencil inscribed to his father, Alfred Pullan, and an “On War Service 1915’ badge, official corrections to naming on the first two, good very fine and better

The Great War Memorial Plaque issued in remembrance of Lance-Corporal W. S. Pullan, 20th Battalion, London Regiment, who was killed in action in Palestine in December 1917

Memorial Plaque 1914-18 (William Stanley Pullan), good very fine (5) £500-600

John Aynsley Pullan, who was born in September 1896, was educated at Rutherford College, Newcastle, prior to being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry in April 1915.

Remaining employed on the home establishment, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in September 1916 and, having qualified as a pilot, was posted to No. 7 squadron out in France in March 1917. Having then been advanced to Lieutenant and transferred to No. 9 Squadron, flying R.E. 8s, he was mentioned for gallant and distinguished services in Haig’s despatch dated 7 November 1917 (London Gazette 11 December 1917, refers).

Tragically, however, three weeks later, on the 28th, while engaged on a photographic reconnaissance patrol in the vicinity of Ypres, he was shot down and killed, a victim of Paul “Iron Eagle” Baumer, a famous enemy ace of Jasta 2 and holder of the “Blue Max”; so, too, his Observer, Lieutenant C. H. Dixon.

Major Rodwell, C.O. of No. 9 Squadron, wrote:

‘His good work would have shortly marked him for promotion. My very sincere sympathy at losing a son who was a splendid example of a British Officer.’

The son of Alfred Pullan of Gosforth, Newcastle-on-Tyne, he was 21 years old, and is buried in the Mendinghem British Military Cemetery, Poperinge, Belgium; sold with a file of research, including copied service record.

William Stanley Pullan, John’s younger brother, was killed in action in Palestine on 9 December 1917, aged 19 years, while serving as a Lance-Corporal in the 20th (County of London) Battalion (Blackheath and Woolwich), London Regiment, a unit of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force - less than a fortnight after his brother’s death in action. He is buried in Jerusalem War Cemetery.