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Bulley, Donald William

Date of death:
September 22nd, 1944 (Asten, the Netherlands)
Buried on:
Commonwealth War Cemetery Mierlo
Plot: V. Row: A. Grave: 9.
Service number:
302330
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry. On September 22, 1944, Lieutenant Bulley was the first tank to cross the Bailey Bridge at Lock 11 between Someren and Asten. Firing, he went towards Asten where he was shelled from the houses by heavy machine gun and bazooka fire. Suddenly his tank disappeared in a cloud of smoke and fire. The tank that followed tried to avoid Bulley's tank by driving into a field but soon got stuck. The troop's third and last tank past Bulley's tank on the left and got stuck as well. Bulley had survived initially. He started firing at the Germans with his pistol from the turret and was mortally wounded.

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War Diary mentions

23 September 1944 WO 171/853 - 2 Fife and Forfar Regiment
Lieuts D.W. Bulley and P.C. FIRKINS were both killed whilst crossing the Canal. Capt. B.L. FREWIN was wounded.The Regt., came under command of 159 Bde and remained in ASTEN, supporting it whilst the 23 H passed through. ‘B’ Sqn with two coys of the Herefords, mopped up the area to the SOUTH and SOUTH WEST of ASTEN. Throughout the day there was sporadic shelling and mortaring.

Sources

  • Photo 1: Jeroen Koppes
  • - CWGC